Learning Different Horse Breeds
March 15, 2008 – 4:28 amBreeders are not the only ones who have the knowledge of different horse breeds. Many horse lovers do, too. The history of horse breeding as well as the features of different breeds are interesting learning that can give you a better understanding of these magnificent creatures.
Horses Yesterday and Today
It is important to first understand how the relationship between men and horses began before you try to learn horse breeds. Believe it or not, horses first became valuable to humans because they produced milk and could be eaten. Later on, however, humans realised that horses were strong and fast and began to use them to carry or draw loads and as a mode of transportation.
Today, different horses are bred to serve different human needs. They are no longer just used to do labors. Rather, they are more often kept for sports or leisure riding.
Horse Breeding
In order for the new-born horses to carry certain traits, breeders usually need to select specific male and female horses with the desired characteristics to mate. With the success of purposeful breeding, more horses are now bred in planned ways to meet specific needs. A widely known example is the racing horses. In fact, there are different registries around the world that document the various horse breeds.
It might be boring for an average person to learn the different horse breeds, but this is not the case for horse lovers. This is especially true for someone who is fond of horse racing or simply would like to get himself a horse. Often, knowing the breed of your horse would tell you what the horse is capable of doing and whether its price is truly justified.
Horse Varieties
Although there are many horse breeds, horses are generally placed under three main groups - pony, light, and heavy horses.
Ponies are the smallest kind of horses, and are known to many of us. Due to their size, some would even not consider them horses at all. Even so, ponies can be as hardy as other horses. Some breeds can carry adult riders and pull heavy loads. Because of their size and mild nature, ponies are often kept as pets by children. Examples of pony breeds are the Shetland and Welsh ponies.
Compared to ponies, light horses are much taller and faster and have a much sleeker look. Most light horses are used for riding and racing. In some cases, breeds of this kind also help with cattle rounding and carriage pulling. Examples of light horse breeds are Arabian, Thoroughbred, Appaloosa, Quarter Horse, Morgan and Standardbred.
There are also horses that are considered heavy horses like the Percheron and Lipizzaner breeds. You can well imagine these breeds as the preferred horses of ancient and medieval warriors. The horses had the power and mettle to carry men into battle. Of course, heavy horses were also preferred for heavy work in barns and farms.
Keep in mind that even within the same group, different horse breeds can carry very different traits. Hence, it is always important to understand what sets your horse breed apart from the rest.
Tags: Pets
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