We are celebrating the Sensational Saddlebred as our June Breed of the Month on YourDressage! We recently asked our social media followers to share a photo of their favorite Saddlebred or Saddlebred cross, and tell us a little about them, for a chance to be featured on YourDressage! Throughout the month of June, we will also be sharing stories from folks who love this breed.
Dressage riders who choose a member of this versatile breed as their mounts are eligible for special awards through the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards program, as the American Saddlebred Horse & Breeders Association (ASHBA) is a participating organization!
Here, a rider from Region 2 shares how she achieved a lifelong goal with her Saddlebred – a horse whose personality shines through his golden color!
By Valyn Dall
Paddyngton’s Golden Glory, affectionately known as Teddy, has picked up where past horses have left off in achieving a goal of mine that began over twenty years ago: to earn my USDF Bronze Medal with an American Saddlebred.
Why a Saddlebred?
Long before I ever cared about halting at X, I loved Saddlebreds. My first horse was an elderly, unnamed Saddlebred (later christened Ichabod) who had been rescued from a less-than-ideal situation. As he regained his strength, it became clear that he was trained for saddleseat, a discipline I knew little about. In order to meet him where he was, I learned and we figured it out together.
To keep things interesting (and to help redirect his endless drive to park trot down the rail), I began taking the occasional dressage lesson. I had always heard that dressage was for every horse, and as it turns out, it really is. It helped Ichabod’s recovery, and gave me my first glimpse into a new discipline.
After Ichabod passed away, I found Gully (El Dorado’s Sterling Silver), a Saddlebred who hadn’t quite found his place in the traditional show ring. He had the build, but the busy arenas and high-energy gaits didn’t suit his soft, reserved temperament. Dressage gave him space to breathe, and a job he could quietly do well. We were able to enjoy the occasional schooling show and eventually reached First Level.
By the end of 2019, graduate school was winding down, and I set a new goal: to enter our first recognized dressage show in 2020.
Unfortunately, 2020 had other plans. In a year already marked by pandemic upheaval, I lost Gully to cancer.
When the time was right, I reached out to local Saddlebred breeder Paddy Bates. She had listed a recently started bay gelding who looked like he would be a promising sport horse.
“Sure, I’ll show you the bay, but any chance you might be interested in a palomino?”
I was pretty set on the bay, but agreed to see the palomino, since I was there anyway. He was barely three, still a colt, and had less training – everything I wasn’t looking for.
When they were brought out of their stalls, my first impression of the bay was what I expected: stunning, and tall! The palomino? Cute, but noticeably smaller and less immediately impressive next to his tall, dark, and handsome brother. As I watched the two under saddle, however, my attention shifted.
The bay moved beautifully, no doubt about it. The palomino, however, moved with a grace and confidence beyond the handful of times he had been ridden. His expression was soft, and he displayed such a willing disposition.
When it was my turn to ride, the decision was easily made. Despite being a lifelong adult amateur with a history of older, seasoned geldings, I took home the palomino colt.
And we hit the ground running! Under the guidance of our coach, Shari Wolke Masi, we made our schooling show debut at Introductory Level the following year. Now a four-year-old gelding, Teddy took the show in stride. Although our goal was to just focus on Intro, he performed so well that, by the middle of the season, we had moved up to Training Level.
The following year brought more highs. I finally made it to those long-anticipated recognized shows, and Teddy carried me to the Bronze Medal scores needed at First Level. He also unlocked the possibility of riding musical freestyles, something I never imagined myself capable of even attempting.
In 2024, we kept building. We secured our Second Level Bronze Medal scores, along with the First Level freestyle scores for a future Bronze Bar. Our sun-themed First Level freestyle debuted that season, carrying us to the Great American/USDF Region 2 Dressage Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park, where we earned a top ten finish.
This year, our momentum continues. We’re adding a Second Level Freestyle routine to the mix, and we’ve qualified for Regionals at both Second Level and First Level Freestyle. The difficulty is certainly increasing as we work toward Third Level, but so is our confidence and partnership.
All of these show ring accomplishments come alongside multiple All-Breed Awards and Performance Certificates from USDF, and a growing collection of regional and national honors from ASHBA. More than the accolades, what I’m proudest of is the partnership we’re building, level by level.
This is where I once again return to the question: “Why a Saddlebred?”
Honestly, why not a Saddlebred? These horses are accessible and full of potential. I found Teddy just twenty minutes from home; a partner with heart, grit, and presence. Saddlebreds offer so much of what matters: an eager work ethic, athleticism, intelligence, and charm. They’re forward-thinking, purpose-driven, and try every single day.
For an amateur rider like me, that matters. Saddlebreds are sensitive, but not fragile; clever, but kind. They’ll meet you halfway, and they thrive in partnership. Their natural flair means they don’t just show up, they show off. They love people, attention, and genuinely seem to enjoy being part of something with you.
They’re also fun! With so many ways to define success in dressage, from test scores to personal milestones, I also wanted a horse I’d look forward to riding even when dressage isn’t the focus. Saddlebreds are comfortable to sit, eager to please, and always up for something new. Whether it’s a structured ride or a relaxed hack down the trail, they’re game for it all.
Their versatility is part of what makes them so well-suited to the sport. Dressage is a shared language that any horse can learn, and American Saddlebreds speak it with elegance, energy, and spirited enthusiasm.
