By Jayna Pellett
The Sensational Saddlebred! We are celebrating these horses as our June Breed of the Month on YourDressage! From the American Revolution to the Civil War, the history of the Saddlebred is uniquely intertwined with the history of America, earning its spot as one of the most popular breeds in the country.
Did you know that riders who choose a Saddlebred as their dressage mount are eligible for special awards through the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards program, as the American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) is a participating organization?
The American Horse
When early settlers began importing horses to America, local breeders took an interest in the unique ambling and pacing gaits of specific horse breeds from the British Isles. Subsequently, they developed their own similar (now extinct) breed of horse, called the Narragansett Pacer. However, with the introduction of Thoroughbreds to America in the early 1700s, breeders pivoted their programs to develop larger, sportier types from Thoroughbred crosses. In just a few decades, a distinct riding horse had developed from crosses between Narragansett Pacers and Thoroughbreds, later dubbed the American Horse.
FUN FACT… the name “American Horse” is first recorded in a 1776 letter to Congress, where an American politician suggested that one be sent to France as a gift for Queen Marie Antoinette.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the American Horse was further refined through the addition of more Thoroughbred blood, primarily from Kentucky. One of these influential Thoroughbreds was Denmark (Hedgeford x Betsey Harrison – Aratus), foaled in 1839. His son, Gaines’ Denmark (Denmark x Stevenson Mare – Cockspur), would go on to have a prolific career of his own, with over 60% of registered American Saddlebreds in the first three volumes of the studbook having lines that traced back to him. Because of his outstanding progeny, Denmark was named the sole foundation sire of the American Saddlebred from 1908 until 1991, when Harrison Chief (Clark Chief x Lute Boyd – Joe Downing) was recognized and added to the list.
The newly emerging breed was referred to as the Kentucky Saddler, and later, as the breed’s popularity crossed state lines, the Saddle Horse or Saddlebred.
War and Peace
Being known for their stamina and bold personality, American Saddlebreds became popular mounts for cavalry soldiers and officers during the American Civil War, including opposing commanders-in-chief President Ulysses S. Grant and General Robert E. Lee, whose respective horses were named Cincinnati and Traveller. After President Grant led the Union Army to victory, breeders were able to refocus their efforts on rebuilding population numbers and breeding for sport and pleasure riding, prompting the formation of the American Saddle Horse Breeders Association in 1891.
Nearly a century later (1980), the association opened membership to non-breeders in an effort to promote the breed, and subsequently changed its name to the American Saddlebred Horse Association. Then, after merging with the American Saddlebred Registry in 2021, the name changed for a final time to the American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA). The organization now boasts over 291,000 registered American Saddlebreds and nearly 5,000 registered Half-Saddlebreds, with approximately 1,300 new registrants annually.
Did you know… the American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association headquarters and American Saddlebred Museum are located just a short walk from the USDF office? Visit us both at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky!
The Saddlebred Today
Per the ASHBA breed standard, “the American Saddlebred is the epitome of the show horse. It carries itself with an attitude that is elusive of description – some call it ‘class,’ presence, quality, style, or charm. This superior air distinguishes its every movement.” These horses have a very distinct look with expressive eyes, close-set ears, and a long, arching neck that is well-flexed at the poll. Paired with a strong, sloped shoulder, Saddlebreds have naturally smooth and uphill movement in all three gaits, with some being able to perform two additional gaits (the rack and slow gait).
Did you know… that William Shatner, the actor best known for portraying James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, is an avid Saddlebred enthusiast? In addition to competing, he has owned and operated Belle Reve Farm, a Saddlebred breeding farm located in Versailles, Kentucky, since 1985.
A large number of Saddlebreds participate in saddleseat and driving competitions, and they also make particularly excellent dressage horses due to their movement, strength, and intelligence, with a natural showmanship knack for musical freestyles. Overall, the breed has proven exceptionally versatile and successful in most disciplines, including dressage, western dressage, eventing, competitive trail, hunter/jumpers, endurance riding, and more, making them the perfect partner for achieving any of your equestrian goals.
If we haven’t convinced you already, here are “5 Reasons Your Next Dressage Horse Should Be a Saddlebred” from a fellow Saddlebred owner and enthusiast, Ruby Tevis.
