How to Determine a Horse's Breed

Whether your interest in horses is personal or professional, it pays to be able to recognize the different breeds. The American Grade Horse Registry lists 15 recognized horse breeds. Many horse breeds have their own organizations to share information and support.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Look for distinct color variations in the coat. A mottled appearance, particularly near the hindquarters, indicates an Appaloosa. If large splotches of white and another color exist on the coat, you probably have a Paint or Pinto.
2. Examine the conformation of the horse's torso. Many breeds can be identified by specific body characteristics. For instance, the Morgan has a stocky, solid body with the tail placed high.
3. Check the horse's head, as you'll find variations among the breeds. The refined head of a Thoroughbred differs from the Morgan's broad forehead and short ears.
4. Measure your horse by how many hands it is from the bottom of its front hooves to the high point of its torso, or its withers. A hand is equal to four inches. Arabians tend to be smaller, at 14 hands, than Clydesdales, which can be as tall as 18 hands.
5. Follow the line of the legs. Thoroughbreds dominate horseracing in part because the long tendons and muscles in their legs make them so good at running.
6. Determine horse breeds by the feet. The Clydesdale, for example, has large, strong feet, good for pulling heavy weights through muddy or uneven fields, making this breed a great work horse.
7. Recognize that you may have a Cross-Breed horse if significant characteristics of more than one breed are present.

Tips & Warnings

• You must have proof of your horse's breed if you want to register it.
• For breeding purposes, owners can classify a solid color horse as a Paint if its sire or dam was a registered Paint.