Spirit was born in 2005 but came to Animal Tracks in 2019 at the age of 14 with a bad navicular bone. This made him unrideable, which for a quarter horse makes it difficult to find a home. The good news is Animal Tracks, which is not a domestic animal rescue, had one aging draft horse looking for an unrideable friend. Spirit became a companion horse, and the two hit it off immediately. Animal Tracks normally takes care of exotic animals, but here, with 70 volunteers, the animals find their own champions. Bill is Spirit’s best friend and caretaker – they run around together as if they are both horses, playing and frolicking, eating and grooming together. Bill makes sure Spirit has all the latest in horse treats, fly masks and fly sprays, etc. I do believe Spirit helps Bill as much as Bill helps Spirit! It is truly a symbiotic relationship.
ORDER: Perissodactyla
FAMILY: Equidae
GENUS: Equus
SPECIES: Ferus Caballus
The most popular breed in the United States today, and the American Quarter Horse Association is the largest breed registry in the world. This horse is known as a race horse and for its performance in rodeo horse shows and just being a working ranch horse. This animal has a very compact body, well suited for quick maneuvers – is great at cutting, barrel racing, calf roping, and western riding events. This animal excels at sprinting short distances and the ability to outrun other horse breeds in aces of a quarter mile or less. Some have been clocked at speeds up to 44 MPH.
Threats
Exploitation for work and entertainment.
Conservation Status
LC - Least Concern