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		The Quarter Horse

Quarter Horse Characteristics History Versatility Links More Images Return to Index		Quarter Horse Characteristics Head: Relatively short and wide with a small muzzle and a shallow firm mouth. Full and sensitive nostrils, large eyes set wide apart reflecting intelligence and placid disposition. Well developed jowls. Neck: Of sufficient length and flexibility to be well balanced and give good manoeuvrability. Throatlatch should be trim and clean. Shoulders: Long and set at an angle of about 45 degrees. Smooth and relatively heavily muscled. Chest: Deep and broad with well set forelegs and shoulders. Muscling inside forearm gives the appearance of a well defined inverted V. Barrel: Back is short and close coupled. Full and powerful across the loins. The girth is deep with well sprung ribs. Underline is longer than the back. Hindquarters: Broad, deep and heavy. Muscled so that they are full at the stifle, thigh, gaskin and down to the hock. The rump is long and sloping gently from hip to tailhead. Muscling on the hip is long, extending down into the stifle which is deep and ties in well with the gaskin. When viewed from the rear it is the widest part of the Quarter Horse. The gaskin is wide and well muscled inside and outside. The hock is broad, flat, clean, strong, low set and free from excess tissue. The muscling ties well into the hock joint and there is no play or give except directly forward. Stance: The Quarter Horse stands with his legs well under him and flat on the ground. Mature Size: Although the Quarter Horse usually weighs between 500 and 600 kilos, he is relatively small by comparison to other breeds. Average height is between 14.1 and 15.2 hands high. Action: square and true. His action is both balanced and easy. Whenever he turns or stops, it is with his hocks well under him.
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