Traces the history of the quarter horses from their European origins through the colonial and frontier periods to the present. He shows the importance of the Texan stallions, Steel Dust and Shiloh, in fixing the breed and gives credit to the King Ranch for its scientific breeding in recent decades.

There is a need as well as a reason for this book, says the author, since "there are no other books covering the history of the Quarter Horse. All that is available is an article here and a chapter there. If you know the past, you can understand today and anticipate tomorrow. For this reason the serious Quarter Horse breeder and enthusiast cannot use his horses wisely today, or mate them intelligently for tomorrow, without knowledge of his breed's origin, development, and principal bloodlines. The background of this great American breed is not only information of vital interest to the consummate horseman, but also a fascinating story in its own right." The author traces the European origins and, from Colonial times, the development and use of the Quarter Horse in the United States. He covers the outstanding horses, performance records, early breeders, and the establishment of the American Quarter Horse Association.