Breed evolution: In the 1500s and 1600s, Spanish explorers and English colonists brought Iberian Horses and English Thoroughbreds to Central and North America. Early settlers needed sturdy working stock to till their fields and pull their carriages. Through selective breeding, a versatile, compact horse evolved - one with an easygoing temperament and well-muscled conformation.
In their leisure time, the hardworking pioneers gathered with their horses for quarter-mile races. The victors of these "quarter-mile horse" trials became the preferred breeding stock, and their talents were passed on to future generations of Quarter Horses.
Wagons drawn by Quarter Horses pushed westward across the continent. On broad Quarter Horse backs, riders forged wilderness trails, scaled the Sierra Nevadas, and came face-to-face with the Pacific Ocean. Quarter Horses pulled plows over fields in the Midwest and drove cattle in the Southwest. For centuries, American Quarter Horses have been our trail and work partners.
In 1940, the American Quarter Horse Association was formed to preserve and record the breed's bloodlines. Currently, there are more than three million registered Quarter Horses worldwide, by far the most populous equine breed.
The AQHA hosts more than 80 trail rides annually across the country and overseas. The association offers several recreational riding programs for trail riders that award prizes and national recognition, including programs for members who own or ride other breeds and want to share in the fun of AQHA rides.
Owners tell us: As trail horses, Joe Wood Jr. of the Wood Ranch in Heber Springs, Arkansas, says Quarter Horses stand out, because of their breeding and experience crossing most any terrain.
The Woods' horses are turned out in hilly pastures where they quickly learn to cross creeks, climb hills, and walk on rough terrain. "Their disposition is absolutely wonderful - they have a huge heart with the willingness to do anything that you ask of them," Wood says. "Their smooth gait and ride allow you to sit many hours in the saddle. They are very surefooted, which allows you to ride rough terrain without worrying about their ability to keep you safe."
Wood was raised to love and promote Quarter Horses. His family first registered with the AQHA in 1968 and depends on the horses for ranch work, as well as showing and leisurely trail rides around their vast, hilly acreage.
Today, the Woods devote family time to horse time. Multiple generations are involved with daily planning, work and ranch chores, making their horse business possible. The family stands five Quarter Horse stallions to their own broodmares and has nearly 350 horses.
