The Horse Made in America

There is nothing quite like the high-action spectacle of the American Saddlebred in the show ring. Saddlebreds are energetic, intelligent, and love to perform.

In the 1700’s colonists brought thoroughbreds from England and crossed them with a now extinct breed called the Narragansett Pacer People were looking for an all-purpose, comfortable riding horse that could also be used on the farm. And so, the American Saddle Horse was born. They are an All-American Breed.

Eventually, the “Kentucky Saddler” was born: a more prominent, flashier version of the current Saddle Horse. These horses were the direct ancestors of our modern American Saddlebred. They were favored by officers in the Civil War: General Grant, General Lee, General Jackson, and General Sherman all rode American Saddlebreds.

The oldest American breed, in 1891, enthusiasts founded the American Saddlebred Association or ASHA, and it is the oldest breed registry in the United States.

Saddlebreds are good-natured and energetic. In the show ring, they are judged on their liveliness, good manners, and willingness to perform. Saddlebreds have a reputation for being ‘hot,’ but in truth, they’re just excited about life. They perform well under saddle but are also commonly shown in harness. Intelligent, inquisitive, and quick to respond to your aids, a Saddlebred is an excellent choice for most disciplines.