The American Saddlebred, formerly known as the American Saddle Horse, is a breed of horse that was developed in Kentucky by plantation owners. Today, they are used almost exclusively for saddleseat riding in the show ring, although their uphill build has also begun to draw dressage enthusiasts to the breed. They are also used as barrel racers, hunters, jumpers, and parade mounts. Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... Binomial name Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758 The horse (Equus caballus, sometimes seen as a subspecies of the Wild Horse, Equus ferus caballus) is a large odd-toed ungulate mammal, one of ten modern species of the genus Equus. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... Saddle seat is a form of riding that is found in the United States, and to a lesser extent in Canada, Europe, Africa and Australia. ... An upper-level dressage competitor performing an extended trot Dressage (a French term meaning training) is a path and destination of competitive horse training, with competitions held at all levels from amateur to the Olympics. ...

Breed characteristics

The American Saddlebred with its conformation, personality, and stamina is suited to accomplish any task requested, but is most well-known as the "peacock of the horse show world". The horses used for the show ring are flashy, high-stepping animals, with exaggerated action. The Saddlebred is very sensitive and alert. The ideal American Saddlebred is well-proportioned and presents a beautiful overall picture. Large, wide-set expressive eyes and gracefully shaped ears set close together are positioned on a well-shaped head. The neck is long with a fine, clean throatlatch and is arched and well-flexed at the poll. The American Saddlebred sports well-defined and prominent withers, while the shoulders are deep and sloping. Well-sprung ribs and a strong level back also characterize the breed. The legs are straight with broad flat bones, sharply defined tendons and sloping pasterns. Saddlebreds are usually black, bay, chestnut, or brown, but grays, buckskins, palominos, pintos and occasionally roans are also found. The average height is 15-16 hh, but can also be as small as 14.2 hh or taller than 17 hh. The poll is a name of the part of the horses head, right between the ears. ... The withers is the highest point on an animals back, on the ridge between its shoulder blades. ... The pastern connects the fetlock joint and the hoof. ... Buckskin is a color of horses; it also refers to other things that are the color of a buckskin horse, such as the color of some breeds of dogs. ... Palomino is a coat color in horses, consisting of a gold coat and white or flaxen mane and tail. ... Pinto is a horse coloring that consists of large patches of white and another color. ...

Saddlebreds can also be five-gaited, performing not only the walk, trot, and canter, but the slow-gait and rack. The slow gait is a four-beated gait performed in a prancing motion, lifting the legs very high. The rack is a more ground-covering four-beat gait, and is much faster, with the horse snapping their knees and hocks up quickly. Ancestors of the Saddlebred were naturally gaited, and many Saddlebreds today can naturally perform them, and most can learn the additional gaits. Horse gaits are the different methods by which a horse, either naturally or through human training, moves itself. ...

History

In the 18th century, American colonists crossed the Narragansett Pacer with the Thoroughbred. Known as the American Horse, this cross was used in the Revolutionary War, and made its way into Kentucky. In the 1800s, the breed become known as the Kentucky Saddler. It was used mainly on plantations because of its comfortable, ground-covering gaits, and sure-footed manner. It was developed into a very stylish, fancy horse: beautiful for harness, strong enough for farm work, fast enough for match races. In the 1830s, Morgan and Thoroughbred blood was added to give the more substance and action. This produced the American Saddlebred. The horse gained popularity in the 1840s. The stallion Denmark, born in 1839, became the foundation sire, with over 60% of today's Saddlebreds tracing back to this one horse. The Narragansett Pacer is a relatively unknown breed, although it was once quite famous. ... Thoroughbred race horses The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known as a race horse. ... The Morgan is one of the first horse breeds developed in the United States. ...

General Robert E. Lee had a Saddlebred named Traveller; Generals Ulysses S. Grant and Stonewall Jackson also rode Saddlebreds. After the American Civil War ended, breeders began promoting the breed as a show horse, breeding for flash and animation. Many film television horses were also Saddlebreds, such as "Mr. Ed," Flicka and one of the horses used in National Velvet (also used in Gone With the Wind)." Saddlebreds played themselves in the film classic "Gone with the Wind," and many early action movies, like the original "Zorro," featured Saddlebreds because of their dramatic good looks. The Hollywood connection works both ways: many actors own and ride Saddlebreds. The best-known is Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner. One of the most famous Saddlebreds in the world of show horses was Wing Commander (1943 – 1969). A six-time World Grand Champion, he became an important sire of saddle show horses. // For the author of Inherit the Wind and other works, see Robert Edwin Lee. ... Traveller and Robert E. Lee Traveller (1857 – 1870) was Robert E. Lees most famous horse during the American Civil War. ... Ulysses S. Grant[2] (born Hiram Ulysses Grant, April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) was an American general and the 18th President of the United States (1869–1877). ... For other uses of Stonewall Jackson, see Stonewall Jackson (disambiguation). ... This article is becoming very long. ... Mister Ed was a popular US television comedy show that aired on CBS from 1961-1966. ... Wing Commander (1943-1969) was a world champion Saddlebred show horse and preeminent sire of the breed. ...

External links

• American-Saddlebred.Com
• American Saddlebred Horse Association
• American Saddlebred Sport Horse Association
• The Saddlebred Information Source
• Saddle & Bridle Magazine
• Fairfield South