1630 – Horseracing, the major sport in the colonies from the
early days of settlement,
was legalised in Virginia. From necessity the colonists raced
whatever horses were available but speed soon began to be
bred to speed to produce a ‘short horse’ for matching on the
quarter mile paths of the time. The Celebrated American
Quarter Mile Running Horse (C.A.Q.R.H.) began to take shape.
1752 – Janus imported from England and with the widespread
use of his blood the short sprinter began to develop a distinct
type. In their ongoing search for speed, breeders used English
horses, others of Spanish extraction and their own proven
speedsters. If it was fast, they bred from it. The unique
conformation and steady disposition that were by-products of
this program allowed these horses to continue in their time
honoured role as a general using animal as well as race horses.
1761 - The distance horse FEARNAUGHT was imported from
England. His progeny were stayers and this, together with the
fact that land was now available for circular racetracks, saw
four mile racing begin to supplement the quarter mile sprints
in popularity
along the eastern
seaboard.
1793 – Weather
bys issued
Volume One
of the General
Stud Book and
from this point
the English
racing horse
is considered a
definite breed – the
Thoroughbred.
1954 - The first Quarter Horses arrived in Australia – just 14
years after birth of the American Quarter Horse Association.
So there it is –we are heirs to the efforts of past generations of
horsemen whose desire to have the fastest horse for a short
distance brought about the creation of the Quarter Horse.
However, pure speed, untempered by a mentality cool enough
to handle it, or lacking the conformation strong enough to
support it, was of no advantage to the practical pioneer. His
fast horses needed to be useful in so many other ways that
disposition and soundness were also of the utmost importance.
This traditional combination of speed, durability and cooperative intelligence gave the Quarter Horse the ‘inbuilt’
versatility that enabled him survive more than 300
tumultuous years without the assistance of a stud book. The
Quarter Horse industry has now changed so much that speed is
no longer a primary consideration for many owners. Notion of
speed in the Quarter Horse is even sometimes openly scorned!
Recognise that speed remains an essential component
of the breed and is a must if the Quarter Horse is to