The American Saddlebred is largely utilized as a show horse in the United States, where it has developed its own style of show ring entertainment and presentation, but American Saddlebreds can be used in any discipline. They have excelled in show jumping, dressage, endurance, carriage driving, and riding horses as a family. Although most Americans Saddlebreds are used for pleasure, some are used with the disabled.
Americans Saddlebreds were originally bred to be used as cavalry mounts in the South before World War I. Since then they have been used as police officers' horses, transportation, and for work on large farms. Some saddlebreds have also been used in warfare.
Today, there are many types of horses used in warfare. While some are designed for combat (such as soldiers riding into battle on war horses), others serve purely for protection (such as attack dogs or armored vehicles). The one advantage that equines have over other animals in warfare is their ability to move quickly on land or water. Horses can be trained to do many different things for their owners; in wartime these skills are used to help transport supplies and troops across long distances quickly so other means of transportation aren't used up too early during battles or raids.
American Saddlebreds are still used in cavalry units in other countries as well. There are several organizations around the world that maintain files on breeding stock that can be sent out to fill military contracts.
American Saddlebreds are also employed as pleasure horses, driving horses, and hunters and jumpers on a regular basis. The American Saddle Horse Breeders' Association (formerly the American Saddlebred Horse Association, Inc.) was formed in 1891 to designate American Saddlebred horses as a separate breed. They currently stand at 14.3 percent of all registered horses in the United States.
The American Saddlebred is one of the oldest recognized breeds of horse in the world. It is believed that the first Saddlebred was born in North Carolina in 1790. Although many different types of horses have been used to ride the American landscape, the Saddlebred remains popular today because of its elegant appearance, athletic build, and easy nature.
These horses are most famous for their use during the late 1800's through the early 1900's as police officers in large cities across the country. Because of their affable dispositions and ability to withstand violence directed against them while still being able to fight off criminals, these horses were popular with their handlers. Today, some American Saddlebreds can be seen performing in parades and at other events throughout the year.
There are three basic divisions of horses based on size and purpose they serve: carriage drivers, riding horses, and show horses. The smallest and most common type of saddlebred is the carriage driver. These horses usually stand between 15 and 16 hands high and weigh around 1000 pounds.
American Saddlebreds excel in a variety of disciplines, including western, hunting, dressage, combination driving, eventing, western dressage, and jumping. With its kind and docile attitude, the American Saddlebred is an ideal horse for the entire family. Because of their adaptability, these horses are used throughout the world as carriage drivers, police officers, military mounts, and competitors in the sport of showmanship.
Yes, Western Saddlebreds can be ridden western. These horses love to go out on the range and play with other horses. They are very good-natured animals that enjoy being out in the sunshine watching people or playing with others. Although they are not usually trained to do things like ride fences or jump anything, most people think they look beautiful dressed up in their western attire!
These are just some of the many uses of the American Saddlebred. If you want to know more about this beautiful breed, we recommend these resources:
American Saddlebred Magazine published by the American Saddlebred Association
American Saddlebred Video produced by the American Horse Publications Group
Visit the American Saddlebred website for more information on these and other topics related to the American Saddlebred.
Although Saddle Seat riding is an English style of riding (as are Hunt Seat and Dressage), it is predominantly utilized on Morgan horses, American Saddlebred horses, and Arabians. Other horse breeds can be trained to perform this equestrian exercise skill, but they are not commonly seen in competition because most riders prefer the ease of training a young Morgan horse or American Saddlebred.
Saddle seats were originally designed for military use. The British army needed a reliable means of transporting heavy artillery over long distances with little effort from its crew. The gun carriages were attached to the horses' backs and the soldiers sat behind them in small cages called "saddles". This allowed the horses to walk slowly along the road without getting tired more quickly than if they were being ridden. When the guns were removed at their destination, the horses returned home safely without incident. Today, many modern versions of the saddle seat carry cargo that is too heavy for humans to lift directly. These vehicles are known as "horse-drawn carts" or "carts". They look much like the ancient versions, but are made to move down the road rather than being dragged by a team of horses.
In Europe, the saddle seat is still used by some people for leisure activities and sometimes for transportation.