A potentially troubling trend toward specialization in the stock horse breeds may mean the end of the all-around horse.
lthough some breeds have always been known as specialists, several decades ago, it was easy enough to find one horse to satisfy the multi-faceted needs of a family. On one weekend, this horse could be found carrying Mom down the trail, while the next weekend, two children were successfully competing him in both western and English classes at a show.
For some breeds, a shift toward specialization began to occur in the 1980s that saw horses bred to compete in specific disciplines rather than in the majority of classes at a show. For those with an interest in competing at the highest levels, it became necessary to have a different horse for each discipline.
WHAT CAUSED THE SHIFT “I think you see specialization more with the larger stock horse breeds, such as Quarter Horses, Paints, et cetera, than you do with many other breeds,” says David Brewer, a carded POA (Pony of the Americas) judge with an extensive background in stock horse breeds.