Maximum horse speed: which breeds develop the fastest speed

Horses have played an important role in human life for a long time. Having tamed the horse, he gave her the role of an assistant in the household. A little later, a sport appeared – horse racing, and horses began to take an even greater part in human life. In this article we will talk about horses and the speed they can develop.

Horse speed

Average horse speed equals 20 km per hour, any breed can develop it, regardless of whether it is draft or riding. Riding horses differ from draft horses both in purpose and in appearance. The horse at the races develops considerable speed, so her body has a more refined structure. Draft ones are distinguished by more massive and low legs, their body is able to pull a very large weight, but their speed, even without a load, will not be high.

Suit

By the way, the connection between the color of a horse and its speed and character traits has long been noticed.

• Red horses at all times were the personification of fire, were considered the fastest and irrepressible;
• black suit – hot, slow and evil;
• whites are too soft;
• bays were distinguished by their courage, vigor, diligence and incredible abilities.

Therefore, red horses, like the hottest and fastest, were more popular with Russian cavalrymen.

The main types of gait

The gait also plays a big role. Allure is the type of movement of the horse. A different type of gait involves the development of different speeds, for each type there is a special case of application. During training, each of them is used. The main types of gait include:

1. Step;
2. Lynx;
3. Gallop.

The first and most calm is the step. During the walk, the horse usually moves at a speed of three and a half to seven kilometers per hour. With this type of gait, the horse is able to move for several hours in a row, since it is the most natural for him. In addition, she uses this move when she is carrying something heavy.

The trot movement of the horse has a faster pace, while the speed will develop 12-13 km per hour. But the physical parameters of the horse do not allow this species to move for a long time. If not forced, after resting at the walk, she may return to trotting again. The trotting time depends on the physical condition of the horse and its breed, on average it is 20 minutes, then the walk is 10 minutes. Moving at a trot, the horse is able to perform certain work related to the transport of goods. But in this case there are some restrictions: a horse is allowed to trot only if the load does not exceed eight percent of its body weight.

When running at a gallop, it can develop the highest speed. Specialists have identified several types of this gait. Even at the slowest gallop, the horse develops a speed of about 25 km per hour, and when galloping at a fast pace, it can reach speeds of up to 70 km per hour and more.

It is clear that with such a fast movement, the horse gets tired and cannot ride for a long time in such a rhythm. In natural conditions, she moves in such a run only in exceptional cases, for example, in case of danger and impending threat to life. Therefore, in natural conditions, with such a course, its distance is approximately one kilometer. However, trained horses taking part in races are able to move at a fast gallop for about twenty minutes.

What breed is the fastest?

Many consider Arabian horses to be the fastest breed of horses, but this is a common misconception. This merit belongs purebred English horse. This breed was bred by racing and especially for racing. Such horses were bred generation after generation by strict selection: only the strongest and most frisky were chosen. Today, the English Horse is one of the three purebred breeds in the world.

In addition to her, this list includes Arabian horses and Akhal-Teke horses. The title “purebred” indicates that this breed is bred in purity and it is forbidden to add the blood of horses of other breeds to it. It should be noted that today most of the breeds on our planet are half-blooded, they need to periodically undergo a rush of blood from one of the purebred breeds, otherwise it will close in its gene pool and die out.

As already mentioned above, a thoroughbred English breed or, more simply, a thoroughbred horse characterized by extraordinary agility. When galloping, these horses are capable of speeds of about one kilometer per minute. They manage to conquer short and medium distances at an average speed of 60 km per hour, and long ones (more than three km) at a speed of 55 km per hour. We are talking about average speed, since no horse is capable of moving at a maximum speed of more than 500 meters.

Many people believe that riding horses can reach speeds of more than 85 km per hour, but this is nothing more than a myth. In fact, thoroughbred riding horses – the most frisky horses – are able to move at a speed of 65 km per hour, no more, over a short distance (up to 500 meters), others gallop even more slowly. If any other developed such a speed, then her heart would not withstand such a load and she would die. After all, thoroughbred horses differ not only in external data, but also in the internal structure of organs, for example, heart size in horses of this breed is twice as much as that of representatives of another breed. They remind that the horse was born for a fast race and his body is able to cope with the maximum load.

Race wins

The fastest of all horses known to the world was the representative of the thoroughbred horse, the stallion Beach Rekit, he was able to develop a speed of 69,6 km per hour at a short distance of 409 meters, this record took place in 1945. Only 50 years later, in 1993, the stallion Onion Roll was able to repeat such a race, but he failed to beat the previous record. This horse also belongs to the breed of thoroughbred riding.

The distance of 804 meters was covered in 41,8 seconds by the stallion Siglevi Slave, who completed the race without a rider, the average speed of his canter was 69,3 km per hour. And the long-distance record holder was John Henry, also a representative of a thoroughbred horse. He mastered 2400 meters under the rider, moving at a speed of 60,7 km per hour. The weight of the rider with the saddle was 57,1 kilograms.

The organizers of official races are very careful in choosing horses. They check not only the state of health and speed characteristics of the horse, but also its pedigree. Thoroughbred horses are recorded in a special stud book that keeps the entire pedigree of the horse, and if at least in the tenth generation a mixture with another mare was noted, then she will not be allowed to official races. This circumstance cannot significantly affect the speed of the horse, but the rules are the rules.

Whatever breed the horse belongs to, always its purpose must be considered.. You should not expect too high speed parameters from working breeds, respectively, do not expect endurance in field work from horseback. If the plans include participation in races, then the decisive role belongs to the pedigree. Of course, an impeccable horse passport affects its price, but this is a guarantee of participation in major races.