Blue Roan Quarter Horse
A Blue Roan Quarter Horse is a rare coat color for the breed. The most common color for the American Quarter Horse is sorrel, but other colors, like chestnut, bay, buckskin, black, brown, palomino, cremello, perlino, gray, dun, grullo, red roan, and bay roan are also accepted. Since the coat color is not the main characteristic of the breed, all colors and patterns are possible. American Quarter Horses usually come in solid colors, but spotted and pinto patterns are also accepted.
The future purpose of the Blue Roan Quarter Horse doesn’t matter much when choosing a horse. Horses for showing or for pleasure riding should be healthy and well-behaved. Breeding quality purebred horses have to be of a very high quality, without even minor faults. In order to preserve the best characteristics of the breed, only the best breeding stock should be used. Most hereditary disorders are transmitted through recessive defective genes. It means that the offspring becomes affected, if both parents have recessive genes responsible for a certain disorder. It’s often impossible to prevent hereditary disorders without careful screening of the breeding stock.
There are tree types within the breed: Stock, Halter, and Racing. They are bred for different purposes and vary in conformation and working abilities. Halter horses are very large and heavy. Some horses of the Halter type are so heavy that it affects their health. Racing Quarter Horses are especially good at sprinting. They are long-legged and refined. Stock Quarter Horses are short, compact, and hardy. Muscular hind legs, small refined head and compact body are typical of all breed types. A typical blue roan Quarter Horse stands between 14 and 16 hands high and weighs from 950 to 1200 pounds. Some Halter-type horses reach as high as 17 hands at the withers.
Owning a horse is a long-term responsibility. The common lifespan of Quarter Horses is 20-25 years. With good care, healthy horses live up to 35 years. Prior to obtaining a Blue Roan Quarter Horse for showing or pleasure riding, think if you are ready to provide it with necessary grooming, vet care, quality food, stable and exercise.
