How fast is a quarter horse?

The quarter horse can top out at speeds of 55 miles an hour for a short sprint. The average speed of a quarter horse, however, is closer to 47 miles an hour. The quarter horse gets its name from the ability it has to outrun other breeds of horses in short sprints. Typically, they can outrun other breeds in a race that tops at a quarter of a mile, hence the name “quarter horse”.

Due to this speed in short distances, the horse is used in a variety of showmanship sports. The list includes, but certainly isn’t limited to, rodeos, driving, and barrel racing. This makes the breed one of the most popular breeds in the United States of America.