Top 10 Most Popular Breeds in the United States

 

   Hello fellow equestrians!  Today we will discuss the most popular horse breeds in the United States.  I may cover other countries in the future.  Let's begin naming the top ten most popular horse breeds in the United States!

     1.  Arabian Horses
   The oldest horse breed known to date, the Arabian breed is known for speed and agility.  This type can be easily identified from their features.  They have a dished face, a flowing tail, and large eyes. These are one of my favorite horses!

     2.  Quarter Horses
   Quarter horses are very common in the US.  They are muscular, stocky horses with a calm and easygoing nature.  I mainly see them in rodeos because of their reliability and speed.
 
     3.  Thoroughbreds
   If you've been to the Kentucky Derby, a popular horse race in America, you may notice that all the racehorses are of the same breed.  They are well known for their speed, agility, and its sweet attitude. They are very tall and muscular, which are very important factors in a race.

     4.  Tennessee Walkers
   These horses are a very elegant breed.  They have very smooth gaits and an awesome "running walk", which is very comfortable for long distance rides. They also have a very beautiful way of standing, with their legs behind their hindquarters in a sort of diagonal way.

     5.  Morgan Horses
   To me these horses favor Tennessee Walkers, since they have a particular way of standing similar to them.  Morgan horses are one of the oldest breeds in the United States, and they are known for their versatility.

     6.  Paint Horses
   Paint horses were used by Native American tribes, and they were prized for their ability to camouflage in tall grasses.  I find them similar to Quarter Horses, since they have a laid back nature and perform well in western riding. They can be Piebald or Skewbald in their coloring, which I will explain in another post. They are one color with white markings splotching their coat.

     7.  Appaloosas
   Like Paints, Appaloosas were highly regarded by Native American tribes for their coloration.  They also have a mix of white and a different color on their coat.  They are very hardy horses.

     8.  Miniature Horses
   These adorably tiny ponies can come in a variety of colors.  If you want to identify one, look for a pony 34-38 inches tall with stocky legs and a bushy mane and tail.

     9.  Warmblood Horses
   These horses encompass many other breeds such as Hanoverians and Trakhners.  They are a very athletic group and tend to appear in many English riding sports like show jumping and dressage.

     10.  Andalusian
   This breed originates from Spain.  They are known for their gray or bay color and long, thick manes and tails.  They are a very strong breed that excels in English riding.

   That's all folks!  This list may change at any given time, and it is valid as of 4/28/17.  A big thank you to wideopenpets.com for making this post possible.

Wide Open Pets: http://www.wideopenpets.com/10-most-popular-horse-breeds/
Arabian Horse Image: http://akuinnen24.deviantart.com/art/Arabian-Horse-Collage-112535655