Me either. I always thought they were the same. But obviously, there is some difference. I have heard some folks try to explain it, and decided to look it up on the Net anyway! I am still a little unsure of what all the difference is. Here is the best definition I came across:
“Pinto isn’t a breed, but there are registries for horses of this color. Like the Palomino Horse Breeders Association, which registers palomino-colored horses of different breeds, pinto registries accept various pinto-colored horses. These are not breed registries, but color registries. The Pinto Horse Association of America (PtHA) accepts a wide range of horse and pony breeds for registration, as long as the horses meet color requirements.
Paint horses, just like Arabians and Quarter Horses, are a unique breed of horse. Registered Paints are part of the American Paint Horse Association. One characteristic of many Paint horses are their pinto coloration, however the registry is based on bloodlines, not just color. Horses of Paint blood may be registered even if they have little or no white. Such horses are called “breeding stock” Paints.
Quarter Horses or Thoroughbreds that are born with pinto markings are also allowed in the registry. When you think of a Paint horse, however, you’re usually thinking of one that’s pinto colored.”
This is taken from The Ultimate Horse Site . For a more detailed explantion, follow the link to their page.
My daughter loves horses. She wants a horse. She has been taking lessons off and on for about three years now. Last week, we heard about a new program in our area involving horses and kids at risk.
This is a brand new idea from a couple of homeschooling moms. It is really just now getting off the ground. One of the lady’s has a “farm”, for lack of a better word, with all kinds of animals-horses, cow, chickens, ducks, rabbits, goats. She is starting a non-profit program where “kids at risk” can come out and experience life on a farm. They help with chores, which are listed on a daily calendar. After the chores are all done, they can saddle and tack the horses and ride.
The two moms are there to help and they are also implementing a mentor program. This is where teens will work toward being the ones who help teach the kids to ride. Right now, they are taking any kid, whether considered “at risk” or not (they feel like all kids are “at risk” in different ways.) There is no charge for the program. The kids love it, from doing chores to riding and caring for their assigned horse. They are also given the opportunity to enter shows and play days in the area.
This program sounds like it will be a really good thing for those kids who are involved. One “at risk” child has already made a lot of progress in her relationship with one of the mothers who started the program. I think it will be so good, for both the kids “at risk” and those not classified this way. They will learn to help each other and contribute to keeping the place running smoothly. It takes all of them working together. In the future, this will be a real boost to our society, as it will help both sets of children to function as contributing adults.
