NewsHorses are born to run, but others are bred expressly for speed.
Let’s take a look at the 10 fastest horse breeds in the world, from the noble Arabian primed for fight to the revered equines that compete in the Kentucky Derby.
10. Morgan
The Morgan, one of the oldest horse breeds in the United States, is a robust kind that stands between 14 and 15 hands tall, weighs roughly 1,000 pounds, and can attain speeds of up to 20 mph.
In the 10th century, Morgans were incredibly popular for their versatility and were once the exclusive breed used for harness racing. They now participate in a variety of sports, including cross-country riding, Western pleasure, cutting, and show jumping.
9. Friesian
The Friesian, a huge horse intended to be a working animal, may not seem to be as quick as some of its contemporaries, yet it can sprint up to 30 mph.
From the Netherlands, this agile and quick breed can perform the trot and is well-suited for harness racing because of its powerful hindquarters. Other sports in which Friesians thrive include dressage, pleasure driving, fox hunting, and show jumping.
8. Akhal-Teke
The Akhal-Teke, sometimes known as the “golden horse” because to its distinctive metallic coat, originates in the Central Asian republic of Turkmenistan and is one of the oldest horse breeds in existence.
The hot-blooded purebred averages 14 to 16 hands in height, around 1,000 pounds, and is built for stamina, with long, hollow legs and a straight back. The Akhal-Teke, which is mostly seen in dressage, show jumping, and endurance riding, has a peak speed of roughly 35 mph.
It is one of the rarest breeds, with an estimated population of less than 6,000 horses worldwide, the majority of which are in Turkmenistan.
7. Andalusian
The Andalusian is a Spanish purebred that can be traced back to ancient times and hails from the Iberian Peninsula. They have a long neck, flowing mane, and a deep chest and compact build suited for running at speeds as high as 50 mph.
Andalusians, which weigh roughly 1,100 pounds and stand 15.5 hands tall, were recognized as a breed in the 1500s and may now be seen performing in show jumping, riding, and dressage.
6. Standardbred
Standardbreds, which are most usually utilized in harness racing, can attain speeds of up to 30 mph and excel at trot and pace.
This warm-blooded breed stands around 16 hands tall, weighs between 900 and 1,000 pounds, and has wide shoulders and powerful hindquarters. All Standardbreds come from Thoroughbreds and can draw their lineage back to a horse named Hambletonian 10, or Rysdyk’s Hambletonian, born in Sugar Loaf, New York in 1849.
Some of the most well-known Standardbred racing horses are Niatross, Dan Patch, and Glidemaster.
5. Arabian
Arabians, which originated in the Middle East and Egypt, are one of the world’s oldest horse breeds and can reach speeds of up to 40 mph.
These light and nimble animals, ridden by historical leaders such as Napoleon and Alexander the Great, are able to preserve energy in order to sprint longer distances and were utilized in combat in Ancient Egypt, Greece, Spain, and Rome.
Arabians, which weigh between 800 and 1,000 pounds and stand roughly 14 hands tall, are distinctive in that the hot-blooded breed is born with one less lumbar vertebra, rib, and tail bone, giving birth to their high tail carriage.
A number of other breeds, including the top horse on our list, may trace their ancestry back to Arabians.
4. Mustang
The free-roaming mustang, which may be found in the western United States, is a feral breed derived from tamed Spanish horses imported to the Americas.
These muscular, energetic equines, weighing roughly 800 pounds and measuring between 14 and 15 hands high, can run exceedingly fast (reportedly up to 54 mph), but are more often utilized for trail riding, dressage, and ranch work.
Since mustangs breed freely in the wild, there is a great deal of variation among these horses. Thoroughbreds and American Quarter horse lines have contributed to mustang blood and have produced some of the speedier progeny within the mustang family.
3. Appaloosa
The Appaloosa, Idaho’s official state horse, was bred by the Nez Perce tribe of the Pacific Northwest and is recognized for its unique spotted pattern.
The warm-blooded breed, which weighs roughly 1,100 pounds and stands 16 hands tall, can sprint up to 41 mph and is often seen nowadays in horse racing, fox hunting, show jumping, and eventing.
Appaloosas nearly became extinct in the 1870s, when the U.S. Army captured and slaughtered nearly 1,000 horses belonging to the Nez Perce in an effort to seize the tribe’s land. A series of stories in Western Rider magazine in 1937 highlighted the dwindling breed, sparking interest in saving the rare horse. Appaloosas of today are crossbred with Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred lineages to develop a breed more suited to racing and halter competition.
2. Quarter Horse
The American Quarter horse is the fastest breed over short distances, reaching speeds of up to 55 mph in a quarter mile – the distance that inspired the animal’s name.
In the 1600s, colonial Americans mixed Native American horses of Spanish descent with English horses transported to Virginia to create the breed.
The American Quarter Horse Association now has over 6 million horses registered, making them the world’s most popular horse breed, according to the AQHA.
Weighing between 950 and 1,200 pounds, and standing 14 to 16 hands high on average, the Quarter horse is quick and muscular, with a calm, friendly demeanor. Although they can sprint faster than any other horse, they lack the stamina of our top horse, who can reach great speeds over short and long distances.
1. Thoroughbred
Thoroughbreds are a prominent breed noted for competing in classic races like as the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Breeders’ Cup (G1). They originated in England and can be traced down to three founding sires: the Darley Arabian, Godolphin Arabian, and Byerly Turk.
Some of the most well-known Thoroughbreds of the previous century include improbable champion Seabiscuit, renowned filly Zenyatta, and Secretariat, who established speed records in all three of his Triple Crown triumphs, averaging 37.7 mph in each.
Hawkster, a three-year-old bay, set a track record of 37.82 mph and completed 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:22.8 at Santa Anita in May 2008, while Winning Brew, a two-year-old filly, recorded 43.97 mph in a two-furlong sprint at Penn National Race Course in 2008.
Thoroughbreds, with an average height of 15 to 17 hands and a weight of 1,000 to 1,200 pounds, are a lean, athletic, and adaptable hot-blooded breed that participates in a variety of disciplines, including long-distance racing, show jumping, dressage, and cross-country riding.
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Related Questions
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Which breed of horse is the fastest?
Thoroughbreds
Thoroughbreds are the world’s quickest horses and dominate the horse racing business, but Arabian horses are clever and excel at endurance riding.
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How fast can a Friesian horse run?
30 mph
Friesian
The Friesian, a huge horse intended to be a working animal, may not seem to be as quick as some of its contemporaries, yet it can sprint up to 30 mph. -
What is the fastest horse sport?
The highest speed of the world’s fastest horses is 55 MPH. Quarter horses in 440-yard races have been clocked at 55 mph, the highest documented speed of any horse. Winning Brew, a Thoroughbred, holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest horse in the world, clocking in at 43.97 mph.
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What is the 2 fastest horse in the world?
In Summary: 9 Fastest Horses in the World
Rank Breed Traits/Speeds 1. Thoroughbred athletic, fastest at long distance, 45 mph 2. American Quarterhourse fastest at short distances, 50 mph 3. Arabian one of the oldest breeds, 40 mph 4. Appaloosa distinguished by a striking leopard-spotted look
