Horses: The Most Beautiful Animals To Gallop The Earth

Different horse breeds have a wide variety of characteristics. Even those we regard as commonplace have beautiful and unique traits. From the familiar solid brown horses to dapple gray and palomino horses, we will explore the beautiful possibilities our dear equine friends hold regarding their fabulous looks.  

They are a relatively common variation and come from selective breeding to maintain the desired patterns. They are sometimes referred to as “paints,” but in the U.S., that is a specific breed, meaning that not all paints are, in fact, pintos. 

For example, this standardbred is known mainly for its outstanding ability to take great speed when harness racing. But also for its beauty, an incredibly refined type. Just look at the way it stands proud and tall, with a solid, muscular body. 

This coating is unique because it is necessary to perform a DNA test to check if a horse is a real Sabino. After all, many other types, such as roans, can be mistaken for Sabinos. Some breeds that can carry the gene are hackney, mustang, American paint, Tennessee walking horse, and the miniature horse. 

Sometimes it’s not noticeable when a horse is born a roan because of the foal (baby horse) coat they are born with. It isn’t until foals shed their coat that the roan becomes apparent, but once it’s there, it never fades, unlike gray horses. 

With his white “dapple” markings, this Arabian horse can still show off the deep gray undertones of his coat. But, eventually, he will lose them, and with age, they will fade into white hair. Most gray horses eventually turn white through the years, usually after they turn nine.

Other physical traits thoroughbreds are known for are their thin, slender bodies, wide chests, and slightly short backs. These traits are useful when it comes to gaining speed. So now you know! If you find yourself at the racetrack, putting your money on a thoroughbred is a safe bet!

This specific paint has become quite famous in online forums due to its peculiar look. Paints tend to be very docile and friendly. No wonder they were used by Indigenous Americans as a means of transportation. They’re also known for being strong, agile, and fast.

Cremellos have distinctively pink noses, rosy pink skin, and magnificent pale blue eyes, which only enhance their shine. They are not to be confused with the albino breed. The difference is that albino horses are born completely matte-white, and cremellos have a cream, lustrous tinge.

Their rise in popularity affected their increase in dollars, and very quickly, Arabian horses became some of the most expensive horses in the market. Arabian horses are subject to many legends and ancient stories where they are portrayed as lucky omens. 

These horses require extra care and attention because their skin is prone to sunburn and rashes. Apart from their mane color, the only other way to distinguish them is through DNA testing. The breeding method is fascinating; by selecting traits of specific genes, it’s possible to create certain patterns that will reflect on the horse. That’s why cremellos and perlinos are considered to be “double diluted.” They use two copies of the “cream” gene. 

This breed’s legs are “feathered”—feathers being the name for the long fur on his legs. This layer of hair provides extra warmth for the horse. Feathers are an evolutionary trait that surged with horses in icy cold places such as the United Kingdom and northern Europe. 

Buckskins are considered a unique and even superior type of horse due to their remarkable strength and hardy build. This horse could easily be cast as a ghost in a fantasy movie because of its gorgeous white and dark contrast, exceptional frame, and appealing presence. 

These horses are magnificent, but unfortunately, the breed is vulnerable to becoming extinct. Because hauling power isn’t the main trait people are looking for in horses nowadays, Clydesdales aren’t in high demand. An interesting fact is that the company Budweiser has a breeding program because they use them as the symbol of their company. 

Palominos have been bred for centuries; they date as far as 14th-century Spain. Originally they were obtained by breeding a chestnut for its reddish hue, and a cremello, for the cream gene. Since breeding techniques have been refined throughout the years, palominos don’t fall exactly into the exact definitions we have nowadays, but they’re still highly regarded. 

It isn’t infrequent to find leopard appaloosas, but they are much-loved for their sports abilities. They are highly proficient in western-style competitions and professional racing. A fun fact is that the appaloosa is the official state horse of Idaho. 

While miniature horses are genetically bred to resemble the exact proportions of full-size horses, they are up to 34 inches tall. They are kept for many reasons besides showing off in competitions. They are commonly kept as companion animals, and there is a growing demand for mini horses as service animals.

This particular horse has the body build fit for hard lifting work on a farm—or for movie stardom! The white markings on its face, also known as “stripe,” give this horse a lot of personality. They are unique identifiers that make each horse individually special. 

Unlike appaloosas or other spotted fellows, it is not easy to breed brindled horses. There haven’t been many studies on their genes. But this only makes them more desirable, and their price tag surely reflects that! But these aren’t even near the most expensive horses in the market. 

Champagnes can be mistaken for their good-looking palomino relatives. Their hazel or amber eyes give them away (palominos tend to have dark brown or black eyes). At least one parent must be champagne for a foal to be born with the lavish color, and there are DNA tests to check.

Some equine breeders call this pattern “white ticking.” They’re different from roans since a rabicano’s white hairs are very specifically situated, but they can carry both genes. The horse pictured here has a few white hairs throughout its upper body that indicate it might have some roan ancestors!

The blue tinge is amplified under certain lighting, making this a favorite amongst collectors and horse enthusiasts. They are the rarest of the roans, and their blueness sometimes isn’t apparent until they turn two or three years old. The pitch-black tail and mane give this beauty a spectacular zest. 

Horses with lots of blends usually have one or two dominant genes that overshadow the others, but this horse hit the genetic pool jackpot. That white stripe is like a strategically placed brushstroke in an otherwise realistic painting. 

We just hope Cruella De Vil isn’t looking to change her preferred quarry because this appaloosa could easily become the villain’s favorite. While dark appaloosas with white spots are very in demand, we have a soft spot for this cutie’s looks.

This beauty is an American quarter horse, a breed of horse that is very popular in the U.S. The name comes from their ability to sprint and win quarter-mile races. They can reach extremely high speeds, up to 70 km/h. How impressive is that?

But adoration isn’t always appreciated by these horses, and they have a distinctly bad temperament. But as long as you give them care and love, they should be fine. Their coats can be of any color as their full-sized counterparts, except they can’t inherit the spotting gene.

The letter “h” is situated on the hind end, the “or” lays on the rear, the “s” is blended with the white belly patch, and the “e” is climbing on its neck. This must be the only horse in the world to ever spell out its own species in English this way.

An interesting fact is that both “paint” and “pinto” are words that have been used to describe this horse, but in reality, “pinto” is a word to describe the color of a coat, and “paint” is the breed. It’s important to identify that the coat isn’t necessarily an identifier of the breed. However, some breeds are more prone to having DNA that allows them to develop certain coats. Tricky, right?

Just like blue roans aren’t really blue, classic champagnes can be said to look lavender, brownish gray, or even green! Under specific shades of light, these impressive creatures look out of this world. In the past, people used to call classic champagnes “lilac duns.”

Their actual tinge is a very dark reddish-brown. They are the darkest of the chestnuts and are held in high regard. The light reddish tinge and white feathers are a complementary contrast to the dark coat. And the tail looks like it spent hours at the hair salon to get a perfect balayage. 

The spots on bay overos tend to be of a very solid color and never cross the back. A fun fact is that they tend to have a single blue eye. To the uninitiated, it looks like someone splashed a bucket of white paint on this horse’s tummy!

They were introduced by the Spanish to the American continent in the 14th century. These beautiful beasts don’t have as many regulated characteristics as their sophisticated counterparts, but because of their wild nature, they don’t need to meet anyone’s standards to be good mounts. Mustangs have strong endurance and long life spans.

When a roan’s skin gets damaged, some marks appear called “corn marks,” and no white hairs grow back in that area. An interesting fact is that we can see roans with corn marks in old paintings that date as far back as the 18th century.

The silver dapple gene usually affects a black coat; in this case, it’s affecting the sooty buckskin, which develops mainly on the lower part of the body. The reddish mane is a fabulous accent to a wonderful coat. The peculiar light brown spotting reminds us of a chocolate bar with peanut butter spots. Sounds yummy! 

This grullo emanates grace as he trots along the green fields is any horse lover’s dream. The sheer lightness of its gallop is no comparison to other speedy breeds we will learn about further on, though. 

How imposing would it be to see a fully armed army on top of these stunning creatures? Nowadays the war is over for Friesians, and they are sought after for their gracefulness and talent, especially for dressage competitions. These consist of performing trained movements to pass certain skill tests. 

Just look at this horse’s grace and sway! Simply gorgeous. After looking at all of these wonderful horses with such intricate and beautiful coats, we simply have to admit that horses are simply the most beautiful animals on earth!

Their strong physique was perfect for pulling the wagons and caravans some travelers used during the 19th and early 20th centuries in England and Ireland. That’s why these horses are commonly called Gypsy cob, Irish cob, or Gypsy vanner. 

This sweet-tempered specimen can’t get enough of our love. This type of horse is the subject of literature and a famous poem by Robert Frost. This equine is held in such high regard that it’s the official state horse of three states! Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Everyone wants a little bit of that Morgan horse.

Dutch warmbloods tend to be solid-colored, with a prevalence of brown, black, chestnut, and gray. Sometimes they have some white markings, but they are never “pintos.” Funnily enough, there has only been one tobiano ever registered, and nobody has dared to breed another one since 1976.

Andalusians are also known as “pure Spanish horses.” They have gained a lot of popularity in pop culture, having been used in films such as Lord of the Rings, Gladiator, Braveheart, Tomb Raider, and Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.