Back to the Future

Back to the Future

The American Saddlebred.

Standing between 15 and 16 hands high these beautiful gaited horses were bred for their tractability, style and for ride and drive purposes. Originally they were bred as the mount of the plantation owner to cover many miles around the plantation whilst covering the ground easily and in a way that is comfortable for the rider. Often the horse was also used in harness on a Sunday for outings to the church. Robust and of good constitution , these horses of old were heavier in the leg, being of greater bone than the present breed representation.

The change to a more lighter horse began as early as the 1800’s and has been reputed to have continued into the modern breeding practices. This has resulted in horses having higher, more exaggerated, stepping gaits seen in the show ring and are a result off adding Hackney breeding into the bloodlines. It can lead to Lordosis of the spine, also known as ‘Sway back’ but is generally not acceptable in the show ring

Honey Dew Dude on the left, is an example of the Old Style Saddlebred , whilst Golden Rain on the right represents the new, more common breed standard seen today.