A Guide To Organizing Horses
“Is a pony a horse? What is a mule? Can you really cross a horse with a zebra (and why would you want to)?” Horse organization is not so tough when you know the basics. Experts recognize six major categories of horses: draft horses, light horses, gaited horses, warm bloods, ponies, and non-horse equines.
Draft horses are bred to carry and pull heavy loads. They are tall (over 16 hands), heavy (more than 1,600 pounds), and strong. The average draft horse can pull more than twice its weight for short distances. For hundreds of years before the invention of machines, these big boys were the tractors, heavy haulers, and armored tanks of their day. The term “cold bloods” is used to describe the calm temperaments and levelheaded attitudes of draft horses. Clydesdales and Belgians are examples of draft horses.
What is the opposite of a heavy draft horse? You guessed it—a light horse. Light horses were bred for speed, agility, and riding. There are many breeds such as the American quarter horse, paints, and pintos. They can vary greatly in height, weight, build and color, but they have one thing in common—they were all bred for riding. Some light horses are called hot bloods and are known for their high-energy, excitable spirit, and agility. Thoroughbreds and Arabians are hot bloods.
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