Horse breeds by use: riding, ranch work, draft and sport

Why group horses by use

Aptitude is the job a breed was selected for over generations. When you are trying to understand — or choose — a horse, aptitude says more than appearance: a good gaited trail horse is not the same kind of animal as a heavy draft horse or a show jumper. The FAO’s DAD-IS database lists the horse breeds that each country reports; below is a map of the main uses and typical breeds for each.

Summary by use

Use	Typical work	Example breeds
Gaited riding	Comfortable long-distance riding	Mangalarga Marchador, Campolina
Ranch and cattle work	Cutting, roping, herding	Quarter Horse, Crioulo
Short sprints	Quarter-mile racing, western sports	Quarter Horse
Endurance	Long-distance rides	Arabian
Heavy draft	Pulling loads, farm and forestry work	Percheron, Breton
Driving and dressage	Carriage driving, dressage	Friesian
Flat racing	Galloping races on a track	Thoroughbred
Olympic sport	Show jumping, dressage, eventing	Warmbloods, Thoroughbred, national sport horses

Gaited riding

Gaited breeds were selected for a smooth four-beat gait that keeps the rider comfortable over long distances. In Brazil, the Mangalarga Marchador is the leading example, with its marcha batida and marcha picada; the Campolina is the larger Brazilian gaited breed. See Brazilian horse breeds.

Ranch and cattle work

These are hardy, agile horses for working cattle. The Quarter Horse is used in cutting, roping, barrel racing and everyday ranch work. In southern South America, the Crioulo is the traditional stock horse, tested in functional events such as the Freio de Ouro.

Short sprints

The Quarter Horse takes its name from its classic race of about a quarter mile, roughly 400 metres, where its acceleration is unmatched. It also dominates western sports such as reining and roping.

Endurance

The Arabian, selected by Bedouin tribes for life in the desert, is known for stamina and hardiness, and is widely used in long-distance endurance riding.

Heavy draft

For pulling loads and heavy farm or forestry work there are the draft breeds, large horses of European origin such as the Percheron and the Breton. They are strong and calm, selected for power, not speed.

Driving and dressage

The Friesian, bred exclusively black, is used in harness showing, carriage driving and dressage thanks to its high-action trot.

Flat racing

The Thoroughbred is the racing breed: selected for galloping races on a track, it stands for sustained speed. It is also one of the genetic bases of many sport horse breeds.

Olympic sport

Show jumping, dressage and eventing rely on European warmbloods and Thoroughbred blood, and on national sport horse breeds formed from them — such as the Brazilian Sport Horse, developed from local mares and European warmblood and Thoroughbred stallions.

How to choose by use

Start from the intended use — trail riding, cattle work, competition, draft — and only then look at the breeds with that aptitude. Always confirm registration with the breed society and have a veterinarian examine the horse before any purchase.