American Saddlebred Horses

The American Saddlebred horse is an elegant breed born out of the early history of the United States. Most known for its elevated and active gait seen in today's show ring, it is a breed with a rich history intertwined in the cultural fabric of the United States.

History:

British settlers to the colonies brought with them the hardy, gaited horses from which developed the Narragansett Pacer in the region of Rhode Island. In the 1700's, the first Thoroughbreds were introduced and by selective cross breeding created a new "American Horse" which served as a vital component to the Revolutionary War. Revered for the endurance and good gaits, these horses further served their new country in the War of 1812 and by 1846 the American Saddle Horse was an established and unique breed.

From 1861 to 1865, during the American Civil War, American Saddlebred Horses served as mounts for a large portion of both the Union and Confederate Armies. General Lee's famous horse, Traveller, was an American Saddlebred as was General Grant's horse Cincinatti, and Sherman's horse, Lexington. It was a dictate of General Grant upon the surrender of the Confederate Army which allowed soldiers to keep their horses that likely saved the breed.

Heralded for their courage and sturdiness, individuals of the breed gained in value. To stabilize a growing commercial market for their horses, breeders earnestly called for the formation of a formal stud book and in 1891 a registry was born. With the rise in popularity of state fairs and horse shows, Saddlebred horses also found a new spotlight earning a reputation as "the peacock of the horse show world." Even today, the high stepping exaggerated gait of the American Saddlebred is a sight to behold.

Uses:

Primarily used in the Saddle Seat divisions the horses are judged on general impression as they exhibit their preferred gaits and paces in a fancy show ring style. Because of their genetic foundation from the Narragansett pacer, some Saddlebreds retain the ability to gait. In other words, they can demonstrate a gait other than the trot between walk and canter. Commonly, they perform the rack and the slow-gait. Each of these gaits is considered a four beat ambling gait with marked elevation of the legs. These, five-gaited American Saddlebreds perform in that respective division while the three-gaited American Saddlebreds perform the standard walk, trot, and canter in their own classes.

Although the Saddle Seat divisions are the pinnacle expression of the showy gait the horse is bred for, Saddlebreds can be seen across a wide variety of disciplines from driving, recreational trail riding and endurance to jumping and even dressage. Harry Callahan, a chestnut stallion, rose to history as the first American Saddlebred to compete at the Grand Prix level in dressage, its highest level.

Breed Standards:

As a light riding type horse, the Saddlebred should be well proportioned with an average height between 15 and 16hh though they may be as small as 14.2hh and some exceed 17hh. Most notably, the Saddlebred should exhibit a well chiseled head with a straight profile, a large alert eye, and keen ears set high and close together. The throatlatch should be clean and refined. Raising well out of the withers the neck should be both long and well arched with a flexible poll capable of the flexion required of a riding horse. Well defined and prominent withers yield a good saddle position behind a sloping shoulder. The back should be strong and level tying into strong loin. Legs should be straight and refined with good bone, flat knees and sloping pasterns. The hocks should be neither straight nor too angled. Often the tail is "set" by a procedure with cuts the tendons which hold the tail down. Therefore, it plumes upward for several inches before cascading downward. All solid colors (black, bay, chestnut, and grey) are acceptable within the breed, with pintos and roans also being found. Dilute colors, such as buckskin and palomino are also possible.

Further, American Saddlebreds are often regarded for their remarkable temperaments. Although bred to be highly alert, they are curious and intelligent. Where other breeds would appear to be afraid and spooked, the Saddlebred is merely proud and expressive. As a people-oriented horse, they are known to form a strong bond with their owners, riders and trainers.