As somebody interested in the world of horse racing, something you might want to know is what the best racing horse breeds are. Of course, there are dozens of different horse breeds out there, but not all of them are suited for racing. Today, we're going to take a closer look at several of the best racing horse breeds in the world, where they come from, and what makes them such ideal racehorses.
1. Thoroughbred
First, we have the thoroughbred, which is perhaps the best
racing horse in the world, because they're known for their incredible agility
and speed. They're also known for being extremely competitive and for having
good endurance, which makes them ideal for both longer and shorter races. They
excel at both speed and endurance racing.
Thoroughbreds were first created during the 17th century in
England, when various Turkoman, Barb, and Arabian stallions were crossbred with
native mares. They make for such great racehorses because they tend to have
great cardiovascular endurance, which is because their hearts are relatively
large, combined with muscular legs, lean bodies, and the ability to maintain
long strides over great distances.
2. Arabian
Next on the list of the best racing horses is the Arabian,
and this is one of the oldest horse breeds in the world. They originate from
the Arabian Peninsula, and they have very distinct features, including a high
tail carriage, large eyes, an arched neck, and a dished face.
Arabians are well suited for long distance racing, as
they're well known for being durable and having great stamina. Their genetic
makeup has been designed in such a way to allow for extremely efficient
metabolism and high lung capacity, both of which are crucial for long distance
marathons.
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3. Standardbred
Often regarded as one of the best racing horses in the world
is the standardbred, which were bred in the United States. They come from a
variety of harness racing breeds, with thoroughbreds being a large part of the
lineage.
They aren't quite as fine as thoroughbreds however and are a
bit sturdier. They're very easy to manage and train, and their body structure
allows them to be great at pacing and trotting, and therefore ideal for harness
racing. They also have an extremely muscular build.
4. Quarter Horse
If it is a sprinting horse that you're looking for, then the
quarter horse is one to consider. The quarter horse was bred from imported
Spanish and English horses combined with Native American horses.
They have an extremely muscular build that allows them to be
agile, combined with powerful hind legs, broad chest, and an overall compact
body. This allows them to achieve great speeds over short distances, and are
therefore preferred for quarter-mile races, which is where they get their name.
5. Andalusian
Although it's not the most common racehorse in the world,
the Andalusian is a beautiful and strong horse with a compact body.
They're also known for being quite agile and intelligent.
Although there are other horses more commonly used in racing, their temperament
and body shape makes them ideal for demonstrations and agility competitions.
Interestingly enough is that these horses were first used as
war horses, and then in dressage, which is because they look very graceful and
are easy to train.
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6. Akhal-Teke
The nomadic tribes of Turkmenistan bred the Akhal-Teke with
the aim of creating a strong horse that could survive the harsh conditions of
the country. Due to them being bred for endurance and strength, they are
excellent at long distance endurance races. Something else that these horses
are known for is their metallic sheen.
