Does a Quarter Horse Make a Good Pet -The Pros & Cons

Have you decided you would like to have a pet horse more especially a quarter horse? You need to study this article before you decide for sure. Of all the breeds of horses available, your choice of a quarter horse as a pet might be the best one. There are many pros along with a some cons to owning any horse but the quarter horse probably has the most pros and fewest cons.

The American quarter horse is probably the most popular horse in the country. Not only is it a beautiful breed but they are used for many other things besides being good horse pets. Quarter horses got their name from their speed in running quarter mile sprint races. They are also good show horses and with their speed and stamina can be used in the rodeo, on a ranch, trail or hunting horse or just your all around family horse.

The build of a quarter horse's body is something any horse lover will admire. They have a small, short and refined head along with a broad chest. Their bodies are well muscled especially in the hindquarters. The hindquarters are what provide much of the power to make them great racers along with being outstanding ranch horses. They normally stand between 14 and 16 hands high.

Quarter horses are smaller than many other horses which mean they require a smaller space to keep them. Like the mustang, quarter horses came from free roaming ancestors which make the breed very hardy. Even so they will need some type of shelter from the elements. A tree will do fine to shade them from the sun but they should have at least a 3 sided shelter. If they are going to be in a harsh climate you should have a stable or barn for them.

Quarter horses have a lot of energy and need plenty of room to run some of it off. If you can't provide a large area for them to move around in you need to ride and exercise them often. They like to interact with humans so spend as much time as possible riding, grooming or just hanging out with them. Your pet quarter horse will highly reward for this.

The quarter horse is known as an easy keeper. They don't need a special diet and will do well on mostly pasture grass and grass hay. They do need to be fed regularly to maintain their muscles and energy. Feeding them is not really a big problem as the breed is known to maintain weight with a fairly low amount of feed. Grass and hay with minimal vitamin and mineral supplement is usually enough to keep a quarter horse healthy. Be sure not to over feed them as they do have a tendency to put on weight. Lots of exercise will help minimize this problem however.

I think you can now see why the quarter horse is such a popular horse and why they could make you a terrific pet. They excel in many useful areas, possibly making them the best all around breed of horse. As a family horse it's hard to beat the temperament and gentleness of this breed, which also makes it a good pet horse for a beginner. It doesn't need special food or lodging and is easy to train. Be sure you check out the quarter horse before you decide for sure which horse you will pick for your pet.