2024 Horses Stamps

2024 Horses

Stamp Category: Commemorative
Value: 68¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: June 17, 2024
First Day City: St. Joseph, Missouri
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Panes of 20
Tagging: Phosphor, Block Tag

History the stamp represents: Horses have helped us build our civilizations for thousands of years. They have transported us from place to place, entertained us, helped us heal from physical and mental injuries, supported the men and women who keep us safe, and more. In 2024, the US Postal Service issued five Forever stamps commemorating horses and the many jobs they still do for us.

Today, there are over 300 horse breeds in the world, each bred for a different purpose. These breeds are generally divided into three categories: “hot bloods,” “cold bloods,” and “warmbloods.” Hot bloods tend to have smaller frames and more delicate limbs as they are bred with speed and endurance in mind. Thoroughbreds and American Quarter Horses are two examples of hot bloods. Cold bloods tend to be stockier and stronger as they are intended to pull heavy loads and perform at slower speeds. Draft horses are cold bloods. Warmbloods are created by crossing a hot blood with a cold blood.

While there are some tasks best suited to hot or cold bloods, in general they can be used interchangeably. For example, when choosing horses for police work, an American Quarter Horse might be a better fit for moving quickly through the streets, while a draft horse like a Percheron might be better for crowd control. And, since warmbloods fall somewhere in between, they are often a great compromise between brute strength and refined athleticism.

At the end of the day, we owe a lot to horses. They helped build this country and continue to help it prosper today. They are beloved companions and valued coworkers without whom certain jobs would be more difficult or even impossible.