Horse Breeds: The 30 Most Popular Equine Types A To Z

Horses are ungulate mammals with elongated heads, muscular torsos, thick necks, long tails and short hair. Taxonomically, they belong to the family of Equidae. Horses have evolved for more than fifty million years with the first horse breeds having originated from North America then spread into Europe and Asia.

According to the Oklahoma State University, the first horses were domesticated between 3000 and 4000 B.C mostly for meat, hair, hide, bone, milk and medicine. They eventually joined the oxen to provide transportation and other services. Apart from the North America, you’ll find horses in virtually every country of the world.

Horses are smart, exhibit unique social qualities and live in herds of between three to twenty animals led by a mature male known as a stallion. The rest are females and their young ones.

Horses and humans interact in several ways including in sporting events and police work. Humans, on the other hand, provide domesticated horses with attention, training, shelter, food and water. They give their horses names, and spend their free time taking various horse breeds quizzes and reading horse inspirational quotes. 🙂

Read on to learn about the 30 most popular horse breeds found in the world today. They are presented below in an alphabetical order – horse breeds A to Z.

1. Appaloosa Horse

appaloosa horse
Source: Pixabay

The Appaloosa is an American horse breed, which was cultivated by the Nez Perce Native American tribe in the Pacific Northwest over centuries.

Appaloosa horses have very distinctive coloring, which differs from most other horse breeds (other than the Danish Knabstrupper). It is not only due to their spots but also very distinctive and visible white sclera.

Appaloosas are also know for an interesting gait pattern, which is known as the Indian Shuffle. These intelligent, independent and curious horses can be used for both Western and English riding, across various disciplines including endurance and trail riding.

Thanks to the introduction of the Quarter Horse into the breed Appaloosas are also used for racing.

2. Arabian Horse

arabian horse breed
Source: Wikimedia

The Arabian horse or Arab horse originated from the Middle East most specifically the Arabian Peninsula. It is among the oldest and most popular breeds dating back to 4,500 years ago. It is well known for its arched neck and high-carried tail.

Its most common colors include chestnut, gray and bay; with black and roan being the least common. All Arabs regardless of their coat color have a dark skin to offer them protection from the harsh desert.

The breed has an average height of between 57 and 61 inches. Naturally, the Arabians cooperate with humans, but they can become wild when treated to extreme abuse. Today, these horses are found all over the world as a result of trade and war.

They dominate the discipline of endurance horse racing due to their healthy bones and high speed. They are found in places like Brazil, Continental Europe, UK, Canada, US, Australia, and the Middle East.

3. Ardennes Horse

ardennes horse
Source: Wikimedia

The Ardennes/ Ardennais are among the oldest breeds of the draft horse that originated from France and the Ardennes area of Belgium. They date back to Ancient Rome, and although several other breeds have been added, only the Belgian breed has had an impact.

For a long time, the Ardennes has been featured in wars, but today they are used for farming, draft work, driving events and meat.

In France, the Ardennes stallions stand at about 1.62 meters high with mares standing at about 1.60 m and weighing between 700 and 1000 kilograms. They have a straight and slightly convex profile with a thick and broad face.

They are also muscular with a compact body, short back, sturdy legs and robust joints. The flocks are feathered and come in coats of palomino, gray, chestnut, roan and bay. They are free-moving and easy keepers.

4. Belgian Horse

belgian horse breed
Source: Wikimedia

The Belgian horse/ Belgian draft horse/ Belgian Heavy Horse is a draft horse breed originating from Brabant region of the modern day Belgium. It is among the strongest horse breeds and stands between 66 and 68 inches.

A mature breed weighs about 900 kilograms with a relatively small and well-shaped body. The American Belgian is tall with a flaxen mane and a chestnut coat. The ones in North America are much smaller than the European ones but with a similar build.

In some areas, they are kept for meat and are used for pulling heavy weights. This breed has a high occurrence of an inherited genetic disorder called the junctional epidermolysis bullosa. The disease causes the skin of newborns to lose large areas of skin resulting in euthanasia.

They are also very prone to chronic progressive lymphedema similar to the ones in humans. The breed has been domesticated as a working animal, but lately, it has become a popular show and pleasure horse.

5. Caspian

This little horse originated in Northern Iran, though it had pretty much faded from public consciousness until it was “rediscovered” in 1965. It has been disputed that the Caspian is actually the oldest form of domesticated horse still around today, because some horse remains were discovered in Iran that dated back to 3400 BC!

The Caspian is one of the rarest horse breeds around today, but breeding programs are in place, with these diminutive horses often being crossed with larger breeds like the Thoroughbred, as well as the Welsh breeds.

The Caspian horse is one of the few that is known as a horse despite it being small – it generally makes between 9 and 11 hands – because it shares characteristics of horses in conformation and gait.

These little powerhouses were used traditionally as cart and pack ponies, and the stallions were often raced, ridden by children. They have a kind and even disposition, and a gentle and honest nature, which makes them perfect for use as children’s ponies.

They can be suited to just about any discipline from dressage to gymkhana games, and have also been used for light driving.

6. Clydesdale Horse

clydesdale horse breed
Source: Wikimedia

The Clydesdale is a breed of the draft horse originating from Clydesdale, Scotland. It was developed from the Flemish stallions imported to Scotland and then cross-bred with local mares. The first Clydesdale breed was developed in 1826 and spread throughout Northern England.

Originally, it was a smaller breed, but nowadays, it features taller breeds. They come in bay coatings and show some white markings due to the presence of sabino genes.

At first the Clydesdale horse was used for haulage and agriculture, but currently, the Budweiser Clydesdales are used as drum horses in Britain. They stand between 64 and 72 inches and weigh about 910 kilograms, although mature males are much bigger.

The horses feature a slightly convex or straight facial shape with a wide muzzle and broad forehead. They are muscular and strong with an arched neck, clopped shoulder and high withers. They have powerful gaits and lifted hooves exuding energy and power.

As with the Belgian horses, the Clydesdales have also been identified to be at high risk for chronic progressive lymphedema.

7. Dutch Warmblood

dutch warmblood breed
Source: Flickr by LylithLusitana

A Dutch Warmblood is a type of warm-blooded horse developed through a breeding program that started in the 1960s in Netherlands. This breed is among the most successful horse breeds bred in the post-war Europe. Most Dutch Warmbloods have white marking and come in gray, chestnut, bay, brown and black coatings.

This Dutch breed features long legs but with a smooth topline and expressive head. The Dutch Warmblood is built uphill in a rectangular frame. The exact outline of this breed varies depending on the pedigree.

They are suitable for dressage and show jumping, but in North America, the breed is a popular choice for hunter ring. They are strong and live long due to their stringent breeding requirements and elite mares.

8. Exmoor Pony

The Exmoor pony is the oldest of the British native pony breeds that have roamed the open moors of south England, for centuries. They are believed to be descendants of the horses that walked into Britain before it was even an island.

Two features unique to this breed are the hooded upper brows to protect them from rain and wind, as well as the snow-chute- a group of short hairs on the upper part of the tail designed to channel rain down the horse’s body.

Exmoors are usually brown with broad foreheads, large pronounced eyes and small ears. Their ribs are well sprung and their bodies are deep. Their legs are short with well-developed bones and joint support.

Their height ranges from 11.3 to 12.3 hands for stallions and 11.2 to 12.2 hands for mares. They weigh an average 750 to 850 pounds and their general appearance is that of strength and balance.

9. Friesian Horse

friesian horse breed
Source: Wikimedia

The Friesian/ Frizian are a type of horse breed originating from Friesland, Netherlands. Their conformation resembles that of a light draught horse, although this breed is more graceful and nimble.

All through the middle ages, they were in high demand because they were used to carry the knight in armor during times of war. They almost became extinct, but have since grown in number and popularity. They excel in under saddle and harness activities. Lately, they are being introduced to the field of dressage.

They are often recognized by their black coat, although some are chestnut in color. They rarely have white markings. The horse has a great conformation with a powerful bone structure.

They feature long arched necks and well-chiseled Spanish heads with short ears. They have strong, sloping shoulders with compact, muscular bodies and low-set thick tails. Their limbs are short and strong while their hair is long and silky.

Today you’ll find two distinct types, the sports horse, and the baroque type. Both types are popular. They stand at an average height of 15.3 but may vary at the withers, mares or geldings.

10. Fjord Horse

fjord horse breed
Source: Pixabay

The Fjord horse/ Norwegian Fjord horses are a small but strong type of horses from the mountainous parts of Western Norway. They are a nimble breed of light draught horse breeds and are dun in color with five different variations in shades.

They stand among the world’s oldest breed and have worked as farm horses for many years due to their incredible strength. They excel in both under saddle and harness.

White markings are rare. The hooves are often dark, but some can be light brown especially on light-colored horses. The dominant color is dun because the breed is believed to be homozygous. The horses have some significant amount of light hairs on the outside edges of the mane and the tail.

Today, they are popular at the Norwegian riding and therapeutic institutions suitable for disabled people and children sporting activities.

11. Gypsy Vanner Horse

gypsy vanner
Source: Wikimedia.org

The Gypsy Vanner, also known as the Gypsy Cob, is one of Irish horse breeds. It is a small, heavily- built horse of cob and it is often skewbald or piebald. It is predominantly associated with the Romani and Irish travellers. The Gypsy Vanner comes in many colors, splash solid and tobiano.

Their distinguishing feature is the abundance of feathers from behind their knees, as well as a long free-flowing mane and tail. They stand at 14 to 15 hands and pose a temperament that is both engaging and friendly.

Originally bred to pull the Gypsy Wagon, these breed is now being used in many disciplines. You’ll see them pulling carriages and being ridden in the dressage ring. Overall, they are wonderful family horses and are popular therapy breeds due to their gracious nature.

12. Irish Draught

The Irish Draught, unsurprisingly, originated in Ireland, where it was used mainly for pulling heavy loads on farms. References to this breed date back as far as the 18th century, when it was well established following breeding the Irish Hobby with Iberian breeds, Clydesdales and Thoroughbreds.

The Irish Draught was bred to be suitable for all round work, including both in harness and under saddle. Due to the standards of farm life a few hundred years ago, they also had to be economical to keep, and these horses are still considered “good do-ers”.

An Irish Draught generally stands between 15.2 and 16.3 hands, and has a good, solid confirmation without being too heavy. They have kind, gentle characters and are not considered to be especially “hot” to handle and work with.

These horses are used for riding, eventing, showing and hunting, and they make excellent police horses due to their considerable strength and unflappable temperaments.

13. Haflinger Horse

haflinger horse breed
Source: Pixabay

The Haflinger or the Avelignese is a type of horse breed found in northern Italy and Austria. In the late 19th century, the breed was small with distinctive gaits and a chestnut color. Their current conformation and appearance stems from an infusion of various European and the Arabian breeds.

Similarly to Fjord Horse, the Haflinger was mainly used in mountainous terrains due to their hardcore nature. They are still in use in German and Austrian armies.

The breed is mainly chestnut in color, but it comes in other shades including light gold. The tail and mane are flaxen or white, and their height has increased to an average of 55 inches. It features a refined head and light poll with a medium neck. It has pronounced withers, broad chest, and slopping shoulders.

The back is muscular, and the legs are clean with flat wide knees. The canter and trot are elastic and show a clear definition of ligaments and tendons. They are used in harness tasks, light draft and various under-saddle activities such as therapeutic riding, dressage and endurance riding among others.

14. Icelandic Horse

horse breeds
Source: Unsplash

The Icelandic Horse is a descendant of the horses brought to Iceland by settlers over 11 centuries ago. In the early 1900s, these horses were used for travel and transportation purposes. In the 1940s, their role was coming to an end, but they have now been rediscovered and are used widely as sport and family horses.

The Iceland can be described as a rather small but sturdy breed. They weigh between 330 and 380 kilograms and stand an average of 14 to 15 hands. The breed comes in many coat colors and patterns, including dun, black, grey, pinto, roan, palomino and chestnut.

They have well-developed heads, with wide foreheads and straight profiles. Their necks are short and muscular while their chest is broad and deep. The legs are short and strong, and the mane and tail are filled with coarse hair. This breed is known to be hardy and an easy keeper.

15. Jutland Horse

Jutland Horse
Source: Wikimedia.org

The Jutland horse gets its name from the Danish peninsula of Jutland. This breed has been around since the middle-aged. The Jutland, as we know it today, was formed around 1850 when Shire and Suffolk horses were infused with Danish horses.

These horses have a medium sized compact body with short sturdy legs and strong quarters. Their legs are heavily feathered. They have gentle, expressive eyes, thick strong necks and long ears. Their shoulders are muscular, and their chest is deep and broad.

The overall impression one gets from looking at them is that of a strong, sturdy animal. They weigh between 650 to 800kgs and stand at an average of 15 to 16 hands. Some Jutlands are brown, but the majority are chestnut in color. This breed is docile and kind and is usually sued in agriculture and shows.

16. Knabstrupper Horse

knabstrupper horse
Source: Globetrotting

The Knabstrupper/ Knabstrup is a Danish horse breed that measures between 62 and 64 inches. There are also pony-sized breeds of below 60 inches.

They have an unusual collection of coat colors that range from solid to full leopard spotted hues and various variants in between. Still, some are born with solid colors of chestnut and bay. The spots result from a genetic mechanism known as Leopard complex, which is also found in Appaloosa horses.

It was first developed in 1312 in Denmark where a solid-colored stallion and a chestnut mare with leopard complex markings were used by horse breeders to produce a colt with dramatic spots. Later, the mare and her offspring were each bred with many other horses producing the Knabstrupper as a breed.

The horse does well in show jumping, dressage, circus, carriage and general riding. They are a brand in many European countries, Australia, Czech Republic and the United States.

17. Lusitano

lusitano horse
Source: Stallionsnow.com

The Lusitano Horse is a type of horse breed found in Portugal. This breed is very similar to the Andalusian horses of Spain. The two breeds are thought to have a common origin, but the Lusitano has resulted in a more rounded profile much like the Iberian horse while the Andalusian has developed a more oriental profile.

Their most distinguishing traits are a long head with a convex profile, narrowing to a curved nose, large conspicuous eyes inclined to an almond shape, a powerful neck with a tiny hairline giving off the impression of being upright, a short body with strong shoulders, a deep rib cage, clean legs with strong bone support- the hind legs sited perfectly under the axis, as well as agile movement with a smooth, comfortable ride.

18. Marwari Horse

marwari horse
Source: Wikimedia

The Marwari /Malani is one of the rarest types of horse breeds from the Marwari region of India. It comes in all equine colors. The breed is similar to Kathiawari breed and is known for its hardiness. It is between 58 and 62 inches tall although horses originating from different parts of India tend to have different heights.

The common colors are skewbald, piebald, white, palomino, chestnut, gray and bay. White horses are bred for religious reasons, but the gray ones are kept for their high value.

They have a straight facial profile with medium-sized ears that curve inwards. They can rotate their ears to 180 degrees. Other features include broad angular shoulders, deep chest, pronounced neck, sloping croup, long back, slender legs and small but well-built hooves.

They are easy keepers but can also have an unpredictable temperament. The breed is suited for sport, shows, horse safaris and ceremonial and religious purposes.

19. Morgan Horse

morgan horse
Source: Can-Do Morgans

The Morgan horse is among the earliest horse breeds bred in the US. It was used a general riding animal and was also used for harness sporting during the American civil war. It has influenced many American breeds and was exported to other countries in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The breed features refined and compact breeds with chestnut, black or bay color coatings. It is known for its versatility and is used in many Western and English events.

The Morgan horse has strong legs, a straight or slightly convex profile, an expressive head and a broad forehead. The eyes are prominent while the tail is attached high and gracefully straight. The back is short with strongly-built muscle hindquarters.

They stand between 57 and 62 inches. They excel in endurance riding, dressage, western pleasure, show jumping among other things. They have a gentle disposition and steady movement hence they are used in therapeutic riding programs.

20. New Forest Pony

The New Forest pony is a native pony breed from the isles of Britain. The breed is indigenous to New Forest in southern England, where horses have lived since the last ice age.

New Forest Ponies stand at an average 12.2 to 14.4 hands and come in many solid colors including brown, bay and grey. Other common shades include chestnut, black and roan. They are well built with a slightly sloping shoulder which gives them a straight profile, making them perfect for riding and driving.

They have a shortish neck and prominent head and most have great feet with strong hindquarters. They also have a calm temperament making them ideal for most pony lovers and also one of the best horse breeds for a first time owner.

21. Oldenburg Horse

oldenburg horse breed
Source: Wikimedia

The Oldenburg is a type of warm-blooded horse breed from the western part of Lower Saxony. It was developed on a mare base of an all-purpose carriage, though today they call it the Alt-Oldenburger.

The horses are tall with good gaits and hopping abilities. They are known for their liberal pedigree requirements and are mostly kept for private use.

The appearance of an individual Oldenburg varies, and you are safer describing any warmblood by its actual parentage. The horse is known for producing the most modern types of riding horses characterized by long legs and expressive heads.

They are built uphill with long, moderately sloped pelvis and long necks. They stand between 64 and 70 inches.

22. Paint Horse

The Paint horse is a breed that combines the characteristics of a pinto with white and dark colors and a Western stock horse. Its evolution can be traced back to the expedition of the Spanish Hernando, who travelled with one of the horses described as a pinto with white markings on his feet.

The other was a dark roan horse with white patches on its body. These were the forebears of the Paint Horses.

The Paint Horses have a distinct body with a broad chest and strong, muscular hindquarters. Their coat is a combination of white with an array of other colors common to most equines.

Their markings look like splotches of paint over the horse’s body but are actually divided into three categories: overo, tovero and tobiano – the three coat patterns required to be a Paint Horse.

23. Przewalski’s Horse

Przewalski’s Horse

This wild horse was once functionally extinct in the wild, but thankfully it has been reintroduced. Native to the Steppes of Central Asia, the Przewalski’s horse is considered genetically different from modern horses, and it has long been thought that it is the only remaining truly wild horse.

This breed has come so perilously close to extinction that at one point there were only a handful of animals, in zoos. Thanks to careful breeding and rehabilitation, many Przewalski’s have now been released back into their native Mongolia.

These horses stand between 12 and 14 hands, and are all a yellowish dun colouring. Like many wild horses, they have “primitive markings” such as striped legs and a dorsal stripe. The feet are considerably harder and longer than other breeds, enabling them to navigate the rocky terrain of their homeland.

Przewalski’s horses have never been domesticated, so they exist in the wild as they have done for thousands of years. There is no “use” for these horses, beyond reversing their critically endangered status, and encouraging the reintroduction of them into the wild, thus losing one less species to extinction.

24. Quarter Horse

american quarter horse
Source: Pixabay

American Quarter Horse is the most owned horse breed in the US today. This compact horse breed with excellent, sensible temperaments came about through breeding between the Thoroughbred and “native” horses in America.

Quarter Horses are usually a brownish red, or sorrel, color, however, many other colors are official recognized.

The American Quarter Horses are great at racing (competing with Arabians and Thoroughbreds) with their name coming from their ability to beat other horses in ÂĽ mile races.

It is also a breed that has a strong and natural instinct for work with cattle. It was early Quarter Horses that helped establishing the popular tradition of rodeo in the US.

25. Rocky Mountain Horse

rocky mountain horse
Source: Desktopdress

The Rocky Mountain Horse is a type of horse breed developed in Kentucky, U.S.A. It originated from the Appalachian Mountains and not the Rocky Mountains.

A stallion named Old Tobe was used to produce the modern day Rocky Mountain Horses in the mid-20th century. The breed is known for its chocolate color coating and flaxen tail and mane.

Originally, it was a multi-functional riding and driving animal, but today it is popular in working cattle and trail riding. The average height is between 58 and 64 inches.

They are known for their hardiness and ability to withstand extreme winters in mountain areas. They are also praised for their close similarity to humans.

26. Shire Horse

shire horse breed
Source: Aboutmanchester.co.uk

The Shire Horse has its roots in Britain. It is a breed of draught horse that’s usually gray, bay or black in color. It is a tall breed and has held the world record for being the largest and tallest horse for many years.

The breed has a great capacity for pulling weight and has been used to deliver ale to clients. It has also been used for commercial promotion, riding and forestry. In the UK, the stallions are at least 68 inches when mature. The geldings are 64 inches.

Its average weight is about 11000 kilograms. Its head is lean and long with large eyes set on the neck. The shoulder is deep and wide, the chest is broad, while the back is muscular and short with long and wide hindquarters.

They have minimal featherings on the legs and have beautiful, silky and straight hair. The shire horses have an easy-going temperament but have a high risk of suffering from chronic progressive lymphedema.

27. Tennessee Walking Horse

tennessee walking horse
Source: Wikimedia

The Tennessee Walking Horse/ Tennessee Walker is a breed of the gaited horse originally developed in the Southern United States for use in plantations and farms. It is known for its unique four-beat running and flashy movement.

The modern breed is described as elegant, refined and solidly built. It features a long neck, a well-defined head, and small ears. Its average height is between 59 and 68 inches and weighs about 540 kilograms.

The back is short with a strong coupling while the hips and shoulders are long and sloppy. The hindquarters are moderately thick and come in all solid colors and pinto patterns. The common colors include chestnut, black and bay. The designs include tobiano, sabino and avero.

The horse excels in trail riding activities both in Western and English regions. They are common in movies, TV shows and street performances.

28. Vladimir Heavy Draft

The Vladimir Heavy Draft is a horse which originated from Vladimir, in the former USSR. It is a sturdy horse of medium size with an all-round draft. It was developed in the Vladimir province in the 20th century.

Today, this Russian horse breed is found everywhere in the world. It is a quick maturing horse is popular for draft work.

The Vladimir Draft Horse has a large, long head, with a straight nose. Its ears are pricked forward and its neck is long and strong with powerful shoulders. The back, even though, very broad, can be weak.

The abdomen is tucked up and the croup is long with a distinct slope. The legs are short, while the hooves are round, broad and strong. The chest is more developed and is very broad.

It comes in a variety of colors, but its most common colors are black and chestnut. These horses stand between 15 and 16 hands and weigh an average of 1600 pounds.

29. Westphalian

westphalian
Source: Wikimedia

The Westphalian is a warmblood horse bred in the region of Westphalia in western Germany. It is closely affiliated with the stud farm of Warendorf.

Since the second world war, this horse has been bred to the same standards as other German warmbloods, and they are particularly suitable for pleasure riding and competitive dressage.

The Westphalian does not discriminate on color, however, some shades such as chestnut, black, grey and bay are rare. The best way to identify a Westphalian horse is by a brand on their left hip – a shield containing letter “W” which the horses receive when they are awarded at foal shows.

Final Words

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40 thoughts on “Horse Breeds: The 30 Most Popular Equine Types A To Z”

  1. With so many different kinds of horses out there to choose from I am happy to see that you broke this all down for me to learn from. The Arabian is clearly the most popular and probably the first one I would take a look at.

    Reply
  2. @ JAMES GRANT, Certainly Arabian horses are striking and VERY well known around the world. They are extremely popular in the Deserts of the Middle East and I’m fairly sure owning a Quarter horse over there would be like owning the automobile-Gremlin or Pacer here in the US. I know because my father purchased a used PURPLE GREMLIN for my sisters and I to drive around town. We never wanted to leave the house. That said, in America the #1 horse on homesteads are the ever versatile Quarter Horse. Lastly, I just thought you may want to know… Arabians have the UNDISPUTED title of the hotest headed horse in the world. People who have ANY education in horse care, riding, tacking etc… know you NEVER EVER start, in America, with a young Arabian as your first horse. Arabians are ONLY for very experienced riders with EXCELLENT balance skills, extremely good knowledge of how to release ANY and ALL undo pressures on the horse the moment he complies with any request. These horses do NOT tolerate bad riders. They are known to not even tolerate ANY rider but the ONE they are familiar with. Arabians are lovely, as are Saddlebreds, and Frisians, and of COURSE the stunning Thoroughbreds that also are hot horses in a general sense. They can be trained to be great hobby horses and trail horses. I know because I’ve trained mine after she retired from the race track. She’s been used in training children in beginning riding-but that is in NO way the norm. Most people should worry if someone wants to put their child on a retired TB race horse (OTTB). Bottom line, it isn’t ALL about the breed. Training- the WHEN and HOW the horse was trained make a massive difference in the outcome of any horse. Train some horses too early and they may be a resistant and trying horse for riding. Train with patience, kindness, not too long per session, using good care, lots of horse knowledge and what the baseline of a horse IS, what it fears, what it sees, smells hears, exposing it to BOTH sides of EVERYTHING because one eye may have seen the scary thing, but the other eye from the other direction sees it differently and may fright from how the light hits it, or how dark it is at that angle etc. That’s just one item of an unending book of things your horse needs for best care, support and trust in you, not to mention YOUR good riding techniques so you don’t hurt it’s back and make him hate to go out with you on a ride, or have him buck because he’s in pain and then others blame the horse. Horses aren’t bad. Riders are what cause a horse to do something unfortunate. Horses don’t run into trees when no rider is on them. They don’t part from the herd when they are alone or hang way back. They don’t go work them selves hard when they are lame or sick or have a virus when there is no rider on them. They don’t toss their heads and whip their tails and bite at other horses while they are just standing around chilling out. But they may do that with a rider that put a poor fitting or backward bit in their mouth or one that is pinching their gums, or a cinch belt is pinching. Or the saddle is rubbing their fur off and a bloody sore is forming under it. That may make them act “naughty”. All of THOSE things… BTW.. and Arabian would have launched a rider if a lesser move didn’t work immediately. A lot of horses will remove riders for that. Some in violent, fast ways, others in a little less frantic way but they get the point across. A rare few, especially schooling horses, may ride the whole ride putting up with it but hesitant and trying to send signals that it doesn’t want to do anything it’s asked. Horse breeds is never just about how they look. It’s not even about their typical temperament. It’s about WHO is caring for them and what they know, and what they don’t know.

    Reply
    • Thats not nessecarily true i have been riding an Arabian since i was five and hes never thrown me my other horse a warmblood has thrown me at least 3 times a month. so i get you may think that and you can have your opinion but i think otherwise arabians can be AMAZING first horse if they are treated right. when i was five we saved him from a kill pen and in a month and he turned into a champion show jumper. you may not think the same but Arabians can be very sweet and gentle horses.

      Reply
  3. hey how come welsh- isn’t on the lists of breeds because you have welsh and irish breed horses or if that wold be somewhere else on the list. so over all if u didn’t miss any out how many would there be? thanks for your help your sight was very ish useful found out about new breeds and they will help me in future when looking for more horses around the country…….

    Reply
    • Hello, I definitely agree! ! Welshies are the best. We’ve got three, a father and son who are section d”s and a section c mare. They are the most dependable, well chilled out, forgiving horse I have ever come across. I just adore them.

      Reply
  4. I think an extra zero slipped in to the description of the Shire horse’s weight. Otherwise, this horse rivals an Elephant!

    Reply
  5. For someone who has been around horses all of your life, I am surprised that you described horses heights in inches instead of hands. That is the only way to measure a horse from the wither to the ground.

    Reply
  6. What would you recomend for new beginner horses. Ones that are good with children and are calm and could be rode and almost like a pet. I am a teacher and have had some experiance with horses and am doing a BUTT LOAD of research on ALL the different breeds? I just can seem to find the perfect 5

    Reply
    • It would definitely vary based on many factors, but I would recommend speaking to your child about which discipline they are interested doing, English or western and based on your price range, child’s experience prior, and location in the world, but in terms of breeds for children I would highly recommend the welsh, Australian riding pony, Connemara, paint horse, POA, quarter horse or similar. More importantly you should speak to your child’s riding instructor to find a suitable pony. You would want to look for a sound pony, with good conformation and experience, for a child, the pony should be no less than 10 years old, with as much training as possible. Try to stay away from any green or lame horses. It is also advisable to steer away from any hot blooded horses with the exception of a few. I cannot stress enough how important it is for your child to gain experience with horses via lessons before purchasing a pony, as you would want to know roughly what your child is interested in within the sport. If you would like any clarification or elaboration, please respond to this comment, and good luck horse shopping ????

      Reply
    • yes especially morgans, and paints. my all time favorite tho is the Marwari and the Valdimir heavy draft. they are beyond buetiful breeds.

      Reply
  7. I’m glad to see a young horse woman such as yourself is a good speller. I’m 76 years old, got As in spelling all through grammar and high school and won spelling bees in business college. When I was a young lady, the best horse we had at the time was a cross between a Welsh pony and a horse. She stood 13 hands high and she reigned well enough for me to compete with her in Barrell racing.

    Reply
  8. Dear Nicky, As I said, I’m 76 years old and grew up on a farm in Port Orchard, Washington. I now live in Vallejo, California. I’m not nearly the expert you are, but I do fit into the category of life time horse lover. When I Barrell taced the Welsh/horse I spoke of, she naturally went around the barrels close enough do as not to cost her an extra second or two in time. She also never knocked over a Barrell. Thanks for reading my comments.

    Reply
  9. I absoluetly love the Oldenburg horse! so beatiful, and probably is very good at diciplines, i’m still looking for for a horse i want to get in the future and it’s possibly gonna be either this one, arabian, or a throughbred! fjords are also su cuteeeee! Thank whoever made this page, it taught me a lot about horse breeds 🙂

    Reply
    • Please correct me if i’m wrong about oldenburgs being very good at disciplines, i’m new in the equestrian world)

      Reply
  10. Different Horse Breeds:

    Andalusian
    Arabian
    Anglo-Arabian
    Appaloosa
    American Saddlebred
    Ardennes
    Buckskin
    Baden-Wurttemberg
    Bayerisches Warmblood
    Belgian Horse
    Canadian Horse
    Caspian
    Connemara
    Cleveland Bay
    Clydesdale
    Dartmoor Pony
    Danish Warmblood
    Dutch Warmblood
    Exmoor Pony
    Cheval de Selle Francais
    Fell Pony
    French Horse
    Fjord
    Friesian
    Belgian
    Gelderlander
    Belgian Warmblood
    Gypsy Vanner
    Hessen
    Halflinger
    Highland Pony
    Hackney Pony
    Hackney Horse
    Holsteiner
    Hunter
    Hanovarian
    Hungarian Warmblood
    Icelandic
    Irish Draught
    Swiss Warmblood
    Jutland Horse
    Knabstrupper
    Lipizzanner
    Lusitano
    Marwari
    Morgan
    Miniature Horse
    New Forest
    Noriker
    Anglo-Normand
    Oldenburg
    Polo Pony
    Paso Fino
    Percheron
    Palomino
    Pinto
    Paint
    Peruvian
    Polish Warmblood
    Przewalski
    Quarter Horse
    Rheinlander
    Rocky Mountain
    Rustic Pony
    Shetland
    Suffolk Punch
    Standardbred
    Shire
    Trotteur Francais
    Thoroughbred
    Tarpan
    Trakehner
    Tennessee Walking
    Viking
    Vladimir Heavy Draft
    Canadian Warmblood
    Welsh
    Westfalian
    German Warmblood
    Swiss Horse
    Wielkopolski
    Wurttemberg
    Swedish Warmblood

    There are more, but these are the ones I know.

    Thanks.

    Reply
  11. This website online is known as a walk-by way of for all the data you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse right here, and you’ll undoubtedly discover it.

    Reply
  12. Need an expert opinion! I contest that when people talk about “wild” horses, they are really talking about “feral” horses that were once domesticated. I contend that there is no such thing as a “wild” horse today.

    Thank you and look forward to find out if I’m actually wrong!

    Cheers

    Alex LIeb

    Reply
    • Actually, there is such thing as a “wild horse.”My friend found quite allot in Scotland and Ireland.He even tamed a few…

      Cheers!

      Reply
  13. I must say, I love the Gypsy Vanner and the Shire Horses.Beauty, elegance, and (if you got the correct,pure ones)perfect for racing!

    Reply
  14. Damn, I thought I understood the horse world, but Rocky Mountain Horse, Knabstrupper and Painthorse became a real discovery for me! It was interesting, thank you!

    Reply

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