American Saddlebred Horse
 FindaPetOnlineAverage Size: 16 hh (64 in)
Breed: American Saddlebred Horse

Crucial Specs:
  • High carriage
  • Comfortable ride
  • Good jumper








Everything about the American Saddlebred exudes grace. From its long, elegant neck to its smooth and comfortable gait, the Saddlebred is refined. The hooves are neat and well-shaped, though usually grown out for show. The legs are long and slender, leading to extended pasterns – the area between the hoof and the bottom fetlock joint. This feature is what gives the Saddlebred its gait and offers a springy, yet easy ride.

Known for its high carriage, the American Saddlebred is a popular show ring horse. It moves with a distinct high stepping action, allowing it to pace. The horse is also said to have speed and courage, making it an ideal jumper, who rarely balks at a high rail.

This confident horse is shown both under saddle and in harness. It's trained with what's called a 'schooling tackle,' that teaches the horse how to tuck the head in and imposes the carriage that's required for competitive show.

The American Saddlebred also makes a wonderful family horse and its comfortable seat is perfect for trail or pleasure riding. Though the horse's confidence can make it a tad feisty, it's still very cooperative and docile, especially with the right owner. The Saddlebred is a good choice for the rider looking for a horse with a bit of spirit.

The breed is based on two early American pacers, the Canadian Pacer, originally from France, and the Narragansett Pacer from New England. Both those breeds are now extinct. The Saddlebred evolved throughout the nineteenth century, and was particularly popular in the South and Kentucky. It was used as a carriage horse, for long distance solo riding, and sometimes for labor.