'Drop Dead Gorgeous?  It's an American Saddlebred!' - Rosemary Howe 

Breed Description:

The American Saddlebred horse is a three-gaited and five-gaited breed.  Most American Saddlebreds are born with the ability to learn the slow-gait (stepping pace) and the rack - a few can do these gates naturally.

Average Height:

15 - 16 hands.

Colours:

No colour restrictions.  Bay, chestnut, brown and black are the most common American Saddlebred colours, with grey, roan, palomino and pinto colours are seen occasionally.

Conformation:

American Saddlebreds are well known for their elegant conformation. 

Temperament:

American Saddlebreds are extremely intelligent and are people-orientated.

Members of this breed often excel in the following disciplines:

• Show / Pleasure

• Driving

• Gaited Events

• Endurance

• Show Jumping

• Cross Country

• Dressage

Breed History:

The American Saddlebred horse is descended from the Narragansett Pacer, a breed that is technically "extinct" in the United States.  In the early 1700s, Narragansett mares were crossed with imported English Thoroughbreds and their descendents were known simply as the  "American Horse".  Horses of this type had the size and refinement of the Thoroughbred, but retained the ability to learn the pacing gaits that were the forte of their Narragansett ancestors.  American Horses were particularly popular as riding horses, since their smooth gaits made them much more comfortable over long distances. 

The American Horse played an essential role in the American Revolution, and by the early 1800s these sturdy horses were prized for their endurance and style.  They became particularly popular in Kentucky, which claimed the breed as its own.  The addition of Morgan and Standardbred blood helped  to further refine the breed and by the Civil War the American Saddlebred was one of the most popular riding horses in America.  General Robert E. Lee rode a racking American Saddlebred (Traveller), and so did many other Civil War generals.

Today, the American Saddlebred horse enjoys popularity all over the world, in such diverse places as The United Kingdom, South Africa, Holland, Australia and Japan.

For further information about the history of the American Saddlebred breed visit

http://www.iaspha.com/info/saddlebredhistory.cfm .