Przewalski's Horse

Przewalski’s horse, Equus przewalskii, is the last surviving subspecies of the wild true Horse. Remaining known speciments exist in zoos. The horse resembles a heavy-boned pony, standing about 12-14 hands (122-142 cm/48-56 in) tall. Its coat is reddish tan, a long face, and a strong lower jaw. It was discovered and identified near the Altai Mountains of Central Asia by Russian explorer Nikolai Prxhevalsky(1839-88) about 1879. It has changed little since the time of its prehistoric depiction on cave walls in France and Spain.

Przewalski’s wild horse was depicted in paintings and sculpture by early Stone Age humans. This horse is cautious near people; a stallion will warm his mares away from farm or towns.

Quarter Horse

The quarter horse is thought to have originated in the mid- to late 1600s in the American colonies of Virginia and the Carolinas. It was used for racing on straight quarter-mile (400 m) tracks, from which it derives its name. At such a short distance, equal to 2 furlongs, fast starts and the ability to reach to speed quickly are of great advantage, and the first quarter horses were bred with these points in mind. Bred probably from local native stock and thoroughbred as well, the quarter horse was developed with a relatively short body; broad, muscular, hindquarters; strong, sloping shoulders; and southwestern United States on castle ranches, where its quick starting, stopping, and turning made it valuable as a cow pony.

Quarter horses may be any solid color, as well as buck skin, smoky, and palomino, but paints or pintos are not permissible. Quarter horses generally range in size from 14-2 to 15-2 hands high (147 to 157 cm /58 to 62 in).