Horse breed come in all shapes and sizes, and different breeds have different qualities – but one of the most important of these, and one of the most prized, is the quality of speed. It is unsurprising, then, that many breeds have been developed with speed as a primary objective.
However, the speed of a horse breeds doesn’t just mean the raw top speed it can attain, and the pace of a horse can be measured in several different ways, including over short distances, longer distances and when pulling a carriage.
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1. Akhal-Teke horse breeds
One of the oldest horse breeds in the world, the Akhal-Teke originated in what is modern-day Turkmenistan. They are descended from the Turkoman horse breeds a now-extinct breed from the same area, and are bred for stamina. This means they are capable of covering vast distances in the shortest possible time.
AKHAL-TEKE stand at around 14.2-16 hands (147-163cm, 58-64in) and have a distinctive metallic coat, for which they have become known as the “Golden horse”.
They are possessed of a fiery temperament, which makes them difficult to manage for inexperienced owners or riders, but they are also able to form a strong bond with somebody they know well. For this reason, they have long been prized as horses for war as well as for long-distance racing. Nowadays, they also perform well in events like dressage, showjumping and eventing.
There are now thought to be only around 6,000 of these horse left in the world, mostly in Turkmenistan.
2. Arabian horse breeds
Another of the world’s most ancient horse breeds the Arabian was developed in the harsh climate of the Arabian Peninsula for raiding and war. It was particularly prized by Bedouin tribesmen, who often took their horse inside their tents to keep them safe.
For this reason, character traits like cooperativeness, willingness to please and the ability to form close bonds with humans were bred into Arabian Horses, and they are also intelligent and friendly. At the same time, they are high-spirited and alert animals, traits that were required in combat, so they are not suitable animals for inexperienced horse owners.
Although they have a top speed of around 40mph (64kmph), they are no match for horse breeds like Thoroughbreds or American Quarter Horses over shorter distances. However, they come into their own in tests of stamina and are among the fastest horse breeds in longer races.
Arabian horse breeds have a particularly striking look and are easy to recognize. They have a distinctive head shape and a high tail carriage, making them one of the most handsome horse breeds in the world.
Another of the world’s most ancient horses, the Arabian was developed in the harsh climate of the Arabian Peninsula for raiding and war. It was particularly prized by Bedouin tribesmen, who often took their horses inside their tents to keep them safe.
For this reason, character traits like cooperativeness, willingness to please and the ability to form close bonds with humans were bred into Arabian Horses, and they are also intelligent and friendly. At the same time, they are high-spirited and alert animals, traits that were required in combat, so they are not suitable animals for inexperienced horse owners.
Although they have a top speed of around 40mph (64kmph), they are no match for breeds like Thoroughbreds or American Quarter Horses over shorter distances. However, they come into their own in tests of stamina and are among the fastest breeds in longer races.
Arabian Horses have a particularly striking look and are easy to recognize. They have a distinctive head shape and a high tail carriage, making them one of the most handsome breeds in the world.
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