The Quarter Horse
The Quarter Horse or “Quarter Miter” is the fastest horse in the world over short distances such as the quarter mile (approx. 400 m), as its name suggests. In the 17th and 18th centuries, English settlers in the eastern United States, in Virginia and the Carolinas, crossed local horses of Spanish (Genet, Andalusian) and Oriental (Arabian, Barb) stock with imported horses, English half-bloods, Galloway ponies and then Thoroughbreds, including the extremely prepotent Janus. The result was a fast, versatile workhorse.
In 1940, the American Quarter Horse Association was founded in Texas. This breed, the most represented in the United States, is extremely popular worldwide. It was imported to France in 1981.
Caractère et aptitudes du cheval
Endowed with an excellent, perfectly balanced temperament, this horse is calm, amiable, gentle, and malleable. Highly enduring and energetic, it is fast and incredibly agile. Capable of dazzling starts, it is a very fast sprinter over short distances. Low, very collected gaits not raised.
Utilisations du cheval
The cowboy’s ideal mount, this ranch horse is particularly suited to working cattle in close quarters. Now a leisure and sport horse, it is unrivalled in short-distance racing, western riding (halter tests, ground obstacles, etc.) and rodeo.
Morphologie du cheval
Small, short, broad head. Straight profile. Broad forehead. Well-developed gauntlets. Rather fine muzzle. Wide nostrils. Small, fine ears. Large, wide-set eyes. Powerful, compact body. Neck rather long, strong, slightly ruffled. Well defined withers. Very muscular, sloping shoulders. Broad fore chest. Deep chest. Short, compact, robust back. Wide, powerful loins. Exceptionally muscular, powerful hindquarters. Massive, rounded croup. Limbs hard, dry, fine, and short. Strong joints. Short cannons. Strong, deep hocks. Hard feet. Tail set rather low. Coat: all plain colors. Pies and appaloosa are forbidden. Size: 1.50 to 1.60 m.
