Horses of Medieval Europe

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Photo Courtesy of Joust Evolution

In the Right Hand: Horses of Medieval Europe

Firn Hyde

    Much of medieval European society was built upon the steady shoulders of a noble horse. This creature played an important part in many aspects of life for all classes of people, from farmers to soldiers to royalty, shouldering tasks as diverse as carrying ladies, pulling ploughs, and charging into battle.

    Of course, the same type of horse could hardly be used for everything, so horses were bred – then as now – for specific purposes. In that time, horses were not yet classified as breeds, but referred to as types, and each type had different uses.

    Many obscure terms were used for the types of horses, sometimes interchangeably and frequently in contradiction with one another, in medieval texts. However, historians have uncovered three basic types of horse; namely, chargers, palfreys, and sumpters.¹

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American Quarter Horse

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Photo by Rebekah L. Holt, eQuest Photography

The American Quarter Horse

Bethany G. Holt

    One of the world's most multi purpose breeds is the American Quarter Horse. The versatile American Quarter Horse can be found excelling in almost every equestrian pursuit, whether its the everyday schedule of a working cattle ranch or the seasonal demands of the glamorous show ring.

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Appaloosa

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Beautiful Leopard Appaloosa Foals - Photo Courtesy of Decker's Red Eagle Appaloosas       

The Appaloosa Horse

Mary Holt

    The Appaloosa horse is fascinating, colorful breed with an interesting American and European history.

The History of the Appaloosa Horse 

     In the 1500s, the Spaniards introduced horses, some carrying the spotted coat genetics, to Mexico. Horses rapidly spread throughout North America as many were used by the European settlers or the horses escaped and became wild. Often, Native American tribes captured and domesticated these feral horses. One tribe called The Nez Perce became excellent horsemen and breeders. They developed large herds of horses noted for their strength, intelligence, beauty and exotic coat colors.

Adventurous settlers roamed into the area of the Nez Perce tribe. Just as the Chincoteague pony, Tennessee Walking Horse or Missouri Fox Trotter, the Appaloosa’s name derives from their environment.To the settlers, the spotted horses became known as “A Palouse Horse” after the Palouse River, which runs through Northern Idaho close to the home of the Nez Perce. Eventually, the horse breed’s name changed to “Palousey,” “Appalousey,” and finally “Appaloosa."

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