Humans and horses have been living alongside each other for thousands of years, with images of horses appearing in Palaeolithic cave drawings as early as 30,000 BCE.
Our beloved equine friends come in different shapes, sizes and colours and every horse is unique. While not every horse shares the same characteristics, certain breeds are bred to fulfil certain roles which helps identify the breed that’s most suitable for your personal needs.
HOW MANY HORSE BREEDS ARE THERE?
There are over 400 different types of horse breeds across the world.
They tend to fall under the following categories:
- Draft Horses – These types of horses fall under the heavy horse category, they include Clydesdale, Shire, Breton, and Boulonnais. These working horses are historically known for their farm work or carrying soldiers in battles; bred to carry heavy loads they can pull up to six times their own weight.
- Light Types – This category of horses has a diverse range of weight and height and are bred for speed, endurance, and agility – they’re renowned for being excellent riding horses. Examples of the breed include Arabian, American Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred, and Appaloosa.
- Gaited Types – Known for their ability to move smoothly and gracefully, these types of horses are ideal for long-distance travel thanks to their stamina and endurance. Breeds found under this category include American Saddlebred, Icelandic Horse, and Campeiro.
- Pony Types – Ponies are typically horses that are under 14.2 hands high, or approximately 4.5 feet tall. With many of the same characteristics as larger horses, ponies were bred for similar activities, however, in modern times they have become ideal riding companions for both small children and adults. Breeds such as Shetlands Pony, New Forest Pony, and Exmoor Pony all fall under this category.
WARM BLOODED VS COLD BLOODED BREEDS
You might be familiar with the terms hot or cold blooded when describing horses but it’s more to do with their temperament, as well as the environment they evolved in, than their actual temperature.
Hot-blooded – These horses evolved in desert regions, such as the Middle East or North Africa and because of this they tend to have thin coats, long legs and speed, energy and stamina. They’re often used for racing and endurance competitions and are thought of as being highly strung. Hot blooded breeds include Thoroughbreds and Arabians.
Cold-blooded – These horses often come from European breeds and are thought of as more laid back. They have thicker coats, long manes and tails and heavier bodies and their strength and power mean they’re well suited to heavy agricultural work. (They can pull up to six times their own weight). Cold-blooded breeds include the Shire Horse, the Percheron and the Clydesdale.
Warm-blooded – These generally tend to be horses that are a combination of hot and cold-blooded breeds, having the best qualities of both – a mix of speed, endurance, agility and calm. They can be used for light farm work, sport or pleasure. Warm-blooded breeds include the Dutch Warmblood, the Holsteiner and the Appaloosa.
WHAT’S THE OLDEST BREED OF HORSE?
Some of the oldest horse breeds include:
- Icelandic Horse (1,000 years)
- Norwegian Fjord (2,000 years)
- Akhal – Teke (3,000 years)
- Mongolian Horse (4,000 years)
- Arabian Horse (4,500 years)
- Caspian Horse (5,400 years)
WHAT’S THE LARGEST HORSE BREED IN THE WORLD?
Traditionally, horses were used to perform heavy farm work, so needed height and strength. The Shire Horse is the world’s biggest horse breed, but others the Percehron and Beigian Draft are close behind.
WHAT’S THE RAREST HORSE IN THE UK?
The UK has some of the oldest horse breeds, each one representing part of our cultural and social heritage, but sadly some of them are endangered, vulnerable or at risk. The Eriskay Pony is the rarest horse breed in the UK, but other critical breeds include:
- The Cleveland Bay
- The Suffolk Punch
- The Hackney
- The Exmoor Pony
- The Clydesdale
WHAT ARE THE FIVE MOST COMMON HORSE BREEDS IN THE UK?
With hundreds of breeds to choose from, when it comes to selecting a horse it’s important to select one that’s right for you. Therefore, we’ve put together our list of five common horse breeds in the UK, to help guide you when looking at which breed may suit your needs and experience.
BEST FOR BEGINNERS: AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE
The American Quarter Horse is well respected by both novice and professional riders due to their generally calm, quiet, and passive nature, which is ideal if you’re learning to ride a horse, so they can be a great choice for beginners as they can be calmer and better behaved than their younger counterparts.
Always meet your horse and take a test ride, if possible, to ensure you and your new equine friend are both comfortable with each other.
- Looks: Short head, muscular neck, short body with powerful shoulders and hindquarters and strong legs.
- Characteristics: Calm, intelligent and good for training.
- Key Attribute: Strong and agile.
- Job: General riding, rodeos, and polo.
BEST FOR CHILDREN: NEW FOREST PONY
We could have chosen several ponies for this list, including Shetlands and Welsh Ponies, but the New Forest Pony won out for one simple reason; they can be ridden by adults too. New Forest Ponies are both large enough for many adults to ride and small enough to not be too intimidating for *younger riders. Their versatile size makes them the ideal pony for your child to grow up with. While they can be docile and friendly, it’s exceptionally important to find a horse that’s well trained for younger riders, to minimise any risk of injury.
- Looks: Long head, short neck, sloping shoulders, short back, and strong hindquarters.
- Characteristics: Intelligent, willing, docile, and friendly.
- Key Attribute: Hardy and has a straight action.
- Job: Riding all-rounders including pony & riding clubs, showing, hunting, jumping and dressage ponies.
BEST FOR ENDURANCE: ARABIAN HORSE
If you’re looking for a horse to compete in endurance events, your best bet might just be an Arabian as even though they’re strong, they still have a relatively light frame. When taking part in endurance events, you’ll need a horse with a good temperament and the will to keep going when conditions get tough. An Arabian could fit the bill perfectly.
- Looks: Chiselled head, dished face and long neck.
- Characteristics: Known for their ‘floating trot’.
- Key Attribute: Stamina and endurance over distance.
- Job: Often used in endurance riding
BEST FOR DRESSAGE: ANDALUSIAN
Throughout history, Andalusian horses have been well known for their use in classical dressage and still enjoy huge success in the event today. Known by some as the original dressage mount, Andalusians are renowned for their temperament, known to be smart, docile, and brave. These horses are particularly suited to more advanced dressage movements, especially airs above the ground. Andalusians aren’t only used in dressage though, and are suited to a wide range of tasks, like jumping, mounted athletics and general riding.
- Looks: A long head with a broad forehead and convex profile, long arched neck, with an abundant mane.
- Characteristics: Intelligent, docile, and calm.
- Key Attribute: They have a high knee action and are short-striding.
- Job: Competing in dressage.
BEST FOR RACING: THOROUGHBRED
Unsuitable for inexperienced riders, Thoroughbreds are one of the strongest, boldest horse breeds available. There’s a reason they’re the most popular breed of racing horses, as it takes an experienced rider with enough confidence and knowledge to channel the high energy of a Thoroughbred. But if you’re experienced and ready to take on the challenge, you may enjoy a strong ride with one of the most powerful breeds of horse.
- Looks: Deep chest, lean body and long, flat muscles.
- Characteristics: Known to be spirited and not for beginners
- Key Attribute: Fast, powerful, and energetic.
- Job: Used for eventing.
While this is by no means an exhaustive list of horse breeds, we hope it acts as a starting point on your journey to horse ownership.
Despite their majestic demeanour horses are still animals, and despite some breeds being renowned for certain characteristics, every horse is different. You can’t guarantee a horse’s temperament solely from its breed, which is why it’s worth making arrangements to meet your new four-legged friend to make sure they’re going to meet your needs.
As with any high-value item purchase, buying a horse doesn’t come without risks so it’s worth considering equine insurance. Here at The Insurance Emporium, we have several products to choose from, including Horse Insurance and Veteran Horse Insurance, Horse Rider Insurance, Horse Trailer Insurance and Trailer Hire Insurance. With different levels of cover, you can take the reins and tailor the cover to suit your needs. Take a look at our website, or give us a call for a free, no-strings quote today.
*The Insurance Emporium provides cover for horse riders from the age of 5 years old.
Not all horse breeds and activities intendent for the type of use mentioned in this blog are eligible for every type of insurance, and some may be excluded from coverage altogether.
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