| y"> | | | | with Fancy Trick (their piaffe scored an impressive |
| You are looking to buy the sport horse of your | | | | score of 9 points out of 10.) Show jumper Stonewall's |
| dreams. You ride dressage horses, three-day | | | | Little General, another American Saddlebred, was a |
| eventers, or maybe hunters or jumpers. You might | | | | champion Puissance (high jump) horse. Saddlebreds |
| choose from European warm bloods, or | | | | dominate the elite world of Combined Driving, and also |
| Thoroughbreds... or American Saddlebreds. | | | | appear in the upper levels of Three Day Eventing. |
| The Saddlebred is the only sport horse exclusively | | | | This should come as no surprise to history-savvy |
| made in America, respected internationally, and bred to | | | | horse people. In the Civil War era, Saddlebreds were |
| excel. Long known for their intelligence, athletic abilities, | | | | the ultimate all-around family/ farm horse, combining |
| and bold hearts, Saddlebreds excel in all the the FEI | | | | versatility, intelligence and dependability. Saddlebreds |
| (Federation Equestre Internationale) Olympic sports. | | | | were the steeds of choice for Union and Confederate |
| The success of the American Saddlebred in | | | | troops alike. Even now, General Robert E. Lee's grey |
| saddleseat horse shows tend to blind people to its | | | | stallion Traveler is a household name. The same traits |
| abilities in other riding disciplines. What rider in any of | | | | that made Saddlebreds indispensable on the battlefield |
| the Olympic sports does NOT require an equine | | | | now make them formidable sport horses. |
| partner with elastic, extravagant movement and inborn | | | | Yes, you can spend a small fortune to buy an |
| collection? With a sensitive, people-oriented nature? | | | | imported European Warmblood. But did you know |
| With a mind that can quickly puzzle through difficult | | | | Europeans have quietly imported American |
| dressage demands or complicated obstacles? | | | | Saddlebreds to improve their own breeds? |
| Saddlebreds were developed specifically for these | | | | Quality-conscious sport horse breeders have known |
| traits. | | | | for decades what most Americans have yet to |
| Still need proof that the American Saddlebreds excel | | | | discover: the Saddlebred is an extraordinary sport |
| as sport horses? Hilda Gurney, international dressage | | | | horse... made in America! |
| competitor, won a Grand Prix championship in 2005 | | | | |