American Saddlebred

The American Saddlebred is a large light horse breed from the United States, and even today it is tied closely to the show ring. Horse people sometimes call it the peacock of the horse world on account of its upright head carriage, arched neck and showy way of going. Most stand between 15 and 16 hands (roughly 152 to 163 cm) and weigh around 1,000 to 1,200 pounds (455 to 545 kg).

Action is what the breed is known for, whether under saddle or in harness. Certain Saddlebreds are five-gaited: besides the walk, trot and canter, they perform two taught gaits, the slow gait and the rack. Others are shown three-gaited or in fine harness, and a good many double up as pleasure and hacking horses.

Temperament counts as much as looks in this breed. The American Saddlebred is generally friendly and people-minded, alert and full of spirit, and keen to learn. Energy of that sort paired with trainability gives a versatile horse, but the spirited streak means it wants an owner who can handle it with a consistent, confident hand.

Who it suits

The American Saddlebred is for riders who want an athletic, expressive horse and are prepared to meet its energy with regular work and clear handling. It does well in saddle seat showing, fine harness and active pleasure riding. A first-time owner can manage a quieter individual with proper instruction from a coach, but the breed's spirit and stamina are best enjoyed by riders who like a forward-going, engaged partner. Saddle seat is not widely practised in India, so an owner here is more likely to keep the horse for pleasure riding or hacking; anyone keen to compete should check what classes the Equestrian Federation of India and the local riding clubs actually run.

The story of the American Saddlebred goes back to the colonial period in the United States, when settlers wanted sound horses that stayed comfortable over long distances. The early riding horses of the eastern seaboard included gaited animals descended from imported English and Spanish stock, and it is from these that the breed got the smooth ambling gaits it later became known for.

Across the 1700s and on into the 1800s, breeders in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and Missouri kept refining these horses for farm and plantation work and for everyday riding. The Thoroughbred had a large say in this period; it brought size, refinement and speed to the older gaited base. The type that emerged went by the names American Horse or Kentucky Saddler.

During the American Civil War the breed was used widely as an officer's mount, valued for stamina, comfort and a steady head under pressure. Once the war ended, those very qualities took it into the expanding world of horse shows.

A national breed registry for the American Saddlebred came up in the United States in 1891, one of the earliest such bodies for an American breed. Registry records, together with selective breeding for show performance, gave shape to the Saddlebred of today, with its stress on upright carriage, animated gaits and a willing, quick-witted temperament.

The American Saddlebred has a refined, upright outline. The head is clean and well shaped, with large eyes and alert ears, and it sits on a long, arched neck carried high. The shoulders slope well, the back is fairly short and strong, and the croup is level with a tail that is set high and carried naturally. The legs are straight, with strong joints and clearly defined tendons. Taken as a whole, the horse looks balanced and showy, and is built to move with reach and animation.

Coat and colours

Coat colours in the American Saddlebred cover a wide range. Solid bay, chestnut, brown, black and grey are common, and the registry accepts pinto patterns and dilute colours such as palomino too. White markings on the face and legs turn up frequently. For the show ring the mane and tail are generally grown long and groomed, and the tail is at times set and carried high to bring out the breed's upright, animated style.

The American Saddlebred is known for pairing a kind, people-minded nature with real spirit. Most individuals are curious, alert and fast learners, and they generally enjoy the company of their handlers. That sociable streak makes the breed pleasant to be around in the daily routine.

With family and familiar handlers the breed is usually affectionate and willing. With strangers it tends to be friendly rather than wary, though its energy means it picks up on and responds to the handler's confidence and mood. Among other horses the Saddlebred is generally easy-going and settles well into a herd.

The spirited side is a large part of the breed's appeal in the show ring, but it does ask for consistent handling. A Saddlebred that is bored or short of exercise can turn restless. Given regular work and clear, fair training, the breed puts its energy into the animation and presence it is known for.

Day-to-day care for an American Saddlebred follows the basics of sound horse keeping, with added attention to the coat and presentation where show animals are concerned. The breed is hardy and adjusts well to the usual stable and paddock management, though in India the syce or groom will have to work around the summer heat and the damp of the monsoon.

Grooming

• Brush the coat several times a week, and daily for horses in work or being kept in show condition
• Comb and condition the long mane and tail with care so the hair does not break
• Pick out the hooves daily and check for stones, cracks or any sign of thrush
• Bathe when needed, and clip for the show ring where required
• Clean around the eyes, nostrils and the sheath or udder as part of the regular grooming routine

Exercise

• Give work or turnout every single day, in the cooler early-morning or evening hours during summer; this is a high-energy breed
• Combine ridden or driven work with free turnout so the horse stays fit and settled
• Build up fitness gradually for show animals doing animated gaits
• Change the routine now and then so an intelligent horse stays mentally occupied

Environment

American Saddlebreds do well in a clean, well-ventilated stable with access to safe pasture. They cope with a range of climates given proper shelter: rugs in cold weather, and shade, good airflow and plenty of fresh water in the heat. Through the Indian summer and the monsoon months that means dry bedding, dry standing for the hooves and a stable that lets the air move. Secure fencing matters, since an alert, energetic horse will test the boundaries.

The American Saddlebred's diet should rest on forage. Good quality grass hay or mixed hay, or grazing on healthy pasture, gives the horse most of what it needs; in India that often means green fodder along with dry fodder such as hay or clean bhusa. Concentrates such as grain or a formulated feed are added according to the horse's age, condition and workload. As a rough guide, a horse eats around 1.5 to 2.5 percent of its body weight in feed every day, most of it as forage. Clean fresh water must be available at all times, along with free access to a salt or mineral lick.

Treats and supplements

Fruit and vegetable treats such as carrot and apple pieces are fine in small quantities. Many owners add a balanced vitamin and mineral supplement where forage on its own does not meet the horse's requirements, and horses in hard work may need extra energy or electrolytes, particularly through the hot season. Check any supplement plan with a veterinary doctor or an equine nutritionist, above all for growing, breeding or senior horses.

The American Saddlebred is a sturdy, long-lived breed, and many horses reach 25 to 35 years under good management. No single genetic disease defines it, but it carries the general health risks that all horses share. Routine veterinary attention, sensible feeding and steady management keep most individuals sound and active well into old age.

Preventive care

• Veterinary check-ups once or twice a year along with core vaccinations
• A planned deworming programme based on faecal egg counts
• Dental checks and floating at least once a year
• Farrier visits every six to eight weeks
• Body condition scoring so the weight stays within a healthy range

The American Saddlebred ranks among the more trainable horse breeds. Its intelligence and willingness mean it picks up new lessons fast, and many individuals plainly enjoy the work. That same sharpness means bad habits are learnt as quickly as good ones, so consistency matters a great deal. Spirited energy is an asset under saddle, but it should be guided with calm, confident handling and never with force. The breed answers to clear cues and to a routine that keeps it occupied.

Basics

1. Begin with groundwork: leading, standing still, and accepting handling and tack
2. Teach clear voice and rein cues for the walk, trot and canter
3. Build fitness and balance before asking for animated or advanced gaits
4. Bring in the slow gait and the rack step by step for horses headed for five-gaited work
5. Keep sessions varied and finish on a good note so the horse stays interested

American Saddlebreds are bred along the same lines as other light horse breeds. Mares and stallions are usually put to stud from around three to four years of age, once they have matured physically, though some breeders prefer to wait longer. The mare comes into season on a cycle of roughly 21 days during the breeding period and is normally bred to produce one foal.

Gestation runs about eleven months, averaging close to 340 days. Most mares deliver one foal; twins are rare and generally unwanted, as they carry a higher risk. The foal is up and nursing within the first few hours of birth.

Foals are usually weaned at four to six months. Handling from an early age helps the foal grow into a confident, well-mannered horse, and serious work under saddle generally starts later, once the young horse has matured. Responsible breeding pairs animals on the basis of sound conformation, temperament and health, and a broodmare should get proper veterinary care right through pregnancy and foaling.