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  Discussion on Saddlebreds for Dressage ?
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2000 - 10:14 pm:

Hello, I recently purchsed a saddlebred with which I have been doing dressage. He seems like a natural. Does anyone else out there do this?

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2000 - 11:25 pm:

I don't have a saddlebred, but I think they're very nice horses. I always appreciate seeing them used for something other than saddle seat riding. I've seen them ridden western style and they were very pretty. They are very pretty! Should do nicely in dressage. Good luck.

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2000 - 12:26 pm:

I have a 5 yr old saddlebred gelding and we are learning dressage (very basic!!) together and having a great time with it. I had the chance to see the 1996 World Cup Equitation competition in Louisville and they had a presentation that showed saddlebreds in every discipline. They are a very versatile breed. I wouldn't trade my guy for anything.

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2000 - 9:16 pm:

Hi Eva,
Thank you for your message. I am from England and had never seen them before coming to the US. I'm looking forward to seeing them in other disciplines too. It's a whole new world for me. Look forward to seeing you on the site.By the way Ab Fab is one of my favourite shows!

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2000 - 9:25 pm:

Hi Vicki, I got your message. I am so excited that someone else is as crazy as me! I can't believe that this breed has passed people by in the US. I had horses in England but had never heard of saddlebreds, until I fell into them here. I was lucky enough to have one bought for me by my husband this year for Christmas. I had been leasing him for 2 years and tried saddleseat, but didn't quite get it! I have more recently been doing dressage, so I thought ,why not give it a go. I have been pleasantly surprised. I really think that we will see more of them creeping into competitions over the next few years and that they are versatile, intelligent and honest. I love my guy too and wouldn't trade him for the world, even with his quirks. But then we aren't all perfect are we! Look forward to seeing you again. Thanks.

Posted on Thursday, Feb 17, 2000 - 2:35 am:

In my opinion, Saddlebreds are often passed over as a breed because most people only see them being ridden in saddle seat classes. As you probably know, saddle seat training/esthetics is very controversial. In particular, many people find the altered tails, built up hooves, shaved faces and high-headed/hollow back way of going unattractive, and the training that produces the "look" inhumane. What I'm curious about is whether they are easy to school to do walk, trot & canter if they've been through the "whatever you call it that produces the high, fast trot" training. Were either of your horses show horses before you got them?

Posted on Thursday, Feb 17, 2000 - 2:33 pm:

I had a Saddlebred mare for 2 years. My niece worked in a saddlebred show barn and was in love wtih this horse. The breeder sold her off as a yearling at auction because he didn't like the way she looked. When my niece got her back she was starved and sick. It took me a year to bring her back to a healthy horse. She was the smartest horse I have ever known and a pleasure to care for and ride. I rode her western and on trails. I had too many horses and had to find her a home. She would have been wonderful in eventing or dressage, but try and convince people that she could do it. She even would have been a great drivng horse, never spooked, went through mud and over wooden bridges. We finely sold her to a local celebrity who got her papers from the breeder. She is back in the show ring, not where I wanted her to be, and beating all the big breeders horses in the show ring. I attended her first show and had the pleasure of watching the face of the breeder who sold her off. I have no dought that I could put a western saddle back on her and ride down the trail.

Posted on Friday, Feb 18, 2000 - 12:29 am:

Hello again everyone.To answer Eva's question, yes my horse was a show horse before I got him, but he does not have the natural high step of the saddlebred. Maybe this is why he has taken to dressage. He is very nervous though, I think he keeps waiting for the fire crackers and plastic bag on the end of a whip to come out! I have basically started all over, treating him as if he were a young horse(he is 12 this year). We spend every day stretching first to get him long and low, obviously the complete opposite from what he has been used to. Then I gradually pick him up. I have managed to redefine his neck, it,s much thicker and more muscled now and his top line is getting sronger, you can see his shape changing daily. I really do believe, as I am a "dressage person", that this is the natural way of a horse going, over his back in a rounded relaxed outline. That is why it is working, he is just not used to be able to chill out. He is never put in a bitting rig or tail set, and everything I do around him has to be quiet and interesting. I don't know whether it will work, but I'm going to stick with it, I owe him that much. He really has a great personality and trusts me now even with his problems.
Betsy's comments were very encouraging, it's so nice to know that you don't think I'm crazy! Most people say "Dressage with a saddlebred?", in complete amazement! I say why not, they are after all a breed of horse and a very intelligent one at that. I can't wait to prove them all wrong!

Posted on Saturday, Feb 19, 2000 - 7:17 pm:

Michele,
Go for it. But be sure to let us know your progress!
Just yesterday my issue of Saddlebred Magazine (American Saddlebred Horse Association) came and in it is an article about Freelance Agent, a Saddlebred dressage horse, who incidently the owner sent to Jane Starkey in England for training in eventing and dressage. He was also trained under Kathy Priest, Versailles Kentucky who competed to Intermediate Level in Eventing and Third level dressage. (Hanorverian breeder who also worked at one time with Saddlebreds. I'm hoping this may be some name recognition for the dressage folk. I don't have a clue!) A previous magazine this year had an article about a Saddlebred jumper. Email me your address and I'll send you the article.
Saddlebreds are very versatile. But if you look at the total Saddlebred population, one of the reasons they don't have much visability in other areas is that there are many fewer foaled each year. I forgot the numbers but saw a chart in a recent EQUUS magazine and was astounded. There are even less foaled than Tennessee Walkers.
As you've already found out, they are typically thought of as people horses, LOVE attention and most generally a trait is that they are sensible. They can go through a lot of animation and come back down.
Yes, as with every horse type there are bad stories about training. And not all of them are scared out of their wits to make them look animated.
I ended up in Saddlebreds as at the time I learned to ride, that was what was available. I would love to learn dressage also, just wish there was more in my area. There are quite a few TWH where I live and I used to feel the same way about them as some people feel about Saddlehorses. But Dr. O, as I've gotten older I've realized that you can't judge a horse by it's human owner. (or at least penalize it). And that rolling canter on a plantation walker sure is fun!
Saddlebreds are normally extremely responsive to your legs. I imagine this is why your horse is working out well in dressage. I went to college in Missouri, William Woods (US) and they traditionally would cross train some of the horses. Missouri and Kentucky are the state's where the Saddlebred was developed.
I have a 6 year old Saddlebred mare, Emmy who is ridden by me and my two daughters 10 and 6. She'll animate, but kicks back and becomes a babysitter with the two kids. I'm extremely lucky to have ended up with such a good friend.
You may not be aware that "The American Saddle Horse gained fame as a breed during the Civil War, 1861-1865. Saddlebreds served as 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." You can read the whole story at www.american-saddlebred.com.
Just telling your friends that Traveller was a Saddlebred may also make them gasp. (of course that's if they remember their American History. I'm assuming you're in the US)
You may also want to check out www.asha.net. One of their missions is to publicize the versatility of this breed.
As with people, horses are best loved for their individual talents. Have a great time training and riding your horse!
Sandi K.

Posted on Saturday, Feb 19, 2000 - 10:56 pm:

Hi Sandi, I sent you an email in reply. Thank you so much for your kind words.

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 22, 2000 - 10:55 am:

Just wanted to add my two cents worth....my neighbor has a Saddlebred Arab, which is supposedly also a very popular combination of the show world. He has never been through that world, so doesn't have the 'baggage'. She uses him for hunting, hunter paces, competitive trail, and as a lesson horse for jumping, dressage and basic riding. He was kind of high-strung as a youngster, but has settled into being one of the most reliable horses in her barn. I think most breeds are more versatile than some people want to believe.

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 22, 2000 - 7:56 pm:

Hi Deb, Thanks for the note. It's so nice to see people are not scared to do something different. I'm going to stick with it.anyway.

Posted on Tuesday, May 1, 2001 - 5:22 pm:

I don't know if anyone is still following this thread, but I have an Arab/Saddlebred cross who is ten years old. I started him as a youngster and even with my limited training abilities, I have successfully used him for working cattle (he's extremely "cowy"), team penning, Western reining, and dressage--with beautiful collection and movement. I've also used him in endurance competition and have ridden him extensively in the mountains. He's truly a "do it all" kind of guy. Oh, he also LOVES to jump. Needless to say, I'm very happy with this guy.

Posted on Tuesday, May 8, 2001 - 11:24 pm:

Hi Everyone!

We have a 7 yo Saddlebred Gelding. My wife has owned other saddlebred mixes and our experience has been nothing but great fun. The Saddlebred is a very intelligent and versatile breed. Our guy is extremely personable, and very willing to please. He is high energy but gentle with our children. He is level headed and animated. Our biggest challenge is keeping him from getting bored (intelligence begets curiousity begets mischeviousness begets dinking around begets headaches if we are not diligent). I would no sooner sell him than sell my own children.

We would love to hear from other Saddlebred owners who have had experience in training for the slow gait and rack.

Elizabeth & Dennis

Posted on Wednesday, May 9, 2001 - 11:35 am:

I sure wish more of us (including myself) could post pictures of our critters....I'd love to see others saddlebred horses - but loving all horses as I do, all of them are beautiful with their different disciplines, ages, personalities and colors! I have a saddlebred-quarterhorse mix and cannot agree more with the assessment of his personality than what Elizabeth & Dennis stated (above). His personality and disposition gave him a "stay of execution" when he was badly injured. Can't wait til he recovers (he's been, and is, a great patient!) and we can hit the trails and go exploring again. I'll try to get a picture on my profile of my critters - I'd love to encourage all the members to do the same - I know I'm not alone in enjoying looking at "All The Pretty Horses!!!!" Dawn :)

Posted on Thursday, May 10, 2001 - 7:25 am:

Dawn,
You ought to publish your horses pictures in your profile.
DrO

Posted on Thursday, May 10, 2001 - 11:56 am:

Dr. O, I did include myself in the group of photo-poster's; the only photo I have right now is 11 x 14" & I'm not certain I can get it reduced. I'm going to look into that, or taking a new picture & then hopefully figuring out how to get it into my profile. Thanks for the site; thanks for allowing us to include photos with our profiles - how fun!!! Dawn.

Posted on Saturday, May 12, 2001 - 8:25 am:

Hi Dawn,
My name is Carolyn and I'm a lurker on these boards. I'm new to the horse world and am just trying to gain as much knowledge as possible through various sources.
I am, however, knowledgeable in computers, scanning and resizing "photos". I f you would like some help, please e-mail me.
Carolyn

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2001 - 8:45 pm:

Well, thanks to Carolyn's help and Dr.O's suggestion - I got my picture (not my favorite - but it fit!) up on my profile. Looking forward to seeing other Saddlebreds and Arabians, and Quarterhorses, and foals, and..............
Dawn :)

Posted on Monday, Oct 15, 2001 - 9:02 pm:

I just joined this site and I wanted all of you to know that we have a Yahoo group explicitly for American saddlebreds and Dressage. We have some very talented horse owners and horses in this list.

You can subscribe to the list by emailing
asbdressage-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

The Url is:
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/asbdressage

Anne

Posted on Thursday, Oct 18, 2001 - 4:33 pm:

Thanks Anne, Sounds interesting. I'll be sure to check it out. Sandi
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