A
breed of
horse originally bred specifically to race the quarter mile, the
American Quarter Horse is today equally well known for its performance in
rodeos and horse shows. The compact body of the Quarter Horse is well-suited to the intricate and speedy maneuvers required in roping and other stock-horse events. Riders are also known to show Quarter Horses in English- and Hunt classes, although these types of events are more normally dominated by
Thoroughbreds and
Warmblood crosses.
The quarter horse was not a registered breed until 1940; however, horses of this type were widely used for cattle work in the Western United States.
