When most people think about horses, they think of the magnificent, regal kind that runs around a track. These horses, with their heads down low, give the impression of speed and sleekness. Though this is one of the best known breed of horse, there are many others, some of them bred with certain purposes in mind. Certain ones are bred for war, others for racing, and still others for speed. Some of them have exquisitely documented bloodlines that reach back centuries. We will here examine some of these, in no particular order.
1) Thoroughbreds
These are the racehorses that we are so fond of conceptualising. They were produced in 18th century England by crossing normal English mares with other breeds, such as Arabian and Turcoman. They are primarily used for racing, due to their great capacity for exertion and their agility. The pedigree of these horses is one of the most closely examined in the world.
2) Andalusians
The ancestors of this breed resided in the Iberian Peninsula for thousands of years before their breeding began. The breeding of many of these horses was originally begun by Carthusian monks in the early second millennium. These horses have long been prized by aristocrats and nobles for their beauty, and were used during wars for many centuries. To this day, the Andalusian breed is still one of the most valued in the world, primarily for their steady, regal bearing.
3) Arabians
These horses are some of the most sought after in the entire world, due, in large part, to the mystique surrounding them, to their extreme versatility and spirit. They were raised in a desert climate, and therefore have a hardiness and endurance that is treasured among all lines of equine use. Arabians have also sired many of the breeds that exist to this day.