Stock Photos of Horse Breeds used in Equestrian Competition

A Brief History
The Clydesdale is a breed of draft horse derived from the very hard-working farm horses of Clydesdale, Scotland, named for that region. Thought to be over 300 years old, the breed was extensively used for pulling heavy loads in rural, industrial and urban settings. Commonly used into the 1960s when they were a still a familiar sight pulling carts of milk and vegetable vendors. They have been exported in the Commonwealth and United States where they are famous for their use as the mascot of various beer brands, including company Anheuser-Busch's Budweiser brand, Carlton & United Beverages and several others.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

At one time there were at least 140,000 Clydesdales known in Scotland; by 1949 just 80 animals were licensed in England and by 1975 the Rare Breed Survival Trust had listed the breed as "vulnerable". Clydesdales have since have come back in popularity and population, resulting in the breed's status being reclassified as "at risk" with an estimated global population of just 5,000 individuals. Clydesdales are now most numerous in the United States where recently over 600 foals are reportedly born each year. Clydesdale foals, like all horses, are born after an 11-month pregnancy. At birth, they weigh up to 82 kilograms (180 pounds). They are fast growers and for the first few months gain up to 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) per day; a Clydesdale mare needs to be capable of producing over 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of milk per day in order to support this rate of development. Today, the Clydesdale's most significant presence is in exhibition and parade.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

Appearance
Clydesdales are noted for their rugged grace and versatility; they are strong animals exceeding 18 hands (1.8 meters or 6 feet) in height and over one ton (2,000 pounds) in weight. A Clydesdale has a large head with somewhat arched profile, or Roman-nose, small ears, intelligent eyes and profuse forelock. The neck is generally straight, the chest deep, the shoulders with a lot of heavy bone. The back is rather short and a little curved, the withers high and the rump presenting a distinctively rounded silhouette. The legs should be long and strong with characteristically large hoof size, being about twice the width of a Thoroughbred race horse. The characteristic action of a Clydesdale is demonstrated at a trot. Despite its large size, the Clydesdale moves with an energetic quality described by the Clydesdale Horse Society as "gaiety of carriage and outlook." Clydesdales can be of several possible colors, including shades of bay, roan, chestnut, and black. Roan varieties are also common, the coat being flecked with white.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

Clydesdales have characteristic long hair, known as feather (never called feathers), on the lower legs, falling over the hooves. Usually white, the feather can occasionally be black or chestnut, depending on the color of the horse and the presence of markings. They have a range of characteristic white markings which are generally present regardless of body colour. The most distinctive are four white feet and a blaze, most often a full blaze or large, white "bald face" marking which extends to the lips and chin and sometimes extending to the eye region. White on the legs does not always extend much above the feather, but in many cases, when a horse carries the sabino colouring pattern, it can extend up the greater part of the leg and even merge with a white underbelly. On the other hand, Clydesdales can also have one or more dark legs, either mixed with white hairs, or a solid shade of black or brownish-red. Hooves will match the corresponding leg color, dark or light, at the point where the skin of the leg meets the hoof wall, sometimes resulting in a striped or two-toned hoof. Horses with white muzzles often have distinctive black spots around the lips and chin.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

In Show
Clydesdales and other draft horse breeds are judged in performance when driving in harness and in halter. In the Halter competition, horses are judged according to the ideal standard held in the judge's mind. This is subjective and each judge may have different values in what they consider ideal. Importance is given to the legs and overall presence of the horse, as well as its movement. The ideal Clydesdale hind leg varies greatly from that of light horse breeds. The gaskin must be at about a 45 degree angle and well muscled. The hock broad and square and free from any blemish. The hind cannon bone is long, 'flat and square'. The set of the hind legs should be very close ideally touching with long pasterns at a 45 degree angle. On the move the horse must move with a long ground covering gait. In the front the horse should have a naturally high step. The body should be fairly short in length well muscled and fit. The back is short and tight, and the shoulders well sloped and never straight. The horse should have a good depth of body both in the chest and in the rump. The horse should also have a nice sloped croup with a high tail set. The neck should be long and slightly arched connecting into the shoulders. The forehead should be broad and flat; the head held high. The feather or leg hair should be long and silky to emphasize his gait.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

Size is a factor, but more important is the build of the animal; its appearance should be that of a strong, healthy and heavy horse with no excess bulk. Color and pattern are generally not considered, although coloration should be vivid and white markings ought to be a bright white. Much care is giving by exhibitors to have their animals carefully turned out for the show ring.

In performance classes the way the animal behaves in harness is important. Cart horses move around the ring with a very high effortless gait, taking a lot of ground with each step. The head is held high and the ears erect. Horses should be responsive to the driver and make transitions easily. In teams and multiple hitches the way in which the horses work together and the hitch as a whole is judged. Aside from their use in traditional agriculture and in the show ring, Clydesdales are also ridden under saddle. They are used in both therapeutic and recreational trail riding.

Characteristics
The Trakehner is generally of a lighter type than most other warmbloods. The name derives from Trakehnen , the site of the Main Stud (de:Gestüt Trakehnen) in Prussia (since 1945, Yasnaya Polyana, Kaliningrad Oblast). The Trakehner typically stands between 15.2 and 17 hands high. Trakehners can be any color, with bay, gray, chestnut and black being the most common, though the breed also includes few roan and tobiano pinto horses. It is considered to be the lightest and most refined of the warmbloods, due to its closed studbook which allows entry of only Trakehner, as well as few selected thoroughbred, and arabian lines.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

Breed Characteristics
Because of its thoroughbred ancestry, the Trakehner has a rectangular build, with a long sloping shoulder, good hindquarters, short cannons, and a medium-long, crested and well-set neck. The head is finely chiseled, narrowing at the muzzle, with a broad forehead. It is known for its "floating trot" - full of impulsion and suspension. The Trakehner possesses a strong, medium-length back and powerful hindquarters.
Trakehners are athletic and trainable, with good endurance, while some are more spirited than horses of other warmblood breeds. Trakehners breed true to type, due to the purity of the bloodlines, making it valuable for upgrading other warmbloods.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

Today in Germany the breed is considered a federal responsibility, with its governance falling under both the Trakehner Verband and the Trakehner Gesellschaft mbH; the latter handling all business operations.
Stallion inspections are held in Neumünster, Germany, each October and approved stallions are required to complete extended performance tests, which rate the horses' gaits, temperament, jumping ability, and suitability over a cross country course, before being given full breeding licenses.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

The Trakehner is used as a "refiner" of other breeds, allowing an infusion of Thoroughbred and Arabian blood without the risks often involved in first generation outcrosses. Influential stallions include Abglanz for the Hanoverian, Herbststurm who influenced the Oldenburg, Marco Polo for the Dutch Warmblood, the stallions Ibikus and Donauwind for the Danish Warmblood, and Polarstern for the Swedish Warmblood.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

While Trakehners compete in nearly all equestrian disciplines, they are particularly prized as Dressage mounts, due to their sensitivity, intelligence and way of going. Peron anchored the U.S. Team to an Olympic Bronze in 1996 at Atlanta. Abdullah, by Donauwind, is particularly famous for his show jumping team gold and individual silver medals at the 1984 Olympics and 1985 World Cup win. Heuringer was the 1994 show jumping team silver medallist at the 1994 World Equestrian Games.

For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

The History
The Oldenburg is a breed of horse originating in Germany. They are most popular for use today in the sports of dressage and show jumping.
The Oldenburg was first bred in Lower Saxony, Germany. The foundations were first laid by Count Johan von Oldenburg in the late 16th century. He bred Friesian mares with Danish, Turkish, Neopolitan, and Andalusian stallions to produce large war horses. His son, Count Anton, traveled Europe and brought home the finest Spanish and Italian stallions, to add speed and strength. His tenant farmers were also allowed to breed from his stallions, establishing the tradition of small, private studs that is still common with the breeders in that region today.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

In the 17th century, the Oldenburg became a well-known coach horse, admired for its height, power, and elegance. It was also used as a riding horse. In the 18th century, Thoroughbred blood was added to refine the breed. In 1820, it became illegal to use any but a government-approved stallion for breeding, but it wasn't until 1861, that the Oldenburg stud book was established. In 1897, Oldenburg breeders brought Thoroughbreds, Cleveland Bays, Yorkshire Coach Horses, Normans, and some Hanovarians to further improve the breed.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

In the earlier part of the 20th century, the Oldenburg was still being used as a high-stepping coach horse, as well as on farms. But as machinery replaced horse power, the stud owners decided to breed for an all-around riding horse. In the 1950s, the Thoroughbred Lupus and the Anglo-Norman Condor founded a new Oldenburg stallion line, which produced heavy but elegant mares. From that point, only the finest of European livestock have contributed to the breed. Thoroughbreds were used first to refine the Oldenburg, then Trakehners, Anglo-Normans, Anglo-Arabians, Selle Francais, Hanoverians, and Westphalians. The resulting horse is an excellent sport horse that is more refined than its predecessors.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

The Oldenburg Today
The Oldenburg has been especially successful in the dressage arena. Famous dressage horses include Donnerhall and Gestion Bonfire, as well as Relevant.
To be approved for breeding, a stallion must be certified by a licensing commission from the Oldenburg breed society. Several hundred horses are inspected at the age of 2.5, and the best 75-85 horses are then placed through a 3-day test, judged on their conformation and type. On the final day, the best of this smaller group are then chosen to be graded, with the most excellent earning the title of "Premium Stallion."
Mares must also be inspected for breeding purposes, being placed in one of (4) Mare Books. Inspection is inhand, on the triangle first at trot then at walk. Overall scores plus pedigree requirements dictate which book the mares will enter into. Foals are inspected as sucklings or weanlings for foal papers, their original pink papers which verify parentage and breeding.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

Breed Characteristics
The Oldenburg have a range of types within the breed. But all Oldenburg stock are chosen for their athletic ability, calm temperament, and strength. They are breed specifically for use as sport horses, and excel both in show jumping and in the dressage arena. The horses have several characteristics that are found in most of the world's sport horses of today: a sloping shoulder, long neck, and strong hindquarters. The breed comes in a variety of colors, although bay, black, and brown are the most common. The horses are usually 16.1-17.2 hands high, and are generally very trainable. They are not noted for speed, and have high knee-action from their carriage-horse days, but this does not detract from their abilities as a show jumper.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

Dutch Warmblood

The Dutch Warmblood is a breed of horse developed for competition that has gained wide recognition in dressage. Developed through a breeding program that began in the 1960s, it is one of the most successful horse breeds developed in postwar Europe.

History
In the 1950s, the Dutch Warmblood came about by crossing the Gelderlanders with the Groningen, and then refining the horse with Thoroughbred. The Gelderlanders gave the new breed its excellent forequarters. The Dutch Warmblood is one of the most successful of the post war competition horses, and one of the most skillfully promoted. Marius, sire of the fabulous Mliton {show jumper}, was an exceptional representative of the breed and has to be regarded as one of the great show jumping stallions of recent years. Dutch Courage, the dressage horse produced by the British Olympic rider Jennie Loriston-Clarke, was significant in establishing the breed's reputation in Britain.


For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

Breed Characteristics
The Dutch Warmblood averages 16.2 hands but can reach up to 18 hands at the withers. An eager, reliable, and intelligent breed, these horses were bred to be first class dressage and show jumping horses, but do well in pleasure and almost any kind of riding. Its coat can be chestnut, bay, black, or Dappled. Dutch Warmbloods are known for their enormous scope for jumping. Many Dutch Warmbloods are seen at Class A hunter shows all across the United States. Many champion hunters in the United States are Dutch Warmbloods. Stallions have to pass rigorous tests to be bred. They are judged on temperament, athletic ability, aptitudes, and intelligence as well as conformation and movement.


For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

Breeding
Essentially, the Dutch Warmblood is the product of an amalgamation of two of Holland's indigenous breeds, the Gelderlander and the Groningen. The former is a good-moving carriage horse of presence that can also be used under saddle; the latter is heavier and has very powerful quarters. When they were combined, the base for a competition horse was created. This base was subsequently adjusted, in respect of temperament and conformation by crosses with French and German Warmbloods.
pared to other warmbloods.

Danish Warmbloods

The Danish Warmblood is the modern sporthorse breed of Denmark. Initially established in the mid-20th century, the breed was developed by crossing native Danish mares with elite stallions from established European bloodlines.


For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

History Of The Breed
The Dansk Varmblod registry was established in mid-20th century. The registry oversees the registration of Danish warmblood foals and approves stallions for breeding. As with most warmblood studbooks, only stallions who meet certain standards are permitted to breed. Foals with approved pedigrees may receive a brand depicting a crown over a wave. One of the more recent of the selectively bred European competition horses is the Danish Warmblood, whose stud book wasn't opened until the 1960s. In a relatively short space of time, however, Danish breeders have succeeded in producing a competition horse they claim to be of superior quality and more versatility than many of the European breeds.

Present Day
While still a young breed, Danish warmbloods are currently represented at international competitions in both dressage and show jumping. The Danish Warmblood is still an uncommon breed in the United States; however in 2001 a North American Danish Warmblood Association was formed to promote the breed in the U.S.


For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

Characteristics
The best Danish horses have a Thoroughbred outline that is combined with substance, strength, and good legs. They are courageous and spirited, have excellent temperaments, and good, free action. They are brillant dressage horses and make first-class performers in cross country. Danish horses also make great show jumpers, as well as under saddle. They can be all solid colors and stand anywere from 16.2 to 17 hands. The coat colors can be any solid color.


For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

Breeding
The Danish Warmblood was founded on Frederiksborg stock, crossed with the Thoroughbred. The resultant local mares were bred to Anglo Norman stallions, Thoroughbreds, and Trakehners. The mix was adjusted to produce a sound horse of excellent conformation, relatively fixed in type, and with scope and galloping agility. The Hanoverian influence is absent in the Danish Warmblood, which may account for its distinctive character compared to other warmbloods.

For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

Markings
The distinctive coat patterns of the Appaloosa make them the most easily recognizable of all light horse breeds. A stereotypical colored Appaloosa is a dark body with a spotted white blanket over the hips. Coat patterns can vary from "snowflake" which is a darker body with lighter speckling, to the "leopard" with a white body and dark spots over the entire body. Appaloosa horses are easily identified and no two are exactly alike. Appaloosas share three characteristics: mottled or freckled skin, most noticeable around the muzzle, eyes and genitalia; the hooves have clearly defined vertical light and dark stripes, a trait that gives them exceptionally durable hooves; and eyes have a white sclera encircling the iris much like that of the human eye.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

The Appaloosa grows to be an average sized light horse standing 14.2 to 15.2 hands at the withers and weighing about 1000 lbs. They are known for their quiet temperament, strong endurance and wide range versatility. The Appaloosa breed is a colorful horse and can be used in any equine interest. Within the breed there are bloodlines that have become specialists like most other light horses. These bloodlines lean toward a predisposition to certain desired physical traits and behaviors. For example, some bloodlines are known for their speed in racing; some have exceptional cow sense for cutting and roping; others are athletic jumpers or dressage horses. For the recreational rider, the Appaloosa horse offers a quite willing companion.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

History
The spotted horse, known as the Appaloosa, existed long before recorded history, and is one of the oldest recognizable breeds. Horses with spotted coats were depicted on cave walls in France dating about 18,000 B.C. and on statues and pottery in ancient China. He was known as the Sacred Horse of Nisasea, the Heavenly Horse and Le Tigre depending on which region of the Old World he was found. Prized and selectively bred, by the 1600's he had been developed into a stylish breed with sleek conformation and brilliant coat markings.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

It is believed the spotted horse was imported to Mexico, wandered its way north and by the early 1700's, was acquired by the Nez Perce Indians of the Northwest. The Nez Perce's selective breeding practices enabled them to develop their horses into superb animals with intelligence, courage, speed and stamina. Their spotted horse became known as "a Palouse horse" so called because so many of them were seen along the Palouse River. It wasn't long before they were called by the modern name, Appaloosa. By the 1870's, advancement of the white man into the secluded northwest, changed life for the Nez Perce people. Forced to leave their homelands for a reservation, Chief Joseph, his people and their horses attempted to flee to Canada. For almost four months and covering 1100 miles of extreme terrain, the Nez Perce continued to elude General Howard and the cavalry. In October of 1877, with his people weak from cold and hunger, Chief Joseph surrendered, but not before White Bird and some of the Nez Perce escaped to Canada with several Appaloosa horses.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

Stories had reached many people of how the spotted horses aided the Nez Perce in their flight and this created a demand for the Appaloosa. Many were sold off to white men who bred them indiscriminately only to produce the fancy coat patterns. Conformation and quality didn't matter and the fine Appaloosa breed was nearly destroyed.



For more stock photos and vector illustrations to use in your designs, sign up with IStockphoto here.

Efforts to revive the Appaloosa horse to its former greatness were undertaken in both the United States and Canada. Individual horses with the desired characteristics were sought out and breeding programs established that would enable the Appaloosa horse to make a comeback. The Appaloosa Horse Club of Canada was formed in 1954 through the efforts of James Wyatt, an Alberta rancher and Dr. Grant MacEwan. Today the ApHCC is a strong organization that provides programs for all Appaloosa enthusiasts and maintains the official registry for Appaloosa horses in Canada as recognized under the Animal Pedigree Act.

The Arabian horse is a breed of horse with a reputation for intelligence, high spirit, and outstanding stamina. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in the world.



Arabians are one of the oldest horse breeds. There is archaeological evidence of horses that resemble modern Arabians dating back 4,500 years. Throughout history, Arabian horses from the Middle East spread around the world by both war and trade, used to improve other breeds by adding speed, refinement, endurance, and good bone. Today, Arabian bloodlines are found in almost every modern breed of riding horse.

The Arabian developed in a desert climate and was prized by the nomadic Bedouin people, often being brought inside the family tent for shelter and protection. This close relationship with humans has created a horse breed that is good-natured, quick to learn, and willing to please. But the Arabian also developed the high spirit and alertness needed in a horse used for raiding and war. This combination of willingness and sensitivity requires modern Arabian horse owners to handle their horses with competence and respect.



"The Versatile Arabian" is a slogan of the breed. Arabians compete today in many fields of equestrian activity, making the breed one of the top ten most popular in the world. Arabian horses are now found worldwide, including the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, continental Europe, South America (especially Brazil), and its land of origin, the Middle East.

Breed characteristics
Arabian horses have refined, wedge-shaped heads, a broad forehead, large eyes, large nostrils, and small muzzles. Most display a distinctive concave or "dished" profile. Many Arabians also have a slight forehead bulge between their eyes, called the "jibbah" by the Bedouin, that adds additional sinus capacity, believed to have helped the Arabian horse in its native dry desert climate. Another breed characteristic is an arched neck with a large, well-set windpipe set on a fine, clean throatlatch. This structure of the poll and throatlatch was called the mitbah or mitbeh by the Bedouin, and in the best Arabians is long and somewhat straight, allowing flexibility in the bridle and room for the windpipe.



Other distinctive features are a relatively long, level croup and naturally high tail carriage. Well-bred Arabians have a deep, well-angled hip and well laid-back shoulder. Most have a compact body with a short back. Some, though not all, have 5 lumbar vertebrae instead of the usual 6, and 17 rather than 18 pairs of ribs. Thus, even a small Arabian can carry a heavy rider with ease. Arabians usually possess dense, strong bone, sound feet, and good hoof walls. They are especially noted for endurance.

Size
The breed standard for Arabian horses, as stated by the United States Equestrian Federation, describes the Arabians as standing between 14.1 and 15.1 hands (140-155 cm) tall, "with the occasional individual over or under." Thus, all Arabians, regardless of height, are classified as "horses," even though 14.2 hands is the traditional cutoff height between a horse and a pony. Because many horse owners in Europe and the Americas prefer taller animals, the Arabian has been bred for increased height, and many Arabians today are between 15 and 16 hands (60-64 inches at the withers).



Temperament
For centuries, Arabian horses lived in the desert in close association with humans. For shelter and protection from theft, prized war mares were sometimes kept in their owner's tent, close to children and everyday family life. Only horses with a naturally good disposition were allowed to reproduce. The result is that Arabians today are one of the few breeds which the United States Equestrian Federation allows children to exhibit stallions in show ring classes limited to riders under 18.

On the other hand, the Arabian is also classified as a "hot-blooded" breed, a category that includes other refined, spirited horses bred for speed, such as the Thoroughbred and the Barb. Like other hot-bloods, Arabians' sensitivity and intelligence enable quick learning and greater communication with their riders. However, their intelligence also allows them to learn bad habits as quickly as good ones. They can quickly lose trust in a poor rider and do not tolerate inept or abusive training practices.



Influence on other horse breeds
Because of the genetic strength of the desert-bred Arabian horse, Arabian bloodlines have played a part in the development of nearly every modern light horse breed, including the Thoroughbred, American Quarter Horse, Morgan, American Saddlebred, Appaloosa and Warmblood breeds such as the Oldenburg and the Trakehner. Arabian bloodlines have also influenced the development of the Welsh Pony, the Marwari and the Percheron draft horse.

Today, people cross Arabians with other breeds to add refinement, endurance and soundness. In the USA, Half-Arabians have their own registry within the Arabian Horse Association, which includes a special section for Anglo-Arabians, an Arabian-Thoroughbred cross. Some crosses originally registered only as Half-Arabians became popular enough to have their own breed registry, including the National Show Horse, an Arabian-Saddlebred cross; the Quarab (Arabian-Quarter Horse); the Welara (Arabian-Welsh Pony); and the Morab (Arabian-Morgan). In addition, some Arabians and Half Arabians have been approved for registration by some Warmblood registries, particularly the Trakehner registry.

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word "thoroughbred" is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are considered a "hot-blooded" horse, known for their agility, speed and spirit.



The Thoroughbred as it is known today was first developed in 17th and 18th century England, when native mares were crossbred with imported Arabian stallions. All modern Thoroughbreds can trace their pedigrees to three stallions originally imported into England in the 1600s and 1700s, and to 74 foundation mares of English and Oriental (Arabian or Barb) blood. During the 1700s and 1800s, the Thoroughbred breed spread throughout the world; they were imported into North America starting in 1730 and into Australia, Europe, Japan and South America during the 1800s. Millions of Thoroughbreds exist worldwide today, with over 118,000 foals registered each year worldwide.



Thoroughbreds are used mainly for racing, but are also bred for other riding disciplines, such as show jumping, combined training, dressage, polo, and fox hunting. They are also commonly cross-bred with other breeds to create new breeds or to improve existing ones, and have been influential in the creation of many important breeds, such as the Quarter Horse, the Standardbred, the Anglo-Arabian, and various Warmblood breeds.

Thoroughbred racehorses perform with maximum exertion, which has resulted in high rates of accidents and other health problems. Racing has been proven to have a higher fatality rate than all other legal human and animal sports. Also, Thoroughbreds are prone to other health complications, including bleeding from the lungs, low fertility, abnormally small hearts and a small hoof to body mass ratio. There are several theories for the reasons behind the prevalence of accidents and health problems in the Thoroughbred breed, and research continues into how to reduce the accident rate and treat those animals that are injured.



Naturally athletic, with a generally strong work ethic, the Thoroughbred excels in many equestrian sports. While other breeds are currently more popular than the Thoroughbred in dressage and show jumping, certain individuals of the breed are competitive at the top levels. Flowing, long gaits, good jumping form and the ability to go with speed makes the Thoroughbred a top show hunter as well.

The Thoroughbred mare Touch of Class helped win the show jumping gold medal for the United States Equestrian team at the 1976 Summer Olympics, and the Anglo-Arabians on the French dressage team helped earn that nation a bronze medal at the 1936 Olympics.

Of all the equestrian sports, the Thoroughbred is probably most suited for eventing, and dominates the highest levels: almost all Olympic or World Championship horses are full or part-Thoroughbred. The breed is most suited for the cross-country phase, due to its long stride, natural speed and stamina, as well as its athletic jump.

Thoroughbreds are also the most common breed for use in polo. They are seen in the fox hunting field as well.

Paints
The American Paint Horse is a breed of horse that combines both the conformational characteristics of a western stock horse with a pinto spotting pattern of white and dark coat colors. Developed from a base of spotted horses with Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred bloodlines, the American Paint Horse is now one of the fastest-growing breeds in the United States.

Registration
The American Paint Horse's combination of color and conformation has made the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) the second-largest breed registry in the United States. While the colorful coat pattern is essential to the identity of the breed, American Paint Horses have strict bloodline requirements and a distinctive stock-horse body type. To be eligible for registry, a Paint's sire and dam must be registered with the American Paint Horse Association, the American Quarter Horse Association, or the Jockey Club(Thoroughbreds). At least one of the parents must be a registered American Paint Horse.

In addition to bloodlines, to be eligible for the Regular Registry of the American Paint Horse Association (APHA), the horse must also exhibit a "natural paint marking", meaning either a predominant hair coat color with at least one contrasting area of solid white hair of the required size with some underlying unpigmented skin present on the horse at the time of its birth. Or, in the case of a predominantly white hair coat, at least one contrasting area of the required size of colored hair with some underlying pigmented skin present on the horse. Natural Paint markings usually must cover more than two inches and be located in certain designated areas of the body.

Solid colored offspring of two registered Paint parents, called "Solid Paint-Breds" or "Breeding Stock Paints," are also eligible for registration, with certain restrictions. They are not able to participate in some recognized Paint breed shows, but there are alternative programs offered, and many incentive programs within the registry are available to Solid Paint-bred horses. If a solid-colored horse is bred to a regular registry Paint horse, it is possible to produce a spotted foal. In some cases, such as the recessive Sabino patterns, even a solid colored horse may still carry genes for color. However, in the case of the dominant Tobiano and Frame Overo patterns, a Breeding Stock Paint will not carry these color genes, though it may retain other desirable traits.

Color
Each Paint Horse has a particular combination of white and another color of the equine spectrum. Most common are horses with white spots combined with black, bay, dark bay, and chestnut or sorrel. Less common are horses with spots that are palomino, buckskin, gray, cremello, perlino, various shades of roan, or various shades of dun, including grullo.

Spots can be any shape or size, except Appaloosa patterning, and located virtually anywhere on the Paint's body. Although Paints come in a variety of colors with different markings, these are grouped into only four defined coat patterns: overo, tobiano and tovero and solid.

Breeding Stock Paints can sometimes showcase small color traits, particularly if they carry the Sabino gene. Such traits include blue eyes, pink skin on lips and nostrils, roan spots, and minimal roaning.

Terms for color patterns defined
* Tobiano: The most common spotting pattern, characterized by rounded markings with white legs and white across the back between the withers and the dock of the tail, usually arranged in a roughly vertical pattern and more white than dark, with the head usually dark and with markings like that of a normal horse. i.e. star, snip, strip, or blaze.
* Overo: Spotting pattern characterized by sharp, irregular markings with a horizontal orientation, usually more dark than white, though the face is usually white, sometimes with blue eyes. The white rarely crosses the back, and the lower legs are normally dark.
* Sabino: Often confused with roan or rabicano, sabino is a slight spotting pattern characterized by high white on legs, belly spots, white markings on the face extending past the eyes and/or patches of roaning patterns standing alone or on the edges of white markings. In some registries, sabinos are registered as having the overo pattern
* Tovero: spotting pattern that is a mix of tobiano and overo coloration, such as blue eyes on a dark head.
* Solid: A horse otherwise eligible for registration as a Paint that does not have any white that constitutes a recognized spotting pattern.
* "Color": An informal term meaning that the horse has a spotting pattern.
* "Chrome": An informal term of approval used in some geographic regions to describe a particularly flashy spotting pattern.

History
The American Paint Horse shares a common ancestry with the American Quarter Horse and the Thoroughbred. A registered Paint horse should conform to the same "stock horse" body type desired in Quarter Horses: a muscular animal that is heavy but not too tall, with a low center of gravity for maneuverability, and powerful hindquarters suitable for rapid acceleration and sprinting.

When the American Quarter Horse Association emerged in 1940 to preserve horses of the "stock" type, it excluded those with pinto coat patterns and "crop out" horses, those born with white body spots or white above the knees and hocks. Undeterred, fans of colorful stock horses formed a variety of organizations to preserve and promote Paint horses. In 1965 some of these groups merged to form the American Paint Horse Association.

A Pinto differs from a Paint solely by breeding.
A Pinto may be of any breed or combination of breeds. For a horse to be registered as an American Paint Horse it must have registered American Quarter Horse, American Paint Horse, or Thoroughbred bloodlines. Therefore, all Paint horses could be registered as Pintos, but not all Pintos are qualified to register as Paints.

Pinto
A Pinto horse has a coat color that consists of large patches of white and another color. In Britain and Ireland, the terms "coloured," piebald and skewbald are often used to describe horses of this color pattern. The Pinto color pattern existed in prehistoric times, and has been specifically bred by various cultures throughout history. Pinto coloring is popular today in the English-speaking world, especially the United States, where the pattern is considered a color breed and several competing registries have formed to encourage the breeding of pinto horses.

A Pinto may be any breed, but must be of the proper color. There are several different registries with varying requirements. The Pinto Horse Association of America (PtHA) defines pinto horses recorded in their registry as a true breed and accepts solid-colored offspring of registered pinto parents as breeding stock, but has strict requirements for full registration. The most generous allow registration of a horse of any breed or combination of breeds with as little as three square inches of white above the knees or hocks, other than facial markings. Some registries also require horses to meet a certain breed or type standard. A few registries will allow registration of a solid-colored foal if the parents were both colored and accepted by the registry.

Colors
* Piebald: A black and white spotting pattern.
* Skewbald: A spotting pattern of white and any color other than black.
* Oddbald: a term for horse with three colors, a color now usually incorporated into the term Skewbald.

Origins
Although pinto coloration is rare in the wild, people have always had an eye for animals of unusual colors and a desire to deliberately breed for them. Images from pottery and other art of ancient antiquity show horses with flashy spotted patterns. Images of spotted horses appear in the art of Ancient Egypt, and archaeologists have found evidence of horses with spotted coat patterns on the Russian steppes prior to the rise of the Roman Empire. Later, spotted horses were among those brought to the Americas by the Conquistadors.

By the 17th century in Europe, spotted horses were quite fashionable, though when the fad ended, large numbers of newly-unsellable horses were shipped to the Americas, some for sale, and others simply turned loose to run wild. The color became popular, particularly among Native Americans, and was specifically bred for in the United States, which now has the greatest number of Pinto horses in the world.

Pinto horses can be any of the major physical conformation types. A "Hunter Type" pinto displays the body type associated with pinto color crossed on predominantly Thoroughbred or Warmblood breeding. A "Saddle Type" pinto is a gaited horse or pony displaying the carriage, animation, and conformation of the American Saddlebred or Tennessee Walking Horse. A "Pleasure Type" Pinto may be partly of Morgan or Arabian horse breeding, and some Arabian/Saddlebred crosses known as the National Show Horse have pinto coloring as well. The "Stock Type" resembles horses of American Quarter Horse breeding.