Horse Breeds
Frequently asked questions about horse breeds
There are over 200 breeds of horses in the world. These are divided into thoroughbreds, cold-blooded and warm-blooded and were bred for a wide variety of purposes.
In the past, horses were needed as workhorses, military horses or pit ponies. Today, riding horses and carriage horses are in great demand. Due to the many different demands on horses, many different horse breeds have developed over the course of time.
What are the most popular horse breeds?
The most popular horse breed on average are Shetland ponies. Quarter Horses are close behind. Hanoverians followed by Oldenburgers, German Riding Ponies and Westphalians are also highly popular. Icelanders, Haflingers, Friesians and Holsteins are also among the top 10 most popular horse breeds.
Each horse breed has its own special strengths. Therefore, the decision of the most popular horse breed will also be individual for everyone. It is important to know which characteristics are important to you so that you can choose the right horse breed for you.
Which horse breeds are there?
Horses are divided into three groups. There are cold-blooded horses, warm-blooded horses and thoroughbred horses. These groups classify different breeds of horses according to their temperament.
Cold-blooded horses are heavy in build. They also have a calm temperament, are deliberate and slow in their movement. They are mainly used as working or draft horses. Well-known breeds include the Black Forest, Shire Horse and Tinker.
Warm-blooded horses have a light to medium build and temperament. They are elegant and swinging in movement and are used for sport as well as for leisure. Well-known breeds are Hanoverian, Westphalian or Oldenburg.
Thoroughbreds have a light build and a lively temperament. They are used as racehorses, eventers and endurance horses. There are, for example, Arabian and English thoroughbreds.
What is the oldest breed of horse?
The Caspian Horse is known to be the oldest horse breed in the world. The size is between 1 and 1.25 m. They are built like an Arabian and have a temperament like a thoroughbred.
Until the 1960s, it was thought that this breed was extinct until a woman from Iran found it. Near the Caspian Sea in Iran there were herds of Caspian Horses. At that time it was discovered that they are the oldest breed of horses. Among other things, they are the ancestors of the Arabian horses and are known to be able to jump up to 1.80 m high without a rider and up to 1.20 m high with a light rider.
What is the largest horse breed in the world?
The largest horse breed with the highest average height are Shire Horses. They can grow up to 2.05 metres tall and are gentle and strong-nerved. Originally from Great Britain, they are now found all over the world.
The world's largest living horse is Big Jake, a Brabant gelding. He has a height of 210.19 cm without horseshoes and weighs a proud 1,179 kg. The tallest horse of all time was again a Shire Horse. In 1850, the gelding "Sampson" had reached his record height of 2.19 m at the age of four. His weight was over 1.5 tons.