History of the Quarter Horse
Quarter horses are so called because of their ability to run at great speed over a quarter of a mile.
There are several different theories as to the origin of quarter horses; some sources claim that early colonial settlers in West Virginia and the Carolinas may have acquired mares from the Chickasaw Indians. These were small, stocky horses, probably of Spanish origin, which were used by the settlers for a variety of tasks including racing. The first quarter horse race was recorded in Enrico County in 1674. The settlers later bred them with thoroughbred horses that were imported from England.
After the civil war settlers migrated westward, and established vast cattle ranches notably in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. The quarter horse began to evolve from being a sprinter to being a cow horse. Quarter horse stallions were mated with mustang mares to give a strong, stocky, agile horse ideally suited to the harsh climate and the rigours of the open range. The cowmen found them easy to handle and to have good temperaments.
There have been many famous quarter horses, one of the most notable was Steel Dust, a stallion bred in Kentucky and raced in Texas. He won many races in the 1840’s and his offspring were in great demand by cowboys. Cow horses were often referred to as Steeldusts.
Although some breeding records were kept, it was not until 1940 that a studbook and registry was established with the founding of the American Quarter Horse Association.
