560 Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Light Horse Breeds (Continued) Original breed standard painting by Gladys Brown Edwards printed with permission by Arabian Horse Association Arabian. Arabian horses are descendants of the horses ridden in ancient Arabia. These horses have been carefully bred over thousands of years to create a horse that is refined in nature and exhibits the distinct characteristics of the breed. Arabians have a characteristic dished profile, large wide-set eyes, a broad forehead, small curved ears, and large nostrils. They also have a long arched neck, short back, refined bone structure, and high tailset. Arabians are used in a variety of events including showing, endurance racing, and pleasure riding. Sunrise Tradition, Courtesy of P Bar T Fox Trotters, Independence, MN Missouri Fox Trotter. Missouri Fox Trotters were developed in the Ozark Mountains to breed horses that could haul logs and work cattle. They are a combination of Arabian, Morgan, Standardbred, and Saddlebred horses. Missouri Fox Trotters are between 14 and 16 hands tall and weigh 900–1,200 lb. They should have symmetrical features with large bright eyes and a tapered muzzle. Their body should have a deep girth and well- sprung ribs. Fox trotters have a distinct fox trot gait. In this gait, the horse walks on its front legs while trotting on its hind legs. These horses are used primarily for pleasure riding, but are also used in showing and racing. Breed standard painting courtesy of the American Morgan Horse Association/Jeanne Mellin Morgan. The Morgan horse originated in the late eighteenth century when a man named Justin Morgan began promoting his stallion. This horse was the foundation of the breed and was known for a combination of speed and strength. The ideal Morgan horse stands between 14.2 and 16 hands, has a straight face, well-rounded jowls, and a deeper throatlatch. Morgans should also have an angular shoulder, a compact body, and correctly angled hocks. Some Morgans are gaited, meaning they have a specific way of moving different from non-gaited breeds. Courtesy of The Jockey Club/Susan Martin Thoroughbred. The Thoroughbred breed originated in England from two types of Arabian horses and Turkish horses. The horses were bred in an effort to create a horse that could carry weight with sustained speed over extended distances. These horses range from 15.2 to 17 hands tall, and are most often a solid dark color or gray. Thoroughbreds have a well-chiseled head, long neck, high withers, deep chest and hindquarters, lean body, and long legs. In the United States, Thoroughbreds are widely used in racing, as well as in English horse showing and pleasure riding.