Quarter Horse vs Paint
Quarter Horse or Paint? A side-by-side comparison of size, lifespan, temperament, care needs and observed prices, from our Animal Library.
At a glance
| Quarter Horse | Paint | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | United States | United States |
| Size | 14–16 hands · 950–1,200 lb | 14–16 hands · 950–1,200 lb |
| Lifespan | 25–30 years | 25–30 years |
| Build | Compact, heavily muscled | Not listed |
| Temperament | Calm, willing, steady | Calm, willing, sensible |
| Best fit | Western, trail, first horses | Western, trail, families |
| Coat | Not listed | Tobiano, overo, tovero |
| Energy | ●●●●● Quick when asked, then quiet | ●●●●● Responsive, not hot |
| Trainability | ●●●●● Willing and sensible | ●●●●● Quick learner |
| Upkeep | ●●●●● Easy keeper | ●●●●● Easy keeper |
| Beginner fit | ●●●●● Classic first horse | ●●●●● Forgiving and steady |
| Observed price | $5,000 median (8488 prices) | $2,500 median (2135 prices) |
How they differ
- Energy: about the same (3 of 5 each).
- Trainability: about the same (5 of 5 each).
- Upkeep: about the same (2 of 5 each).
- Beginner fit: about the same (5 of 5 each).
The Quarter Horse
America’s stock horse, bred to sprint a quarter mile and to work cattle all day. That gives a compact, muscular horse with a quiet mind and quick feet, suited to ranch work, western sports, trails and first-time owners.
Easy keepers put on weight fast, and some bloodlines carry serious inherited diseases. The five-panel genetic test is the single most useful document when buying one.
The Paint
A stock-type horse with Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred bloodlines and a pinto coat. Underneath the color it is the same calm, athletic, cow-savvy horse, and it carries the same inherited disease risks plus one of its own.
White areas of skin sunburn easily and can develop skin problems. Frame overo carriers can produce a fatal lethal white foal if bred to another carrier, and stock-horse disease panels still apply.
Questions
Is a Quarter Horse or a Paint better for a beginner?
Neither has the edge: both rate 5 of 5 for beginners in our Animal Library. Quarter Horse: Classic first horse. Paint: Forgiving and steady.
What is the main difference between a Quarter Horse and a Paint?
Easy keepers put on weight fast, and some bloodlines carry serious inherited diseases. The five-panel genetic test is the single most useful document when buying one. By contrast, white areas of skin sunburn easily and can develop skin problems. Frame overo carriers can produce a fatal lethal white foal if bred to another carrier, and stock-horse disease panels still apply.
Which costs more, a Quarter Horse or a Paint?
On the prices we observed, the Quarter Horse median is $5,000 (8488 prices) and the Paint median is $2,500 (2135 prices).