QUARTER HORSE TYPES
The American Quarter Horse is today the world’s most populous breed, and as such it will be given complete coverage in an upcoming series. The breed did not originate in Texas but rather in Virginia, and it emerged from the same base population as other American breeds. In the beginning it was, like the Southern saddle horse, an ambler-galloper (there are still a few Quarter Horses with “easy gaits”).
Some Civil War-era horses that I present here—we may call them “proto Quarter Horses”—show obvious Thoroughbred influence, and indeed the root stallion of the breed, imported Janus, was a Thoroughbred. Others show a touch of mustang influence. There is less Morgan evident in the mix than in either Saddlebreds or Standardbreds, so that this group shows a more horizontal outline, the neck “straight out the front” with less thickness and less tendency to arch. The mane and tail are thinner than in the Morgan and the hairs are straight, as in the Thoroughbred. The back is longer, the coupling narrower, and the body balance tends to run downhill.
Old Baldy, the favorite mount of Gen. George G. Meade, was born in Kansas. He could be described as a “grade Thoroughbred,” but my bet is that he is a mixture of Thoroughbred, Hobby and mustang (observe the head shape as well as the sabino markings). Baldy had what was reported as an “unusual, uncomfortable gait”—in other words, he foxtrotted (the term “fox trot” is an Appalachian corruption of the French “faux trot,” meaning “to trot falsely”). Meade, who bought Baldy for only $150, valued him for bravery, stamina and toughness. Seriously wounded by ball, bullet and shrapnel at least 14 times in several battles, Baldy survived his wounds and outlived his master. In his last public appearance in November 1872, he served as the riderless horse at Meade’s funeral. Baldy died at about 30 years of age in 1882.
This stallion belonging to Assistant Quartermaster Capt. Henry Page, taken at Union Army HQ in Bealeton, Virginia in 1863, could get lost in any herd of modern Quarter Horses. Note that this type of horse could be found in both eastern and western theaters.
U.S. Cavalry Lt. Col. Charles B. Norton appears in this 1862 photo taken at Antietam, Maryland. Another high-quality horse showing a good deal of Thoroughbred influence, he has the more horizontal conformation of the Quarter Horse.
Note the mustang influence in this gray's head shape, the somewhat downhill body balance, long back and steep croup. The limbs are of splendid form and substance.
This claybank dun named Frank outlived all his riders and, after the Civil War, became the mascot of the 12th Ohio Cavalry veterans’ unit. His conformation is similar to the gray above. Frank is carrying a Hussar-type saddle with solid seat and English panels, a Springfield rifle and a cavalry saber. He is bitted only in snaffle.