Horse breeds classification

A breed is a group of domestic animals of the same species that share some unique phenotypic characteristics, which are transmitted genetically for generations. horse breeds are developed based on either of the two situations described below or as a combination of both:

• Geographic isolation: Horses that live for many generations in an isolated region adapt some of their characteristics to the habitat (climatic conditions, geography, feed availability, etc.), because only the best adapted specimens survive and produce the next generations; this is known as ‘natural selection”. Inbreeding <conectarlos al articulo CHOOSING THE STALLION AND MARE FOR A BREEDING PROGRAM) is commonly present and facilitates favorable changes for better adaptation to the environment.

Controlled selection: According to particular needs or desires, breeders are able to redirect natural selection in a group of horses by selecting and breeding only the specimens with certain traits, from which improved offspring are expected (even if the foundation stock initially comes from different breeds). Once the offspring are born and raised, only the specimens with the proper characteristics (phenotype) will be reproduced, and the same will happen with the following generations. After a few generations of doing this, a new horse breed may be created, which can be determined when all the new offspring are born with distinguishable phenotype and genotype. Additionally, close-breeding and line-breeding <conectarlos al articulo CHOOSING THE STALLION AND MARE FOR A BREEDING PROGRAM) may be used to accelerate the process of obtaining offspring with the expected favorable characteristics.

Most horse breeds from all over the world have associations of breeders that have permanent registries based on strict breed standards to preserve the pureness of the animals. They provide information related to ancestry, color, foaling date, etc. Additionally, most associations of breeders have showing rules in place, organize shows, and promote the breed through various activities and advertising.

In many books, horse breeds are classified solely on the horse’s height at the withers. However, height is not the only classification criteria for grouping horses. The most common confusion occurs between ‘ponies’ and ‘light horses’, which are usually classified as follows: ponies less than 14 hands in height and light horses 14 hands in height or more. Others set the limit at 14 hands and 2 inches. 

Note: 1 hand equals 4 inches; 1inch equals 2.54 cm.; 1 hand equals 10.16 cm.

Here, the horse breeds are classified into four groups: miniatures horses, ponies, light horses, and heavy horses, based on the combination of the following four parameters of the adult specimen (5 years or older): height, weight, conformation, and common uses: