How to Identify Horse Breeds

How to Identify Horse Breeds. Being able to determine a horse's breed can do more than impress your barn friends. It can provide you with information about the horse itself. Additionally, if you're in the market for your own horse, knowing what breeds to look for --- and what breeds to avoid --- can take some of the stress out of buying a horse.

Step 1

Measure the height of the horse. Height can help identify a horse's breed. Horses are measured in hands, with each hand equaling 4 inches. Pony breeds will not exceed 14.2 hands. Thoroughbreds and other warmblood breeds are usually between 16 and 18 hands high. Draft horse breeds are even taller, approaching 20 hands in height.

Step 2

Observe the horse's color and markings. Some breeds of horses display markings or colors that allow them to be easily identified. Appaloosas have distinctive spots on their coat. Paint and pinto horses often have large splotches of color on them. Percherons are almost always grey or white and Fresians are always black. However, some breeds such as Quarter Horses can be any solid color.

Step 3

Notice how the horse is built. The shape of a horse can help indicate its breed. Quarter horses tend to have wide barrels and thick necks and legs, whereas Arabian horses have thin legs, narrow ribs and a "dished" face, where there is a soft concavity along their nasal bone. Shetland ponies have short legs, are very round, and have short necks and heads. Draft horses generally have short, thick necks, large hooves and sturdy legs.

Step 4

Pay attention to the horse's personality, as certain breeds tend to display specific behavioral traits. Warm and hot-blooded horses such as Thoroughbreds and Arabians are very energetic and sometimes skittish. Cold-blooded horses like Clydesdales, Percherons and Belgians are usually quite calm. Most ponies, such as Shetlands and Welsh ponies, are calm and even-tempered as well.

Step 5

Take into account what sport activity the horse is performing or intended for, as different breeds of horses are used for different activities or sports. All racehorses are Thoroughbreds, although there is a Quarter Horse racing league. Draft horses are often used on farms for pulling plows. Quarter Horses, Arabians, Paints and Appaloosas make good ranch and horses, while Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods and Irish Drafts are excellent jumpers and English riding horses.

References

• Local Riding: Breeds of Horses and Horse Breeds of the World
• Horse Channel: Horse Breeds
• Horses and Horse Information: Horse Breeds