What is a stock horse and how should it be built?

Here is Golden wondering out loud again, but simple question really:

I bandy about the term "Stock Horse" like I know what it means, but actually I'm not sure I do.

When I use it I am thinking of a good working horse, one who you could comfortably ride all day, short, stocky, compact, strong, but quick. Should be able to chase a cow, drag a calf, be level headed but not dead headed.

Am I close? Tell me what a stock horse is, and educamate me with pics of good stock horses, thanks.

Your description is, IMO, a perfect stock horse, adding only their versatility. An ideal stock horse to me would be one that an also go show english one weekend, race the next, work cattle during the week, etc.

A few of my favorite stock horses:

Wimpy


King


Prince Plaudit

Those are just a few, but I love the old timey Quarter Horses and Appaloosas.

Forgive my ignorance, who is King??

King is a foundation quarter horse stallion. My gelding goes back to him 3 times. Good working, using kind of horses with good minds.
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They should be built like a dump truck and move like a Ferrari. That's what I look for when I look for stock horse, which is the type I'm in the market for now. The sire of a colt I looked at, you could fit 6 hands between his chest, he was huge for a stud on stall rest, and the studs dam was the same way, at 23 years old.

Those pictures are good examples! I'll see if I can find my favorite examples.
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Sonny Dee Bar



The Investor



Tardy Too

I would call those old-school "stock" horses.

"Modern" day stock horses come in a variety of shapes and sizes.



Real Bonanza

But, personally, because of the variety of events these horses have to do, and some have specialized say, for hunter or for western or for western pleasure, I think stock horses are more of a "mindset". They are a pleasure to ride, known for their level head carriage, and flat-kneed movement. They are built to be working horses, whether they work hunters or cattle. I don't attain to believe that the "cow horse" is the end-all-beat-all stock horse. I think the HUS stock horses have every right to be considered "stock horses" as well, because even when you compare a HUS AQHA horse to a thoroughbred, there are still remarkable differences in attitude and way of going.

I'm sorry English person here, not raised on QH's I was raised on stories of the Darley Arabian and the Godolphin Arabian and Byerly Turk

King is one of, of not the, "biggest" or mass producing foundation Quarter Horses ever. He has a huge impact on the QH breed in general, just about every QH traces back to King somehow.

Hickory is very much a stock horse in his build, versatility, and bloodlines..
Papa Hickory Doc Quarter Horse

Well, I'm having an uncooperative phone but I love me some Joe Bailey!
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