Light horses - unlike draft horses or ponies -a re usually lean-legged, athletic animals built for speed and agility. Examples include Arabians, Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, and Standardbreds. These horses are suitable for driving, racing, pleasure riding, exhibition, and occasionally light packing. Light horses are also used for showing, jumping, hunting, endurance racing, and general ranch work. They stand between 14.2 and 17 hands and weigh 900-1,400 pounds. In the United States, many of the light horse breeds develeoped when settlers in different regions were faced with certain needs. These breeds may still excel at the purpose for which they were bred. This section mentions the most common uses of each breed, but most are versatile and have been employed in many different activities.
Some horses are bred for certain color characteristics or special gaits. While these horses are also considered light horses, they are grouped within their own sections.