The Quarter Horse is distinctly American. It's fast and powerful. Compact, but bulky - the thick belly is longer than the back. The horse's head is distinctly shorter and wider than a Thoroughbred, giving it a more bulldog-like appearance. Built for running, the knees are big and broad and give rise to very distinguished and muscular hindquarters.

Thanks to those massive thigh muscles, the Quarter Horse was first prized for its ability to sprint from a standing start. The first races were short, just a quarter-mile, giving rise to the name 'Quarter Horse.' After the introduction of the Thoroughbred and Thoroughbred racing, Quarter Horse racing fell out of popularity for a long time. However, the sport is rapidly gaining momentum again, with prize purses now reaching amounts much higher than those found in Thoroughbred racing.

After Quarter Horse racing first declined, the Quarter Horse found a home in the American West. Cowboys valued this swift and deft animal for its speed and agility. Cow ponies need to be limber and responsive for herding, and the Quarter Horse fit the bill perfectly. They are still used on cattle farms today, and also in rodeo exhibitions and competitions.

Though the Morgan is the oldest documented breed in the United States, the Quarter Horse has the distinction of being the oldest All-American horse. It was first bred in the early seventeenth century in Virginia. It is a cross between Spanish horses brought over by the Conquistadors and English horses shipped to Virginia in 1611. Those British horses are from the same running stock base breed that makes up the present day Thoroughbred. In fact, because of the revival of Quarter Horse racing, the Thoroughbred features in the breed are becoming more popular in contemporary breeding practices.

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American Quarter - Horses for Sale