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The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) was founded over fifty years ago but the history of the Quarter Horse in America began long before that. It was the first “American” breed in that was developed in this country. The Quarter Horse was around long before Justin Morgan had a horse.
The Quarter Horse is truly an American breed of horse. It was created to compete in quarter racing, one of the earliest forms of horse racing in America from crossing Thoroughbreds to the various other horses gentlemen had at the time.
The first records of horses racing a quarter of a mile in America show them being done at Enrico County, Virginia in 1674. They were match races (one on one between two horses) and were run down the village streets and country lanes. These races became a great spectator sport and by 1690 the interest in the races and the breed had grown. As the crowds and interest increased, large purses were soon awarded to the winner. At the same time a heavy amount of betting, disagreements and fights occurred as well. Some reports even state that grand plantations changed hands over the outcome of events.
The founding stallion for the Quarter Horse was a Thoroughbred named Janus, which was imported as a ten year old to America in 1756. Standing at stud for 24 years, he was bred to a wide variety of mares. Some were of Spanish origin while others were Thoroughbreds, Chickasaws, Galloways, Hobbies, Barbs, Arabians and many others of unknown origins. Janus ended as a famous sire of many of the greatest racers in Colonial America.
As the Colonial Americans moved west, so did the Quarter Horse. In the move, the pioneers found entirely different uses for the breed. One of the most active areas for Quarter Horse breeding was in the state of Texas.
With its explosive speed, good temperament and high intelligence the Quarter Horse became a favorite for herding cattle. One of the most influential horses for the breed in Texas was one named Copper Bottom. This was a chestnut horse that was sired by the Thoroughbred Sir Archy. Foaled (born) in 1828 and bred by Edward Parker in Lancaster, Pennsylvania Copper Bottom was brought to Texas in 1839 by the hero of San Jacinto, General Sam Houston. Copper Bottom lived in various areas of Texas with Houston until his death in 1860.
Another influential horse in Texas was Steel Dust. Foaled in Kentucky in 1843, Steel Dust came to Texas in 1844. During his lifetime he not only had an excellent race career, he also became an ancestor for many of the Quarter Horses we see today. Steel Dust died in 1864.
As the breed moved west, it developed into three distinct types, the “bulldog,” Thoroughbred and a popular in between type.
The bulldog type of Quarter Horse has massive musculature in its shoulders, large hindquarters and a body that can only be termed barrel shaped. It also has thick, solid bone in the legs.
The Thoroughbred type shows without doubt the many crossings between the Quarter Horse and the Thoroughbred. Its muscles aren’t as massive and the bones in the legs are much finer. It is much sleeker than the other types and has a longer neck and a rump that sets higher than the shoulders.
The in between or “intermediate” type of Quarter Horse has more muscle than the Thoroughbred type but not quite as massive as the bulldog. I has a substantial amount of bone, has a short back and a very deep body. It also has small ears and a full neck with a short head.
Quarter Horses are found in most colors. Paints, Pintos and Appaloosas are not permitted. The breed has intelligence and good temperament.
The breed went through a variety of names until the American Quarter Horse Association was formed in 1940. Its goal was to register and preserve the breed. The AQHA also set forth strict standards for the breed.
An American Quarter Horse is limited as to the amount of white upon its body. Allowing the white only on the face and below the knees, any horse with patches of white elsewhere is not permitted. There are thirteen accepted colors. They are the reddish brown “sorrel”, bay, black, brown, buckskin, dun, red dun, gray, chestnut, grullo and the golden palomino as well as the red an blue roans.
A horse can be registered with the American Quarter Horse Association by two methods. 1. Both parents are registered American Quarter horse.
2. One parent is a registered American Quarter Horse and the other parent is a Thoroughbred registered with The Jockey Club.
No horse with paint, pinto or appaloosa markings is allowed to register.
Today the Quarter Horse is still one of the most popular breeds of horses. It has retained its docile temperament, soundness of structure, cow sense and speed. Still seen on cattle ranches it has also become a staple of the rodeo scene.
Its surefootedness, good sense and speed make it a natural for all of the cattle roping, bull dogging and barrel racing events. If you have ever been to an American rodeo, you have seen a modern day Quarter Horse. Although they specialize in these types of activities, the Quarter Horse is still an everyday pleasure horse as well working well for adults and children but that isn’t the end of its uses. The Quarter Horse is also a star.
In 1991 the AQHA began the Silver Spur Award. This is the equine version of an Academy Award. There have only been three winners of the Silver Spur since it was begun.
The first winner was Plain Just Bar. Better known as “Cisco” the horse Kevin Costner rode in the movie Dances With Wolves. For those wondering, Cisco is alive and well after his heroic death scene. If you have ever questioned what exactly a “buckskin” colored horse was, Plain Just Bar is a perfect example.
The second winner of the Silver Spur was Docs Keeping Time. The star of the movie Black Beauty, Docs Keeping Time has been busy in Hollywood. He has appeared in Busch Beer commercials, The Horse Whisperer (Gulliver) and also in the Black Stallion series on Television.
The last winner of the award was Rambo Roman, the horse (Rimrock) Robert Redford rode in The Horse Whisperer. Supposedly Redford was so impressed with Rambo, he bought him outright as a pleasure horse.
The Quarter Horses wide range of talents in the movies and rodeo events as well as an ingrained ability to work cattle and as a pleasure horse will without doubt, continue to make it one of the most popular of horse breeds.
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