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The American Saddlebred is a horse breed from the United States. Descending from saddle horses bred at the time of American Revolution, the American Saddlebred includes the Narragansett Pacer, Canadian Pacer, Morgan horse and Thoroughbred among its ancestors. Initially bred mainly in Kentucky, where it gained the name "Kentucky Saddler", it was used extensively as an officer's mount in the American Civil War. In 1891, a breed registry was formed, the first such equine organization in the United States. The breed continued to grow through the 20th century. Since the formation of the registry, almost 250,000 American Saddlebreds have been registered, and they can be found in countries around the world.

Popularly known as show horses, American Saddlebreds are known as the "peacock of the horse world". They are a gaited breed, performing a slow gait and rack in addition to the regular walk, trot and canter.

Characteristics

High-stepping action is typical of the Saddlebred

American Saddlebreds stand 15 to 17 hands (60 to 68 inches, 152 to 173 cm) high and weigh between 1,000 to 1,200 pounds (450 to 540 kg). They may be found in any color, including pinto patterns. Members of the breed have long necks, wide chests, short backs and powerful hindquarters. The croup is high and flat. They are known by enthusiasts to be spirited, yet gentle, animals. It has been called the "world's most beautiful horse" by admirers, and is known as the "peacock of the horse world".

Saddlebreds are popularly known as show horses, with horses being shown in both three-gaited and five-gaited categories. The former are the three common gaits seen in most breeds, the walk, trot and canter. The latter includes the three regular gaits, plus a slow gait (also called stepping pace) and rack. Although most commonly seen in the show ring as a riding and driving horse, Saddlbreds also can used for trail and pleasure riding, dressage, show jumping and ranch work.

History

The ancestor of the American Saddlebred was the American Horse, a riding horse used at the time of the American Revolution and known for its stamina and comfortable ride. Other breeds which played a role in the early development of the Saddlebred include the Narragansett Pacer, a riding and driving breed known for its ambling and pacing gaits; the Morgan, used to add stamina and develop a compact, muscular frame; and Canadian Pacers, originally of French origin, which were also influential in the development of the Standardbred and Tennessee Walking Horse breeds. The most influential Canadian Pacer was Tom Hall, a blue roan stallion foaled in 1806. After being imported to the United States from Canada, he was registered as an American Saddlebred and became the foundation stallion of several Saddlebred lines.

The American Saddlebred was mainly developed in Kentucky, where it first became known as the Kentucky Saddler, before gaining the names of American Saddler and today's common American Saddlebred. Later, Thoroughbred blood was added to the breed, and both recognized foundation sires of the breed were Thoroughbred crosses. The first was Denmark, the son of an imported Thoroughbred, who for many years was the only recognized foundation stallion. The second, recognized in 1991, was Harrison Chief, a descendent of the Thoroughbred Messenger. The Standardbred breed also claims Harrison Chief as a foundation stallion. There were originally seventeen foundation stallions listed, but by 1908 it was decided to list only Denmark and the remainder were listed as Noted Deceased Sires.

Saddlebreds were a prominent part of the first national horse show in the United States, held at the St. Louis Fair in 1856. During the American Civil War, American Saddlebreds were commonly used, and known for their bravery and endurance. Many officers used them as mounts, and included in their numbers are General Lee's Traveller, General Grant's Cincinnati, General Sherman's Lexington, and General Jackson's Little Sorrell. Other generals who used them during the conflict include John Hunt Morgan and Basil W. Duke during his time with Morgan's Raiders. Kentucky Saddlers were used during brutal marches with the latter group, and the historical record suggests that they held up better than horses of other breeds. The American Saddlebred Horse Association was formed in 1891, as the National Saddle Horse Breeders Association. It was the first equine breed registry in the US. In 1899, the organization name was changed to the American Saddle Horse Breeders Association.

1900s to present

American Saddlebred mare, circa 1906

The Kentucky State Fair began running a World Championship show in 1917, offering a $10,000 prize for the champion five-gaited horse. After World War I, American Saddlebreds began to be exported to South Africa, and is now the most popular non-racing breed in that country. Saddlebred horse shows standards continued to evolve through the 1920s. The industry slowed during World War II, but began to grow again post-war, with Mexico, Missouri earning the title "Saddle Horse Capital of the World". The 1950s saw continued growth of the Saddlebred bred, and The Lemon Drop Kid, a harness horse, became the first, and only, Saddlebred to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. In 1957, the American Saddlebred Pleasure Horse Association was formed to regulate English pleasure classes. In the late 1950s, the Saddle Horse Capital moved to Shelby County, Kentucky.

In 1980, the name of the organization was changed to the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA), membership was opened to non-breeders, and the group began to focus on breed promotion. In 1985, the ASHA became the first breed registry to have their headquarters at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Also located at the Kentucky Horse Park is the American Saddlebred Museum, which curates a large collection of Saddlebred-related items and artwork, as well as a 2,500-volume library of breed-related works. At the beginning of the 21st century, the number of women showing Saddlebreds increased, with female competitors winning several world championships.

Since the founding of the registry, almost 250,000 horses have been accepted, with almost 3,000 new foals registered annually. It is the oldest still-functioning breed registry in the US. Although most common in the eastern US, the breed is found throughout North American, Europe, Australia, and in South Africa.