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About This Quiz
So you think you know what a thoroughbred horse is? Well, there's more to them than meets the eye, that's for sure!
Horse breeding is a centuries-old trade, and horses are cross-bred to produce specific qualities for specific purposes. When we talk about thoroughbred horses, that's basically the line of horses bred specifically for horse racing. At least that was their initial intent!
The thoroughbred horse traces its historical lineage to Europe. England wanted sturdier horses for their races, so specific horses with sturdy pedigree were developed there. That was in the 1600s and 1700s.
But the thoroughbred horse didn't merely stay in England. With breeding comes exporting, and the new pedigree was sold all around the world, wherever there was a demand.
Other countries soon saw a need for these sturdy animals, and they started to cross-breed their own. Therefore, thoroughbred pedigree horses are not only bred for race purposes, but also for other purposes where their characteristics are needed.
The result today is a wide variety of horse breeds that have the thoroughbred line in them. And boy, there are many of them! Try your hand at recognizing these thoroughbred horses from around the world. We promise you'll get a kick out of this quiz!
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This is one of the known stallions included in the "foundation sires" of every thoroughbred in the world. Can you tell what horse this is?
Nokota
Byerly Turk
The Byerly Turk is but one of the three main stallions considered as the "foundation sires" of all thoroughbred-lined horses in today's world. The other two are the Darley Arabian and the Godolphin Arabian.
Exmoor Pony
New Forest Pony
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The British royalty have this one in their stables. What horse is it?
Cleveland Bay
The Cleveland Bay is considered as one of the royal favorites in England. The British Royal Family utilizes them for many official occasions, such as in processions or parades.
Newfoundland Pony
Mustang
Norwegian Cob
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EQUITANAAustralia vai Youtube
This Australian breed traces its roots as far back as the 19th century. What is it?
Norwegian Fjord
Oldenburg
National Show Horse
Waler Horse
The Waler horse was perfect for cavalry use in Australia. They arrived at a time when the country was made up of colonies.
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This popular European cross-breed might find itself playing with leprechauns on slow days. What is it?
Orlob Trotter
Percheron
Morab
Irish Draught Horse
Irish mares were cross-bred with thoroughbreds to produce the Irish Draught Horse. This is one of the more common horses used for hunting and also for competition purposes.
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This U.S. breed is touted as one of the oldest horse breeds still in existence today. What's it called?
Paso Fino
Baklava
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse could be traced all the way back to the early Virginia settlers. They used the horses for racing first.
Mountain Pleasure Horse
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New Normandy Farm via Youtube
In French, this breed is known as "Le Cheval de Selle Francais." What is its English name?
Paint Horse
French Saddle Horse
The French Saddle Horse was meant to be a sport horse. They usually come in chestnut color, but other colors also exist.
Mule
Spassky Trotter
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This breed could be seen in its namesake's country capital of Brussels and anywhere else in the land. What is it called?
Belgian Warmblood
Belgian Warmblood horses are meant to be used for jumping. However, their lineage traces them to horses that were used for agricultural purposes.
Morab
Pinto
Andalusian
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Ninas Savvy via Youtube
Along with salmon, this horse breed is clearly from Norway, due to its pedigree. What's it called?
Przewalski Horse
Irish Cob
Dole Trotter
The Dole Trotter was first created during the 19th century. They are intended to be used for racing, of course - specifically harness racing.
Marchador
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Since it's a mixture of the English and the Middle Eastern/West Asian, this breed is named what?
Missouri Fox Trotter
Pony of the Americas
Royal Mounted
Anglo-Arab
The Anglo-Arab horse breed tells you that it has thoroughbred lineage. It's due to the use of the word "Anglo."
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SJC via Youtube
This German breed is, of course, used for riding and for driving as well. What's it called?
Lippit
Marwari
Brandenburger Horse
The Brandenburger is a magnificent sport horse even the Germanic royalty loved, a long time ago. That's due to the energetic nature of this cool animal, perhaps.
Kitsch Horse
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American horse breeds like this one are usually named after their owners. What is this called?
Trujillo Mare
Morgan Horse
The Morgan horse is a breed used for riding. It's also good for any harness purpose, such as to pull carriages and stuff.
Lusitano
Viva Zapata
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With its very appropriate name, this horse that's elegant and comfy to ride was bred by American plantation owners of the 19th century. What's it called?
Lipizzan
Knabstrupper
Peruvian Horse
American Saddlebred
It was once known as the Kentucky Saddler. But the right term here is the American Saddlebred.
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Leandro Ferreira via Youtube
This Brazilian breed is originally one, but a split happened along the line, producing the Marchador. What is it?
Quarter Horse
Mangalarga
There's the Mangalarga Machador, but this one is the Mangalarga horse. Though they came from the same lineage somewhere in their past, they were bred separately to focus on developing specific traits for each.
Ranger
Kerry Bog
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Interestingly enough, this miniature horse breed has thoroughbred lineage. What's it called?
Falabella
There's a miniature horse, and there's a pony. The Falabella is considered as a miniature horse.
Kathiawari
Rocky Mountain Horse
Icelandic Horse
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Perhaps it's appropriately named after the traveling groups of people that used it heavily. What's it called?
Gypsy Vanner
The Gypsy Vanner might be known through different names, yet they all point to this breed. it's also called as a Gypsy Horse, plain and simple, or a Gypsy Cob or Irish Cob, depending on who's looking.
Roma
Shagya
Hanoverian
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carrie taylor via Youtube
Since this is a sport horse breed found in Denmark, it's appropriately named what?
Racking Horse
Hackney
Danish Warmblood
Danish mares were crossbred with thoroughbreds from other parts of Europe. This resulted in the Danish Warmblood breed.
Shire
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Izzypie via Wiki Commons
This American breed is popularly used for harness racing. What's it called?
Highland Pony
American Standardbred
The American Standardbred has been in existence since the late 1700s. They are normally utilized in trotting or pacing races.
Spanish Mustang
Fell Pony
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This very European-sounding breed also carries its very specific purpose in its name. What's it called?
Friesian
Irish Sport Horse
The Irish Sport Horse also goes by the name Irish Hunter. Its lineage could be traced back to the Irish Draught Horse that was crossbred with a thoroughbred.
Hanoverian
Shetland Pony
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This American breed carries the name of its rather colorful "design." What's it called?
Gotland-Russ Pony
Florida Cracker
Drum Horse
American Paint Horse
True to its name, the American Paint Horse generally has some spotted colors on various parts of its body. But not all of them are spotted, though.
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farmagori via Youtube
This Caucasus breed's origins is said to be over 400 years old. What is its modern name, as cross-bred with thoroughbreds?
Boka-Boka
Anglo-Kabarda
It was only during the 20th century when the crossbreeding between thoroughbreds and the Kabarda horses was done. This produced the Anglo-Kabarda, found in the Kabardino-Balkaria region.
Barracuda Horse
Dutch Warmblood
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This American breed is named after the Volunteer State. What's it called?
Suffolk Punch
Dartmoor Pony
Exmoor
Tennessee Walking Horse
Owners of plantations in the South found good comfort in the Tennessee Walking Horse during the 18th century. That's why this breed spread in that region.
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This Russian breed is a good friend and companion to its owners. What's it called?
Swedish Warmblood
Dales Pony
Budyonny Horse
The Russian Budyonny Horse was actually named after a cavalry commander. His name was Semyon Budyonny, an important figure during the Russian Revolution.
Curly Horse
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Julia Opawska via Youtube
Since this is a breed found in Poland, its name reflects its heritage. What's it called?
Wooden Horse
Malopolski
They very showy Malopolski horse is great for show jumping. It comes in various colors such as chestnut, gray, bay or black.
Curly Horse
Assateague
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Miranda Wade via Youtube
This add-on breed was indeed a cross to extend the breed of an established American one. What's it called?
Trojan Horse
Spotted Saddle Horse
Chincoteague
Appendix
The Appendix horse is actually the byproduct of crossing the American Quarter Horse and an officially registered thoroughbred. Breeding is such a complicated thing, and it is exciting!
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Vendel Veszelka via Youtube
This sporting breed is actually quite rare, found in Hungary where it originated. What's it called?
Sprinting Horse
Blitzkrieg
Kisber Felver
The Kisber Felver descended from great champions of race horses. One of their kind actually earned a spot at the Guinness Book of World Records!
Clydesdale
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Before it became a luxury car brand, it was actually a breed of horse. What's it called?
Jaguar
Mustang
The free-roaming wild horses of ancient times were crossbred with various pedigrees to produce the modern-day Mustang. Part of this lineage came from thoroughbred horses.
Camaro
Lincoln
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This breed, originating from an Italian autonomous region, aptly carries its island name with it, which is shortened as AAS in Italian. What's it called?
Sardinian Anglo-Arab
The Sardinian Anglo-Arab was a specific breed that came from crossing local Sardinian horses with thoroughbred horses. But those Sardinian horses also had Arabian lineage in them.
Westphalian
Sulu Horse
Budenny
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Aletta Duivenvoorden via Youtube
In the 1930s, thoroughbreds were crossed with this very old Danish breed to create newer lines. What's it called?
Frederiksborger
Considered as the oldest breed of horse from Denmark, the Frederiksborger has existed for centuries in this land. Its lineage could be traced back to the stud of King Frederik II.
Welsh Cob
Marianas Trench
Camargue
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Obviously, this horse breed hails from the land of the maple leaf. What's it called?
Spratlys Horse
Borneo Horse
Canadian Horse
The Canadian horse is a good breed for driving and of course for riding. This is the country with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, after all!
Kota Kinabalu
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The French bred this kind to be used as war horses, originally. What's it called?
New Forest
Barb
Windsor Grey
Percheron
The Percheron is a draft horse. That means it's usually bred for domestic labor or farming.
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This Australian horse, when grouped, is called a "mob." What are they called?
Eriskay
Hackney
Fell
Brumby
The Brumby is a feral horse in Australia. That means it's freely roaming around, though they are not considered as wild.
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Its name sounds like a sea bordered by its country of origin, Iran, along with Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Russia. What's it called?
Shetland
Highland
Caspian
The Caspian horse is actually a small horse breed. But it is not considered a pony, since it's closer in nature to horses than ponies.
Coruscan
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Ðлена ÐоÑева via Wiki Commons
This Russian breed was developed in the 1920s. Briefly, what's it called?
Andalusian
Gelderlander
Icelandic
Tersk
The Tersk breed is of Russian origin. They are used mainly for racing, as well as endurance riding.
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Since this pony hails from Wales, it's appropriately named. What's it called?
Camargue Corona
Morgan Lundar
Welsh Pony
The Welsh pony indeed has thoroughbred blood. It's popularly used for equestrian showing and jumping.
Heidelberg
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Eponimm via Wiki Commons
This French breed originated in a province known as Brittany, hence the French-British-sounding name. What's it called?
Luzon
Macron
Breton
The Breton was once used heavily for military purposes. But it is also versatile enough to be used for farming.
Steamon
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CGTN via Youtube
This Chinese breed is small. What's it called?
Yili
The Yili is actually a small and compact-looking horse. It hails from the Xinjiang region.
American Cream Draft
Jamonado
Spritzer
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Ray Cordell via Youtube
Its name is obviously derived from a county in East Anglia. What's it called?
Akhal-Teke
Fjord Horse
Haflinger
Suffolk Punch
The Suffolk Punch is a reliable breed once used to pull commercial vehicles that have no motors. They are still reliable today and are used for various forestry duties.
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Thoroughbred lineage was added to this breed around 50+ years after it was first discovered. What's it called?
Akhal-Teke
Junipero
Appaloosa
Americans sure love an Appaloosa! It was recommended for preservation as early as the 1930s!
Sancarlo
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Southern French cowboys ride this breed when they're herding bullfighting bulls. What's it called?
Spartacus
Camargue
The Camargue horse indeed has some Iberian heritage, as researchers have discovered. But historical evidence also suggests that it has lived for a long time in the Burgundy region.
Wrangler
Levistrauss
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Wito Mink via Youtube
Switzerland's army used this breed heavily for its reliable characteristics and versatility. What's it called?
Palomino
Genderbeder
Freiberger
The Swiss sure love their Freiberger horse! They have various competitions and shows that feature this revered breed every year.
Abaco Barb
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You Got:
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