THIS HIS BULLETIN gives concise information regarding the breeds of light horses and will be particularly useful to farmers in those sections where light horses are preeminently fitted for farm work, such as mountainous and hilly sections and where there are markets for horses for saddle and driving purposes. The breeds discussed are the Arabian, Thoroughbred, Standardbred, American Saddle, Morgan, Hackney, French Coach, German Coach, and Cleveland Bay. Of these, the Standardbred, American Saddle, and Morgan breeds were developed in this country. The origin, development, general appearance, and adaptability of the light breeds are discussed. There is no best breed of light horses. Some breeds are superior to others in certain respects and one breed may be better adapted than another to certain local conditions. The general requirements for a particular section and the popularity of a certain breed in a certain locality should receive the utmost consideration in choosing a breed. Washington, D. C. II Issued June, 1918; revised March, 1925 BREEDS OF LIGHT HORSES By H. H. REESE,1 Animal Husbandman in Charge Morgan Horse Farm, Animal CHARACTERISTICS OF LIGHT HORSES HE TERM "light" when applied to horses refers to that class Twhich is intermediate in size between ponies and draft horses and which usually has more range, a greater degree of quality, better action, or greater speed than either. A majority of our light horses are from 15 to 16 hands high and weigh from 900 to 1,250 pounds. Breeds of light horses, then, refer to the groups within this class which have been bred pure for a particular purpose, individual ancestry having been recorded by a registry association. Light horses are well adapted to mountainous sections and where the land is rolling, in which localities they are useful for farm horse power and for riding and driving purposes. It is in such sections that light horses should be bred and developed to supply the home The material presented herewith is intended to convey to the reader concise general information concerning the characteristics of the various breeds of light horses found in this country. An inter- esting study is afforded in noting the extent to which Arabian and Thoroughbred blood was used in founding many of the light breeds, and this relationship is briefly touched upon, but no attempt is made to give detailed information concerning early breed history. By communicating with the secretaries of the various breed associations, whose names are given, information regarding rules of registration, issuance of studbooks, and lists of breeders may be obtained. Farm- ers' Bulletin 619, "Breeds of Draft Horses," is available to those The oldest breed of horses generally recognized at present and the fountainhead of all our other light breeds was developed in the desert country of Arabia, from which it derives its name. Needing an animal that would carry him swiftly and safely over long stretches of sandy soil and at the same time withstand the lack of feed and water to a remarkable degree, the Arab developed a type of horse 1 that has long been noted for its activity, endurance, docility, and handsome appearance. The Arabian horse (fig. 1), while primarily developed as a saddle horse and ridden by the Arabs at a canter, is easily broken to make a safe although not fast driver. He possesses the general characteristics desired in a saddle horse, viz, good carriage of head and neck; deep, well-sloped shoulders; a short back with proportionately long underline; wide and deep quarters; short, strong loin; tail attached high; compactness of middle; and superior quality of underpinning without any tendency to appear leggy. A typical Arabian horse has a wedge-shaped head; small nose; dish face; deep, wide jaws; eyes set low, wide apart, and near the middle of the head: a relatively large brain capacity; one less lum bar vertebra than most other horses, giving a short, weight-carrying back; one or two fewer vertebræ in the tail, which is set on a high croup and gaily carried; ribs sprung wide and deep; large knee, hock, tendon, and hoof; dense bone; small stomach capacity, with small feed requirement and the ability to assimilate rough feed; and a marked prepotency in the stud. Generally the Arabian horse in action shows only the walk, trot, and canter. The usual height is 14 to 15.1 hands and the weight from 850 to 1,100 pounds. Bay, gray, and chestnut are the predominating colors, with an occasional white or black. White marks on the head and legs are common, but purebred Arabians are never piebald or spotted, notwithstanding an erroneous impression created by circus horses that are commonly called Arabians. Crossed on farm mares, Arabian stallions have produced excellent saddle horses, but they frequently lack size when measured by our |