1600's
Europeans begin colonizing North America The foundations for the American
Saddlebred were laid when Galloway and Hobby Horses were brought to North
America by British Colonists. These small, hardy animals were natural gaited and
very comfortable to ride. Through selective breeding, a superior animal called
the Narraganset Pacer was developed in the colonies of Rhode Island and
Virginia.
1700's -The
British Colonies become "Americanized," leading to the American Revolution. The
first Thoroughbreds were imported in -1706. They were developed in England by
crossing the Galloway and Hobby mares with stallions from the Middle East. This
took place during the same time period that the Narragansets were developed in
North America. -13Y 1776 an all horse -purpose commonly called the American
Horse, was recognized as a definite type. These animals retained the easy gaits
and stamina of the Narraganset Pacer with the addition of Thoroughbred size and
quality.
1800's American
pioneers push west across the Blue Ridge, Slavery becomes a national issue in
the 1840's. As the nation developed, the need for saddle horses diminished in
the East, but the American Horse went west with the pioneers. Denmark, a
Thoroughbred son of imported Hedgeford, was foaled in Kentucky in 1839. He sired
Gaines' Denmark, whose dam was a natural gaited mare, who in turn established
the Denmark Family of American Saddlebreds. Over 60% 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 as a foundation
sire, along with Denmark. The Chief family has a similar background, with a
dominance of Wood coming from the Thoroughbred Messenger, imported in 1788.
Messenger is considered, the foundation sire of the Standardbred. Crosses of
Morgan, Standardbred, and Hackney also contributed to the brood.
The Denmarks
and Chiefs both go back exactly eight generations to, the ancient Thoroughbred,
Maze. One theory holds that when these families, beginning in the late 1800's
the were American Saddlebred was permanently fixed as a dominant breed.
The pedigrees
of American Saddlebreds can be traced far back through Thoroughbred ancestors.
However, most history is a chronicle of the world of man, emphasizing wars and
other unhappy incidents. Therefore, in early America, few records were kept
about horses, when the struggle for survival was day-to-day, The history of the
American Saddlebred Horse does not become clear until after the Civil War, but
much good information on earlier times has been pieced together.
The American
Horse was first mentioned in official government correspondence in 1776. It
has been written that Paul Revere's mount for his famous ride was a
Narraganset Pacer, a breed which was important in the development of the
Saddlebred. Also, in the Revolutionary War, American cavalry decisively
defeated British regulars at King's Mountain, South Carolina. These farmers
and frontiersmen were mounted on American Horses. American Horses
accompanied pioneers following Daniel Boone through the Cumberland Gap into
Kentucky. These animals were seed stock, making Kentucky a major horse
producing state.
In the War of
1812, similarly mounted Kentuckians ranged from Michigan to Illinois to fight
the British and their Indian allies. After that war, the production of good
Saddle Horses became a priority in Kentucky. These animals played a major role
in the settlement of the upper Ohio Valley. They went south into Tennessee and
beyond, and across the Mississippi into Missouri. Animals from Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Iowa, and Tennessee all made contributions to the breed. Missouri
rivaled Kentucky for the best Saddle Horses and Missourians say, "If Kentucky
made the Saddle Horse, then Missouri made him better."
Horse shows
became a popular form of public entertainment, often held at fairs. The
first recorded show was at Lexington, Kentucky, in 1817, but such
competitions undoubtedly took place years before. Denmark, the stallion who
would be designated Foundation Sire of the breed, was foaled in 1839. By the
time of the Mexican War in 1846, the American Saddlebred was a well
established breed. Entire companies of American volunteers from Kentucky and
Missouri, mounted on these horses, fought in Mexico. In 1856, St. Louis, the
largest city west of the Mississippi, held its first great fair which
featured the nation's first major horse show. Horse shows became a popular
form of public entertainment, often held at fairs. The first recorded show
was at Lexington, Kentucky, in 1817, but such competitions undoubtedly took
place years before.
Denmark, the
stallion who would be designated Foundation Sire of the breed, was foaled in
1839. By the time of the Mexican War in 1846, the American Saddlebred was a well
established breed. Entire companies of American volunteers from Kentucky and
Missouri, mounted on these horses, fought in Mexico. In 1856, St. Louis, the
largest city west of the Mississippi, held its first great fair which featured
the nation's first major horse show. The American Saddle Horse gained fame as a
breed during the Civil War, 1861-1865.
Saddlebreds
served as the mounts of many famous generals; Lee on Traveller, Grant on
Cincinnati, Sherman rode Lexington, and Stonewall Jackson's mount was Little
Sorrell. The three aforementioned horses were American type with close
Thoroughbred crosses, and the latter was of pacing stock. The Confederate
commands of Generals John Hunt Morgan and Nathan Bedford Forrest were mounted
almost exclusively on American Saddlebreds, and these horses performed legendary
feats of endurance during the war. Because most Confederate horses were
privately owned, General Grant's order at Lee's surrender which allowed the men
to keep their horses perhaps saved the breed.
After the war,
the St. Louis Fair was revived. All breeds had their day in competition at
St.Louis, but in the 1870's the Denmarks became dominant. Because of the
increased popularity and commercial value of the Saddlebred, enlightened
breeders began to call for the formation of a breed association and registry in
the 1880's.
Charles F.
Mills of Springfield, Illinois, began compiling pedigrees and formulating rules
for a registry. The Farmers Home journal, a newspaper published in Louisville,
Kentucky, called for a meeting April. 7, 1891 to organize the association, and
the registry was established that day... the first horse breed association in
the U.S. Despite the fact that during this period of time the American Saddle
Horse was still very much a using animal, the rivalry between breeders at horse
shows 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 the breed, burst onto the show scene at St. Louis in 1893. Rex
McDonald was beaten on but three occasions, was idolized by the public, and
visited by Presidents of the U.S. 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, North Middletown, Kentucky. He was a sensation
as a five-gaited show stallion, winning the grand championship at the Louisville
Horse show as a three-year-old. Living to the age of 30, Bourbon King was the
great progenitor of the Chief Family. While most admirers of the Saddlebred love
the beautiful show horses, they are now seeking to reestablish his worth as a
pleasure and using animal. After all, that is how the breed was developed.
Country Classic was winner of the Challenge of the Breeds at the St. Louis
National in 1984. This contest between selected representatives of the major
breeds features the horses in various disciplines including jumping, barrel
racing, driving, etc. Other breeds, notably the Tennessee Walking Horse, (which
evolved essentially from Saddlebreds) Standardbreds, Morgans, and Arabians try
to emulate them in the show ring, but none can compare. On the other hand,
American Saddlebreds have been successful in most equine disciplines from cow
horses to jumpers, dressage to carriage horses. If conditioned and trained
properly, Saddlebreds are capable of almost any task they are asked to perform
... and they do it with style.
This breed has
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 Horse is
truly "The Horse America Made." What Makes a Saddlebred Different? The American
Saddlebred differs from other horses in conformation, temperament, and heritage,
giving him unique and desirable qualities.
The American
Saddlebred Horse is easily identified. According to Modern Breeds of Livestock,
Macmillan, 1980, "The conformation and style of the Saddle Horse is usually
considered the most impressive of all breeds of horses, and most people regard
it as the most beautiful horse existing in the world today." The Saddle Horse
differs from other horses in the head and neck, the feet and legs and the top
line. "Perhaps the most striking portion of the American Saddlebred Horse is its
head and neck. The neck is long and has considerable arch. Everything about the
head and eye suggest quality and intelligence.
"The long legs and
sloping pasterns give a spring to the stride that is not possible in horses
with short stubby pasterns." Saddlebreds naturally have high stepping action
and a ground covering stride. Their way of moving has a style and grace that
is pleasing to the eye. "The withers are refined, and in contrast to many
other light horses, the withers should be well above the, height of the
hips. "The overall appearance of the American Saddlebred must be one of
great refinement and smoothness, but the horse must stand on substantial
bone." The confirmation of the American Saddlebred enables him to perform
well at almost anything asked of him. The Saddlebred has inherited the learn
to do the elegant slow gait and the flashy, fast rack. Perhaps the most
unusual trait of the American Saddlebred is his temperament. While the
Saddlebreds are extremely alert and curious, they are highly intelligent,
people-oriented horses. Most Saddlebreds are said to possess that
indescribable quality - personality, which endears them to their owners and
admirers.
