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American Saddlebred The American Saddlebred horse can trace its roots to the natural-gaited Galloway and  Hobbie horses which came to North America from the British Isles. These hardy little horses thrived and grew in the new environment, and through selective breeding the Narragansett Pacer was developed along the eastern seaboard. The Narragansetts were crossed with Thoroughbreds imported to America in the early 1700s, and by the time of the Revolutionary War, a horse called simply "the American horse" was a recognized type.
These horses had the size and beauty of the Thoroughbred, but retained the ability to learn the easy-riding gaits. These animals were used for riding, to pull carriages and for other work. They were prized for a pleasant temperament, eagerness, strength and stamina.
There was continual crossing with Thoroughbreds, along with other breeds including Arabian and Morgan. Thus, when the first horse shows were held in Kentucky and Virginia in the early 1800s, American Saddlebreds, generally referred to as Kentucky Saddlers at that time, were frequently judged the winners because of their beauty, style and utility.
Today, the American Saddlebred is best known for being the ultimate show horse, high stepping and elegant, as he performs his five gaits – the walk, trot, canter, slow gait and rack. The slow gait and rack were developed from the easy-riding gait traits the Saddlebred had inherited. The footfalls of the slow gait and rack begin with the lateral front and hind feet starting almost together, but the hind foot contacts the ground slightly before its lateral forefoot. The slow gait is a highly-collected gait with each of the four feet striking the ground separately. It is executed slowly but with distinct precision, full of style and brilliant restraint. In the rack, each foot meets the ground at equal, separate intervals. It gives a smooth ride while the horse performs in a slightly uninhibited manner, with great animation, speed, and correct form.
1800s Saddle Horses
As the nation developed, the American Horse went west with the pioneers. In Kentucky, horsemen  continued to add Thoroughbred blood to their easy-gaited horses, developing a larger, prettier, all-purpose animal and setting fast the American Saddlebred as a breed. The state's commercial breeders sold horses, known then as Kentucky Saddlers, throughout the fledgling nation.
Influential sire Gaines' Denmark. In 1839, a Thoroughbred son of imported Hedgeford named Denmark was foaled in Kentucky. Bred to a natural-gaited mare, he sired Gaines' Denmark and established the Denmark family of American Saddlebreds. More than 60 percent of the horses in the first three registry volumes of the American Saddlebred Horse Association trace to Gaines' Denmark.
 In 1991, the year of the ASHA Centennial, Harrison Chief was designated a foundation sire, along with Denmark. The Chief family has a similar background, with a dominance of blood coming from the Thoroughbred Messenger, who was imported in 1788 and is considered one of  the foundation sires of the Standardbred breed. Crosses of Morgan, Standardbred and Hackney also contributed to the American Saddlebred.
By the mid-nineteenth century, the Civil War demonstrated the superiority of Kentucky Saddlers on the march and on the battlefield. Most high-ranking officers in both armies rode Saddler types: Lee had his Traveller, Grant was on Cincinnati, Sherman rode Lexington and Stonewall Jackson was on Little Sorrell. The first three were Saddler type with close Thoroughbred crosses; the latter was from pacing stock. Generals John Hunt Morgan and Nathan Bedford Forrest rode exclusively Kentucky Saddlers. So important were the horses that after the surrender, General Grant allowed Confederate veterans to keep the mounts they owned. In peacetime, the great demand for Saddle Horses enabled the industry to recover quickly.
An effective marketing tool of the post-war era was the increased popularity of horse shows as public  entertainment. The first exhibition was recorded near Lexington, Kentucky, in 1816, but the sport had grown over the years, with the first national horse show occurring at the St. Louis Fair in 1856. The gifted Saddlers dominated competition. In 1888, the rules for showing Saddlers were amended to require that horses show at the trot in addition to the "saddle gaits," (the rack, running walk, fox trot and/or slow pace). The term "pace" in the context of a saddle gait does not refer to the speedy, flat pace of today's Standardbred race horses, but to a lateral movement such as an amble or singlefoot. Gait was the overriding criteria for development of the breed, and horses could be registered based on their ability to perform the saddle gaits.
 In 1891, the American Saddlebred Horse Association was founded in Louisville, Kentucky, the first such organization for an American breed of horse. Originally known as the National Saddle Horse Breeders Association, which making the official name of the breed the Saddle Horse, its name was changed to American Saddle Horse Breeders Association in 1899 and to the American Saddlebred Horse Association in 1980, in order to describe better the horse and the all-encompassing mission of the Association. Despite the fact that during the late nineteenth century the American Saddle Horse was still very much a using animal, the rivalry at horse shows between breeders and especially state pride between Kentucky and Missouri was intense. Gifted horsemen began making a living at training show horses.  A coal black stallion who was to make a great contribution in giving even greater status to shows and to the breed burst on to the show scene at St. Lois in 1893. In an illustrious career, the charismatic Rex McDonald was  beaten only three times. He was idolized by the public and visited by presidents of the United States.
Photo credits for this page (top to bottom): Gaines' Denmark from George Ford Morris charcoal drawing; Robert E. Lee and Traveller (sculpture) by Marque Blubaugh, Rex McDonald (both) by George Ford Morris.
The 20th Century
In Kentucky, an unusual colt of predominantly trotting blood, with a dash of Denmark, was foaled in 1900. Bourbon King was sold as a weanling to Allie G. Jones and became a sensation as a five gaited show stallion,winning the grand championship at the old Louisville Horse Show as a three-year-old. Living to the age of 30, Bourbon King was the great progenitor of the Chief family.
In 1917, the Kentucky State Fair offered the first $10,000 five gaited stake and claimed to be the World's Championship. There had been no bona fide world's champion since the demise of the old St. Louis Fair around the turn of the century. The American Horse Shows Association was founded the same year, with a large number of Saddlebred people deeply involved. Through the 1920s, horse shows continued to evolve, with format and rules becoming more standardized.
Shows varied across the nation, from the high society affairs of New York and Los Angeles, to the great state fairs of the south and midwest, to the county fairs which were more athletic contests than society functions. Agriculture was still the mainstay of America, and most Americans understood and appreciated the athleticism and splendor of the animals. Individual stars such as CHChief Of Longview, CHSweetheart On Parade and CH Roxie Highland caught the public's imagination.
World War II put a damper on recreational activity, but in the second half of the 1940s, horse show excitement revived with such stars as CH Oak Hill Chief and six-time World's Grand Champion CHWing Commander. Hundreds of horse trainers plied their trade, particularly in rural areas. Mexico, Missouri, once home to the historic black horseman Tom Bass and now headquarters for trainers John Hook, Art Simmons, and a host of others, had a legitimate claim to the title "Saddle Horse Capital of the World."
 Most horse shows featured all breeds, often beginning with a jumping class, then offering Hackneys, roadsters, and parade horses between the traditional Saddlebred competitions. Spurred by singing cowboys Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, parade classes were hugely popular and attracted many young men to horse shows.
The Great Five-Gaited World's Grand Championship of 1933: CH Belle Le Rose with Carl Pedigo won, CH Sweetheart On Parade with Lonnie Hayden was second and CH King's Genius with Chester Caldwell placed third.
In the 1950s, new stars emerged on the scene, led by the exciting five gaited mare CH Lady Carrigan and the flamboyant fine harness star CH The Lemon Drop Kid, the only Saddlebred ever to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. 
An event of note occurred in 1957 when a group of Saddlebred enthusiasts met to form the American Saddlebred Pleasure Horse Association, giving stature to English pleasure classes, which had long been a mainstay of the show circuit. This had a tremendous impact on the Saddlebred world over the years, and today the pleasure divisions rival all others in numbers.
Then in 1959, Charles and Helen Crabtree opened their stable in Simpsonville, Kentucky. Success attracted success and there are now many Saddlebred operations in  Shelby County, which lays claim to being the "Saddle Horse Capital of the World."
In the 1960s, Saddlebred enthusiasts mourned the loss of the spectacular five gaited contenders CH Denmark's Daydream and CH Broadlands Captain Denmark, but cheered when their rival CH My-My racked up six World's Grand Championships, equaling CH Wing Commander's Louisville record. CH Bellisima was the name to know in three-gaited, while the fine harness division was led by CH Colonel Boyle and CH Duke Of Daylight. At mid-decade, the Saddlebred community received a setback when the Kentucky State Fair moved from its customary September schedule to August. The change  sparked conflict with other shows, which were hurt when exhibitors preferred to show for World's Championships. The introduction of the breed show (events limited to only one breed of horse) put further pressure on traditional horse shows.
Despite gasoline shortages and increased competition for the recreational dollar, the Saddlebred world flourished in the 1970s and 1980s. The World's Grand Champion mares CH Tashi Ling and CH La La Success set the standard in fine harness, while CH Finisterre's Gift Of Love amassed an enviable record in three-gaited competition, and Five- Gaited World's Grand Champion CH Will Shriver embarked on a history-making breeding career. The over-the-top 1980s saw the legendary rivalry of World's Grand Champions CH Sky Watch and CH Imperator in five gaited, and the five-year reign of CH Sultan's Starina in three-gaited.
The 1990s opened with Don Stafford and Carol Gr eenwell's proposal to the combined conventions of ASHA and UPHA in Nashville, Tennessee, that riding programs be emphasized and supported across the nation, laying the groundwork for new generations of Saddlebred enthusiasts. Youth has since become a big part of the Saddlebred world, with impressive increases in academy equitation, ASHA Youth Clubs and expanded junior exhibitor competition, along with innovations such as the World Cup and the ASHA Youth Driving Challenge.
Outside the traditional saddle seat show arena, American Saddlebreds have been successful in most equine disciplines, from cow horses to jumpers, dressage to carriage horses. If conditioned and trained properly, they are capable of almost any task they are asked to perform, and they do it with style.
American Saddlebreds have a long and proud history, from the battlefield at Gettysburg to the bright lights of Madison Square Garden and a tremendous legacy of service in between. The creation of man and nature in concert, the American Saddlebred is truly "The Horse America Made."
Photo credits for this page (top to bottom): CHWing Commander by John R. Horst, Roxie Highland from painting by George Ford Morris; Belle Beach by George Ford Morris; Five-Gaited World's Grand Championship by Louisville Courier Journal; CHThe Lemon Drop Kid by Sargent; CHDenmark's Daydream by Sargent; Society Rex by Rounds; CHSky Watch by Sari Levin; CHImperator by Sargent Conformation The American Saddlebred Horse carries himself with an attitude that eludes description - some call it class, presence, quality, style or charm. This superior air distinguishes his every movement. The ideal American Saddlebred is well-proportioned and presents a beautiful overall picture. The animal should be in good flesh, with good muscle tone and a smooth, glossy coat. Masculinity in stallions and femininity in mares are important. The average height is 15 to 16 hands and the average weight is 1,000 to 1,200 pounds. All colors are acceptable; the most prominent are chestnut, bay, brown and black, with some grey, roan, palomino and pinto.  HEAD - - well-shaped with large, wide-set expressive eyes, gracefully hooked ears set close together on top of the head and carried alertly; a straight face line with a relatively fine muzzle and large nostrils and a clean, smooth jaw line.The head is the most revealing part of the horse. The proportion of the head is usually a good indication of body proportion. Generally, a long narrow head will be accompanied by a long narrow body, while a coarse head will usually be seen on a thick body that lacks quality. The head should show breeding. By looking at the head alone, one should be able to distinguish a Saddlebred from a Quarter Horse. The head should be lean, in proportion to the body, and it should indicate femininity or masculinity. It is important that the head not be too large because it is a heavy mass of bone. If the head is large in proportion to the rest of the horse, the horse's neck will tire easily in its attempt to carry the head. It should have an angle at the throat latch that allows for sufficient space so that the larynx is not compressed when the neck is flexed. The bones, muscles, and veins should show prominently through the skin. The skin and hair should be fine textured. The horse should have a well developed jaw, which indicates good masticating power (the Quarter Horse is noted for having an exceptionally well developed jaw). It is very important that the horse be wide and clean between his jaws so he can flex without interfering with his throat latch area. The space between the eyes should be broad. Usually, there is a concavity in profile, beginning just below the eyes. This concavity should be only slight, and should not suggest a dished face unless you are critiquing an Arabian. The horse is known for having exceptionally good hearing. The ears should be of a size in proportion to the head and body. They should be pointed, closely set, alert, and active; however, ears that are too thin and pointed are called "pin ears" by Quarter Horse people. Many breeders are partial to mares with large ears and stallions with small ones. Ears that clearly show the blood vessels are a characteristic of a quality horse. Ears that are constantly moving might indicate a nervous disposition or impaired eyesight, while ears that are seldom forward and alert can indicate a lazy, sluggish temperament. The eye should be full, clear, bright, intelligent, and kind. Some families of Saddlebreds are noted for an eye that shows a lot of the white, or sclera, at all times. This makes the horse appear somewhat bug-eyed and very alert; it does not signify that the horse has a nasty temperament. The eyelids should be reasonably thin and give an appearance of good health. The nostrils should be large but thin, a characteristic that denotes good breathing capacity. They should be fine, sensitive, and stand well open. The muzzle should be fine and soft with the lips sensitive and closed naturally over the teeth. The muzzle should be reasonably suggestive of the square shape. The mouth should be firmly chiseled and reasonably tight. The lips should be thin, long, and firm. The teeth should meet evenly, making the mouth as a whole have a good bite. One should avoid an overreaching of the upper teeth, known as parrot mouth. Also undesirable is the undershot jaw called monkey mouth. Both impair the horse's ability to eat. NECK -- long, arched and well-flexed at the poll with a fine, clean throat latch. Whether a horse is considered long necked or short necked, he has seven cervical vertebrae. The shape of the neck is a result of the muscular development. The neck should be long, muscular, and elegant. When seen from the side it should appear light, slender, and graceful. However, when seen from above the line of the crest, it should be rather thick, firm, and muscular to touch. The neck should be arched, but not crested to the extreme of being thick. Two main faults in the conformation of the neck are the ewe neck and the turkey neck. In the former the neck curves downward from the withers and then has a flat, straight appearance to the head, like a sheep's neck. The turkey neck curves upward to the head giving the horse a cocky look. With this neck the anterior, or the front of the neck, is extremely convex. WITHERS & SHOULDERS -- well-defined and prominent, shoulders deep and sloping The withers should extend well into the back and they should be reasonably lean and prominent. They should not be low, heavy, thick, or round. A horse with low thick withers usually travels with a low head and is awkward with the movement of his front legs, making him predisposed to forging. (Forging is when the toe of the hind shoe strikes the underneath surface or the heel of the front shoe).
The shoulders should be long, sloping, flat, and smooth. A horse with a long sloping shoulder has greater extension of the forearm and the front leg can be raised higher. A horse with a good sloping shoulder will have a more graceful way of going and will stay sound longer. A good shoulder gives the appearance of being lean and muscular, not beefy. A long, sloping shoulder generally allows for the higher neck carriage desired of horses who will be ridden under saddle seat tack.
BACK & CROUP -- strong and level with well sprung ribs, level croup with tail coming out high.A short back and loin, combined with a long underline and deep well sprung ribs, make for a correctly conformed horse. However, if the back is too short, combined with long legs, the horse will be predisposed to forging. If the back arches, or is convex, the horse is said to have a roach back. A horse that is low in the back is said to be sway backed. The back should carry out the appearance of a "straight top line."
The croup should be long, muscular, broad, and level. A reasonably level croup adds to the ease of structure, and helps to place the legs in the proper place. A croup that is too horizontal, however, will place the hind legs too far behind the horse. The opposite condition, called "goose rumped," is when the croup slopes downward from the hip to the dock. This conformation places the hind limbs too far underneath the horse. Saddlebred trainers often prefer the latter for a five gaited horse so that he can get his hind legs underneath him, making it easier to slow-gait and rack correctly.
LEGS -- the front leg should - set well forward under the shoulder. The line of the hind leg, in a natural stance, should be vertical from the point of the buttock to the back edge of the cannon bone. The forearms and hindquarters are well-muscled to the knees and hocks. Legs are straight with broad flat bones, sharply defined tendons and sloping pasterns. The arm should be short in comparison to the shoulder. If the length of the arm is excessive in comparison with a short straight upright shoulder, the front leg will cover less ground with each stride. The elbow should not be tied down against the body of the horse, nor should it be bucked out. The forearm should be long and powerful. Because the forearm carries the knee forward and upward, the longer the forearm the longer the stride will be. The leg should be longer from the elbow to the knee than from the knee to the ankle.
The knee, when viewed from the side, should be straight, broad, and smooth. The knee should be well supported and it should taper smoothly into the cannon bone. One of the most undesirable conformation faults if calf knees, also known as back at the knees or sheep knees. Calf kneed horses have a predisposition to knee fractures because there is so much concussion on the knee joint, since it is somewhat bent backwards when the hoof strikes the ground.
The opposite condition of calf knees is buck knees, which is also known as over at the knees, shaky in the knees, knee sprung, goat kneed, or easy in the knees. This fault is not as serious since the knee is simply over-bent in the direction that it is supposed to bend. Some jumper trainers actually look for a horse that is somewhat over at the knees because it is easier for the horse to get his knees up over the top of a fence and there is less concussion on the landing side.
When viewed from the front, the knees should be straight. An offset knee is known as a bench knee. Knees that are too close together are called knock knees, while knees that are too far apart are bow knees.
The cannon bone should be short, flat, and strong. It should be equipped with smooth tendons that are well-placed and parallel to the bone. These tendons should stand out and give a lean appearance to the bone. The fetlock should be large and strong in order to provide plenty of room for the attachment of ligaments and tendons. The pastern should be fairly long and sloping, but strong. It should have enough angle to be able to reduce concussion. The shoulder, pastern and hoof generally have the same degree of slope. This slope should be a forty five degree angle to the ground.
FEET -- good and sound, open at the heel, neither toed in nor toed out. The feet should be as wide apart at the ground as the space between the limbs at their origin in the chest. The size of the feet should be in proportion to that of the horse. The hoof wall should be hard, smooth, and flat without any ridges, dryness, or flaking. The sole of the foot should be firm, strong, concave and not dropped. The bars should be firm, strong, and well defined. The frog should be elastic yet firm.
The horse's feet should be planted squarely underneath him and should point to the front, neither turning out nor turning in. A horse whose toes point outward is called splay footed. A splay footed horse often interferes when he travels, and is predisposed to developing splints. A horse whose toes point inward is said to be pigeon toed. The pigeon toed horse is predisposed to side bones, but will not interfere when he moves. Winging, or the milder form called paddling, often occurs with the pigeon toed horse.
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