Horses for sale in California - find your dream horse
California’s sunshine coast and mountains make it one of the USA’s most popular locations for horse lovers. In fact, this state is second only to Texas in horse numbers. What’s more, the wide selection of horses for sale in California is a draw for buyers across the globe. Wherever you are in the world, the ehorses website gives you the opportunity to focus on outstanding horses for sale in California. Start by simply using the search filters of country and radius. A tip: most buyers know the larger urban areas in California, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. Beyond these areas, California is still a surprisingly rural state. There are plenty of horses for sale out in the country. Use zip codes to search rural areas, too, and add some other criteria, such as age, height, gender, and color, to help you locate your dream horse.
Which horse breeds offer the greatest choice? Out of a total state population of around 700,000 horses, the most searched for breeds and bought horses are Quarter Horses (population 184,000) and Thoroughbreds (population 152,000).
Horses for sale in California - find the perfect owner for your horse
Are you looking to find the perfect partner for your horse in California? Let the experienced ehorses team help. Both private sellers and breeders can benefit from the team’s expertise as well as the user-friendly website. In this way, you can access not just local buyers but also international buyers. This makes it much easier to locate the perfect owner for your horse.
Checklist for an advertisem*nt: what to include
- For best results, it’s essential to include the horse’s age, height, color, breed or type, and experience.
- Contact details must be complete and up-to-date. Sales can be lost through incorrect information.
- To present your horse at its best, include up to 20 images and 4 videos in your horse advertisem*nts, free of charge.
- Adding further options will ensure your ad reaches an even larger audience of potential buyers.
Top Breeders
Today, California is home to globally important Thoroughbred, Quarter Horses, Arabian, and Baroque horse breeders. Centers are located throughout the state, such as Victory Rose Thoroughbreds in Vacaville, California.
Horses in California
The economic impact of the California horse industry
It’s estimated that California’s horse industry contributes around $7 billion to the state economy. Racing is a major contributor at $2.5 billion. It’s also estimated that there are over 54,000 jobs in this sector. Taking into account the support industry, feed suppliers, and so on, this number may be incremented by 130,000 people. In total, over 300,000 Californians are actively engaged through horse ownership, providing services, and employment.
The history of horses in California
California’s horse history is as diverse as its landscapes. Spanish heritage has contributed greatly to the equestrian tradition known as the California Vaquero School. Spanish settlers in California brought with them a style of riding that was rooted in Baroque horsemanship and cattle management. The Vaquero tradition is both elegant and practical. In California, this style of riding was refined further. Their fast, agile horses had historically been ideal as war horses as well as stock horses. They were light on the bridle and tuned in to the invisible cues of their riders. Drawing on this tradition, the National Reined Cow Horse Association, originally the California Reined Cow Horse Association, was set up in 1949. Its aim was to maintain California’s rapidly disappearing reining heritage. As the state’s urban areas grew in the nineteenth century, work horses were a vital part of their development. Sacramento became famous as the terminus of the legendary Pony Express. By 1900, 8,065 horses were part of the economy of Los Angeles. Work horses logged California’s forests, tilled the land, and worked in the vineyards. Horse racing added to the equestrian activities in the state. Then, horses found a new role – as stars of the silver screen in Hollywood.
Horse associations in California
The state is home to numerous breed associations as diverse as the California Gypsy Horse Association and Baroque horse organizations. California State Polytechnic University is on the site of W.K. Kellogg’s Arabian horse farm. It includes the world’s biggest library devoted to the Arabian horse, the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Library (WKKAHL). The California Professional Horsem*n's Association provides support for the state’s many professional equestrians.
Disciplines in California
All equestrian disciplines are represented in this magnificent state, from demanding mountain endurance riding in the Tevis Cup to dressage in Los Angeles. Western traditions are popular, and so are elegant harness traditions, racing, and show jumping. Visitors and residents also enjoy riding holidays, including overnight camping.
Most famous horses in California
California is home to the world’s biggest movie industry, and so it’s not surprising that some of this state’s most famous horses are actors. The palomino Golden Cloud (1934-1965) is better known as Trigger, the talented partner of the cowboy, Roy Rogers. Trigger had Thoroughbred ancestry and had worked as a racehorse before becoming a movie star. The amazing Seabiscuit (1933-1947) was one of the world’s most successful racehorses. He is remembered for his famous match against War Admiral in 1938. Quarter Horse Doc Bar (1956-1992) became one of the most influential sires in the National Cutting Horse Association. His contribution was recognized by induction into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. Red Chief R, part Morgan and part Arabian, won the Tevis Cup in 1966 and again the following year. California Chrome is probably the state’s most celebrated racehorse, returning from injury to win the Dubai Cup. California’s various herds of wild horses are also a draw for tourists.
Basic information about California
California is on the west coast of the USA. Its population is 35,484,000, and the economy of this single state is larger than that of some countries. The state capital is Sacramento.
Do you want to narrow your search? Discover more horses from California in:
- Los Angeles
- Riverside
- San Diego
- Fresno
- Sacramento
- Long Beach
- Oakland
- Anaheim
- San Jose
- Santa Ana
