Most Popular Horse Breeds by Brianna Madigan and Bella Conrad

Most Popular Horse Breeds

By: Brianna Madigan and Bella Conrad

Source: About.com

	1. American Quarter Horse Well known for its agility, obedience, and athleticism. The American Quarter Horse has the largest breed registry (official list of animals within a specific breed) in the world. 20% of people voted for the Quarter Horse as their favorite breed.		6. Appaloosa This breed was recovered from near extinction by a few dedicated breeders. Sturdy, with beautiful coat patterns few people can disregard characteristics of this horse.
	2. Arabians The Arabian breed is the oldest registry in the world. Every light colored horse can trace their ancestry back to the Arabian.		7. Grade Horses Horses of no particular or known breeding are the eighth most popular horse voted on by readers of About.com Horses.
	3. Thoroughbreds A thoroughbred is an unmixed breed. A thoroughbred’s breed is best known for its use in horse racing. A lot of OTTBs (Off-the-Track Thoroughbred) find second careers as riding and steering horses both in competitive events such as dressage and jumping, and as good horses for backyard riding horses.		8. The Morgan Horse The Morgan Horse is the official horse breed of Vermont. The Morgan Horses use their muscles for tilling and clearing New England farms during the earliest years of American history. Today the Morgan Horse is popular for a driving and riding horse.
	4. Ponies What is a pony? A pony is like a horse but smaller. Many people have learned to ride on ponies. The determined Shetland and the more elegant Welsh Ponies are popular breeds.		9. Gaited Breeds A Gaited Horse moves in a way where one foot is alway on the ground.   They use less energy and can travel long distances without as much energy as a trotting horse. The grade horse isn’t that popular, about.com says.
	5. Warmbloods A lot of the European breeds were bred for for battle and tend to be larger boned and of more calm temperament than many light breed horses.		10. Draft Breeds The Clydesdale horse, the Percheron and other heavy horse breeds are the gentle giants of the horse world. Their job is usually to haul heavy loads. Draft crosses can make ideal first horses as they are often docile and gentle, according to about.com.