Test Your Knowledge: Royal Horse Show Breed Quiz

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Horse Show happens every November in Toronto, Canada, and is over 100 years old. This respected international show offers classes for many breeds of horses, and includes both riding and driving competition. See if you can guess which breed is shown in each of these photos taken at the 2024 Royal Winter Fair Horse Show. But first to help you prepare, here are descriptions of the breeds represented in the quiz that you can use as a study guide. They are listed in alphabetical order by breed name.

The Belgian Draft Horse Breed

The Belgian draft horse originated in Europe in the country of Belgium. They are direct descendants of the “Great Horse” of medieval times that was likely used to carry knights into battle. Over the centuries, the large, well-muscled Belgian horse was developed for farm work and hauling. Although they do come in other colors in Europe, in North America the primary colors for Belgian drafts are either chestnut, sorrel, red sorrel, blonde, or red roan with a white or blonde mane and tail. White markings on the face and legs are permitted.

Learn more about Belgian Draft Horses through the Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America.

The Canadian Sport Horse

Bred in Canada for competition primarily in hunters, jumping, dressage, eventing and driving, the Canadian Sport Horse was originally called the Canadian Hunter. Their studbook was formed in 1926 for registering Canadian-bred horses intended for these sports. The name was changed from Canadian Hunter to Canadian Sport Horse in 1984. The breed started by crossing Thoroughbred stallions with mares owned by Canadian farmers. Today, the Canadian Sport Horse may have bloodlines tracing not only to Thoroughbreds, but also a number of other breeds of horses and ponies as long as the body type, movement and jumping style are suitable. They may come in any color and size, although horses and ponies are recorded in different registry books within the organization.

Find out more about this breed with the Canadian Sport Horse Association.

The Clydesdale

The Clydesdale is a draft horse breed which originated in Scotland in the area around the River Clyde in the 1700s. The breed is mostly used for farming, hauling, pulling carriages and now for parades and exhibitions. Body colors most often seen in the Clydesdale breed are bay, dark bay, black or dark roan with white markings on the legs and face. They have lots of hair on their lower legs called “feathers.” In America, the famous Budweiser Clydesdales are an example of this breed.

To find out more about Clydesdales, check out the Clydesdale Breeders of the U.S.A.

The Dutch Warmblood

The Dutch Warmblood breed, also sometimes referred to as KWPN or a Royal Dutch Sport Horse, is a horse that comes from the Netherlands (Holland) in Europe. They are bred specifically for use in the Olympic sports of dressage, eventing and show jumping, and also for driving. The colors of bay, chestnut, black or gray are most common, but there are some registered Dutch Warmbloods that are pinto as well.

Learn more with the KWPN of North America.

The Friesian Horse Breed

The striking all-black Friesian horse comes from the northern part of the Netherlands. The Friesian breed is considered a “light draft horse” so is not as heavily built as Belgians, Clydesdales, Shires or Percherons. They are known for their long, flowing mane and tail and slightly feathered feet, as well as their high-stepping movement. Friesians may be used for driving or riding.

For more information on Friesians, visit the Friesian Horse Association of North America.

Hackney Horses and Ponies

Hackney Horses, and their smaller version, Hackney Ponies, may not be as well-known as many other breeds. There are only about 3,000 of them world-wide and only a few hundred in North America. Therefore, they are listed on the “Critical” list by The Livestock Conservancy. The high-stepping, attractive breed originated in England in the region of Norfolk. They may come in any solid color (bay, brown, black or chestnut) and white markings are allowed. Both Hackney Horses and Ponies are used for fine harness, pleasure or roadster driving classes as well as combined driving. They may also be ridden and some are shown in dressage and jumping sports.

Learn more about Hackney Horses and Ponies with the American Hackney Horse Society.

The Hanoverian

The Hanoverian is a European Warmblood breed created in the German state of Hanover. Hanoverians are primarily bred for the riding sports of dressage, eventing and show jumping, but are also seen competing in driving. Chestnut, bay, black or gray horses are found most often in the breed.

For more about this breed, visit the The American Hanoverian Society.

The Percheron Draft Horse Breed

The Percheron draft horse breed comes from France. Although the exact origin of the breed is not known, there were ancestors of this breed in France by the 1600s. They are used for farm work and hauling, as well to pull carriages, and occasionally for riding and vaulting. The breed primarily comes in either gray or black. Unlike other draft horse breeds their feet do not have lots of feathers.

Check out the breed at the Percheron Horse Association of America.

The Standardbred

The Standardbred breed was developed in North America. They are best known as the racehorses that pull sulky carts around a dirt track at either a trot or pace. Yet, Standardbreds may also be used for pleasure driving, combined driving or road horse and roadster classes in shows. They may also be used in under saddle competition and trail riding. The breed may be bay, brown, black, chestnut, gray or roan.

Learn more about the Standardbred at the United States Trotting Association.

The Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a very old breed of horse developed in England for horse racing. They descend mostly from Arabian horses. Today, in addition to racing, Thoroughbreds are also known as sport horses used for show jumping, eventing and dressage. Most Thoroughbreds are either bay, brown, black, chestnut, or gray, but they also come in roan, palomino and white.

Visit to The Jockey Club website for more on the Thoroughbred.

The Welsh Pony and Cob

The Welsh Pony and Cob is a breed with roots in Wales in the United Kingdom. The breed was originally used as “pit ponies” in coal and mineral mining to pull wagons to the surface from below ground. Today they are quite versatile and are shown in both driving and under saddle classes as well as for pleasure riding and driving. They may come in any solid color including bay, black, chestnut, gray, palomino, buckskin as well as smoky blacks and double creams.

Learn more about the breed from the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America.

Royal Horse Show Photo Breed Quiz

Name the breed of horse shown in these photos taken at the 2024 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Horse Show. All photos by Shelley Higgins/MacMillan Photography.

1. What breed is this gray horse jumping over the indoor eventing fence?