Pedigree Horses Courses

Pedigree horses, also known as purebred horses, are those that trace their lineage directly to a known stud book. Purebred horses are bred for specific characteristics, including conformation and athleticism. The most popular breeds of pedigree horses include Thoroughbreds, Arabians, American Quarter Horses, Morgans, Standardbreds, and Warmbloods. The history of pedigree horses begins many centuries ago. Ancient horsemen recognized the importance of breeding horses that were suited to particular tasks and were careful to retain the same characteristics by breeding horses within specific lines. These horses were traditionally used for racing, fox hunting, or as working horses such as ranch horses or carriage horses. Nowadays, the uses of pedigree horses range from the traditional disciplines to disciplines such as dressage, showjumping, and eventing. Pedigree horses in the modern era are bred using a variety of rigorous selection processes. Bloodlines are monitored closely and statistics are kept on the performance of horses to ensure particular traits are retained within a studbook. Pedigrees are often carefully monitored for generations to ensure the highest quality animal is produced. In the United States, all horses must be registered with a breeding registry to be qualified as pedigree horses. In addition to proper registration, horses must pass health and genetic tests to prove that they are of the highest pedigree. The American Quarter Horse Association and the Arabian Horse Association are examples of two of the main stud book registries in the United States. Today, pedigree horses are found at equestrian events all over the world. They can also be found in private stables, on the racetrack, and in show rings at all levels. The beautiful, powerful, and athletic nature of these animals make them beloved by equestrians around the globe.