Submitted by Sydni P. - Half Saddlebred gelding scoring a 75 % at training level last weekend
Celebrating American Saddlebreds!! This month on YourDressage, we are celebrating the graceful Saddlebred and Saddlebred crosses of all kinds. Dressage riders who choose Saddlebreds as their mounts are eligible for Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards as the American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association is on our Participating Organization list.
We recently asked our social media followers to share photos of their Saddlebreds, and let us know what makes them so special. Below, you can see some of their photos and stories.
Do you have a dressage Saddlebred you’d like to share with the YourDressage community? E-mail us at yourdressage@gmail.com for your chance to be featured! Stay tuned to YourDressage as we celebrate #DancingSaddlebreds, with photo galleries and exclusive stories from Saddlebred enthusiasts across the country!
Submitted by Shannon V. – My Saddlebred, Johnny CashSubmitted by Beth T. – ‘Legacy’, Full saddlebred, shown Fourth Level and Prix St Georges. Had a 14” over stride! Please note, USDF strongly recommends all riders wear approved safety headgear when mountedSubmitted by Beth T. – Legacy three years earlier! Please note, USDF strongly recommends all riders wear approved safety headgear when mountedSubmitted by Beth T. – ‘James’. 1/2 saddlebred shown Intemediare I and II, along with dressage exhibitions. Please note, USDF strongly recommends all riders wear approved safety headgear when mountedSubmitted by Beth T. – Both my 1/2 Saddlebreds doing High School movements. Please note, USDF strongly recommends all riders wear approved safety headgear when mountedSubmitted by Anneke C. – My good old Saddlebred, warming up for a Third Level test.Submitted by Corrin S. – The Gypsy Rambler, aka ‘Gideon’. My rescue Saddlebred that I am beginning my dressage journey with. I am beyond lucky to have him in my life!Submitted by Lauren H. – My 21 year old, Saddlebred Mare, Pretty Delightful or “Jazzy” I have competed her in both eventing and dressage! This breed has so much heart and athleticism that provides a versatile and talented sport horse!Submitted by Leah M. – This is my gelding Louie. He is 100% amateur trained and ridden, and ready to debut second level next year. He also dabbles in low level eventing and fox hunting/hunters paces. My 8-year-old daughter rides him for pony club and recently earned her D2 dressage USPC certification on him. He is a wonderful and forgiving horse with a huge heart and a very easy going attitude. My heart horse for certain. This shot is by Carmel Huppert.Submitted by Rachel B. – American Saddlebred mare “She’s American Honey”Submitted by Lianne P. – Reflections of Winterfell (2016 ASHA mare) This mare embodies everything that is so special about the American Saddlebred – she is extremely affectionate and people-oriented, highly intelligent and trainable (by a rusty amateur mom in her 40s, no less!), extremely comfortable and elegant and super sound and tough/hardy. She is my childhood “black beauty” dream horse.Submitted by Kelly A. – My American Saddlebred Top DancerSubmitted by Kelly A. – Top DancerSubmitted by Abby K. – Solsticio del Verano, 2006 Andalusian x Saddlebred (Payaso M3 x Shadow Hooter) owned by Mary Russell & bred by Ann Newton. We earned our bronze medal my junior year of high school, when I was a few weeks shy of 17 and Soli was 9! We competed through Third Level, won an All-Breed championship that same year, and earned all but 2 scores for my bronze barSubmitted by Leslie H.P. – Deuce’s Conversation Piece 5/8/2012. AKA “Izzy” We will be going to our first show together September 19. Her father was a World Champion in the 5 gaited division. Submitted by Leslie H.P. – She embodies the breed; intelligence, affection, great work ethic and willing.Submitted by Joan G. – My American Saddlebred, Will (Revelations First Prophet). I earned all of my scores for a bronze medal on him in one show season and received the USDF All Breeds Award at Third Level. He’s a keeper.Submitted by Ann Y. – Lightning Struck Blue Submitted by Stephanie B. – Lightning Struck Blue, aka Red. 21 yr old ASB gelding owned by Ann Sittman Yessman. Submitted by Stephanie B. – Lightning Struck Blue, aka Red. 21 yr old ASB gelding owned by Ann Sittman Yessman. Submitted by Stephanie B. – Lightning Struck Blue, aka Red. 21 yr old ASB gelding owned by Ann Sittman Yessman. Submitted by Sheila P. – Nautica the American Saddlebred switched over to dressage at age 12 after being my successful saddle seat Equitation horse. Submitted by Sheila P. – Together, he and I have earned our rider and horse performance certificates at Training Level as well as qualifying for the USDF All-Breed awards for Training Level American Saddlebred.Submitted by Sheila P. – Additionally, dressage has helped this horse rehab correctly following a catastrophic sacrum fracture and three-year rehab. We are looking toward First Level in the 2022 show season!Submitted by Julia C. – My Cocoa Latte, 2006 Saddlebred mare and I at USDF Region 3 Championships this past year (2020) at Training Level JR/YR. We are working on moving up to First Level this year and in 2022. She was shown in Country Pleasure before we switched over to dressage when I started college. Submitted by Julia C. – Saddlebreds are amazing, their work ethic, intelligence, and heart allow them to excel in a variety of disciplines and shine in dressage.Submitted by Kendall S. – Frozen aka Essie. We don’t show as much as I would like just yet, due to me being too busy with work but we will get there and I’m sure she’ll be greatSubmitted by Katie D. – My 19 year old Saddlebred/Arab – SF Virtual Reality, lovingly know as “Val”. Throughout our partnership, he has taken me from my first flying change to successfully showing PSG, also earning me my Silver medal this year. Undoubtedly my heart horse.Submitted by Alyssa O. – 2017 American Saddlebred gelding Eternal Charm (by Marc of Charm), aka “Karl”, is an absolute personality, he’s so funny and is very occupied in his mind, he’s learning how to understand me, an intermediate rider, as he’s only 4. Awesome horse and is my first horse.Submitted by Ruby T. – Wine-N-Dine my American Saddlebred repurposed from The American Saddlebred Legacy FoundationSubmitted by Simat W. – I Love You More (Amara)Submitted by Simat W. – Right On Forty-Third Street (aka: Sable)Submitted by Christina W. – Heir design Submitted by Christina W.Submitted by Christina W. – Show name: GhirardelliSubmitted by Christina W. – GhirardelliSubmitted by Karyne L. – Gonna Be a Sure ShotSubmitted by Karyne L. – Gonna Be A Sure ShotSubmitted by Jessie G. – The Fairy GodmotheirSubmitted by Jessie G. – Simply VeraSubmitted by Jessie G. – Shoppin’ On The Plaza
Submitted by Manda A. – CA Renegade’s Major Go was my horse for 18 wonderful years. We rode dressage primarily, but we also did rail classes, dabbled in jumping, in his later years I started him driving, if I envisioned it, we did it. I have started numerous Saddlebreds, repurposed Saddleseat horses for sport horse disciplines and have absolutely fallen head over heals for this breed.Submitted by Manda A. – They are so versatile, they connect with you in a way that you know what they are thinking, and they know what we are thinking. I receny just purchased another Saddlebred to hopefully fill the hole in my heart from the passing of my boy. I hope to do all the same things and more with my new boy The Big Muddy, and will help continue to repurpose these horses and infiltrate the sport horse world more and more so my other fellow equestrians know the gift these horses have; their amazing hearts.Submitted by Heather D. – All Sales Final, 6 yr old gelding competing at training level.Submitted by Ruthie Haney – I am blessed to own two! The first is my purebred Saddlebred mare. I named her Erin, and I rescued from a kill pen last year- she turned out to be a purebred registered mare after I had her dna tested. She’s made so much progress the last year and I can’t wait to see her continue to grow.Submitted by Ruthie H. – My second is my National Show Horse gelding, Jack, who my sister gave me for Christmas last year!Submitted by Lauren V. – My Last Shot of Bourbon (Natalie) 2008 American Saddlebred mare. This mare has all the classic Saddlebred traits. Incredibly loving and people orientated with a work ethic like no other. You could ride her all morning and she would be happy to go again that night. With her will to please and smooth gaits, she has been a great dressage partner.Subnitted by Stacia A. – My 1/2 Saddlebred mare, Denareia, and my nieceSubmitted by Heather O. – My horse and I, Bubs – aka Its Cosmo Time. We don’t show much since the pandemic but would love to go to more. We are in Eastern NC, and he’s 14 years oldSubmitted by Tracy I. – Finley Istwan and her 9 year old Saddlebred mare, Doin’ Time Moonshine (Piper), at Queeny Park Horse Trials 2021. Photo by Avalon Photography.Submitted by Jennifer E. – Just Too MuchSubmitted by Amy M. – Cor Leonis – Next Year 1-2 level!!!Submitted by Staci Y.Submitted by Staci Y. – This is my 12yr old saddlebred gelding, I’m True Blue Submitted by Staci Y. Submitted by Erin K. – Explosion In Gold, 2005 ASB gelding, shown here winning our Fourth Level debut a few years ago. Rohan unfortunately had to be retired this year due to laminitis, but I earned my entire USDF Bronze and my Fourth Level scores for my silver on him. We went to regionals once at First Level and twice at Third. Wouldn’t trade him or anything he taught me for the world.Submitted by Macenna F. – Here’s my Saddlebred mix – her name is Kanoli! Submitted by Sondra L. – Winsdown Celebrity Submitted by Alyson A. – Aristocrat Lady, known around the barn as Sunny Sunny is my first Saddlebred and she was the complete opposite of what I was looking for when I was on the hunt for a new eventer. But, I saw her and it was love at first sight. We’ve had very hard times, she didn’t have much training when I got her, and she was a menace to trailer. With some very long days spent in the barn, she quickly became my heart horse she never fails to make people smile and she’s the biggest ham ever. I love her more than anything, and to me she’ll always be the best horse in the world!Submitted by Kaitlin B. – This is my, now 19 year old, Saddlebred who transitioned from saddleseat to dressage with me at the age of 16. We had shown together since he was 6 in pleasure divisions, and in the last year of showing, Patrick let me know he was uncomfortable and no longer enjoying his career. I had never ridden another discipline, but had started dabbling in dressage earlier that summer, and decided it was worth a go with Mr P. We have spent the last few years transitioning and he has re-fallen in love with his work. I have loved taking on the role of not only owner, but owner and trainer for him. It has been a rollercoaster of a journey, but he has proven that this breed is insanely versatile, and is incredible at many jobs.Submitted by Kaitlin B. – I adore every second with this boy. We have documented our journey through Instagram @asb_dressage_patrick and it’s so fun looking at just how far he’s come in recent years!! Now, we’re not only loving dressage, but doing it all bitless. Patrick eevn fulfilled my wedding photo dreams! Please note – USDF strongly recommends all riders wear approved safety headgear when mounted
[…] Below, you can see some of their photos and stories. For more awesome photos, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of Saddlebred […]