Bay Quarter Horse
Bay Quarter Horse is a common coat color in this breed. There are no restrictions as far as coat color is concerned in American Quarter Horses. Even spotted or pinto patterns that were disqualified several decades ago are accepted by the breed standard, if the DNA testing verifies the pedigree of the horse. The American Quarter Horse is very versatile and successful in almost any task a horse can do. When choosing a horse, a buyer should decide what it will be used for, because various types and bloodlines of the Quarter Horse are bred for specific tasks.
The stock variety is subdivided into the reining and cutting groups. A stock bay Quarter Horse is small and compact, with quick, agile movement and very powerful hindquarters. Quarter Horses bred for Western pleasure are slightly taller, with smooth gaits, and a level top line. Quarter Horses selected for Halter competition are larger and very heavily muscled. This variety retains small heads with wide jowls and refined muzzles characteristic of all American Quarter Horses. Powerful hindquarters are typical of all Quarter Horses.
Owners, breeders and veterinarians do not agree about the health effects of the extreme muscle mass in the American Quarter Horse. According to the current fashion, some halter horses weigh over 1400 pounds and stand from 15.2 to 16 hands at the withers. Excessive body mass is a serious threat to the horse’ health. Heavily muscled American Quarter Horses have shorter lifespan compared to a lighter bay Quarter Horse.
Quarter Horses of the race type are good at sprinting short distances. For greater speed, they have long powerful legs and lean body. Usually, American Quarter horses don’t race against other horses, because no breed can compete with the horse that won the title of "the world's fastest athlete." A bay Quarter Horse of the hunter type selected for shows is slimmer than racing horses. Show Quarter horses resemble Thoroughbreds, which is only natural, because the American Quarter Horse possesses the blood of the Thoroughbred in the gene pool. Show type American Quarter Horses can be shown in hunter/jumper classes at both breed shows. If the buyer doesn’t plan to show the horse, it’s wise to consult the breeder and buy a lower quality bay Quarter Horse at a discount.
