Misplaced Pages

#272727

42-423: Bourbon King (foaled 1900) was an American Saddlebred stallion. He was known for being the founding sire of the popular Chief family of Saddlebreds. Bourbon King was foaled in 1900. He was a chestnut stallion with a star and white coronets on his hind feet. He was sired by Bourbon Chief and out of Annie C. Bourbon King was bred and owned by Allie G. Jones, who had a farm near North Middletown, Kentucky . Jones

84-707: A South African breed registry had started in 1935, it was not until 1949 that the Saddle Horse Breeders' Society of South Africa was formed. The 1950s saw continued growth of the Saddlebred breed, and The Lemon Drop Kid, a fine harness horse, became the first, and only, Saddlebred to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated . In the late 1950s, the Saddle Horse Capital became centered in Shelby County, Kentucky , largely due to

126-415: A full tail , often augmented with an artificial switch , and a full mane . Three-gaited horses may be shown with a shaved off "roached" mane and a full tail, though the trend of the three-gaited horse being presented with the hair at the top of their tails, an area called the dock , trimmed short, has fallen out of style over the past several decades. The use of a set tail in certain types of competition

168-489: A hereditary basis in Saddlebreds and a recessive mode of inheritance. The precise mutation has not yet been located, but researchers believe it to be somewhere on horse chromosome 20. Researching this condition may help more than just the Saddlebred breed as it may "serve as a model for investigating congenital skeletal deformities in horses and other species." Horses with lordosis are generally healthy and unaffected by

210-569: A large collection of Saddlebred-related items and artwork, as well as a 2,500-volume library of breed-related works. There are many magazines which focus on the American Saddlebred: Show Horse Magazine , Bluegrass Horseman , The National Horseman , Saddle and Bridle , and Show Horse International . As a show horse, Saddlebreds were exhibited in Kentucky as early as 1816, and were a prominent part of

252-488: A mare named Great Belles of Fire, in his role as James T. Kirk in Star Trek Generations . Numerous other celebrities besides Shatner have been owners and exhibitors of the breed, including Clark Gable , Will Rogers , Joe Louis , and Carson Kressley . Rump (animal) The tailhead or dock is the beginning of the tail, where the tail joins the rump. It is known also as the base or root of

294-638: A now-extinct breed called the Narragansett Pacer , a riding and driving breed known for its ambling and pacing gaits. When colonists imported Thoroughbreds to America, beginning in 1706, they were crossed with the Narragansett Pacer, which, combined with massive exports, ultimately led to the extinction of the Narragansett as a purebred breed. To preserve important bloodlines, Canadian Pacers were introduced instead. By

336-557: A role in the development of the Saddlebred in the 19th century include the Morgan , Standardbred and Hackney . The Canadian Pacer had a particularly significant impact. The breed, originally of French origin, was also influential in the development of the Standardbred and Tennessee Walking Horse . The most influential Canadian Pacer on Saddlebred lines was Tom Hall, a blue roan stallion foaled in 1806. After being imported to

378-447: Is traditional for tails to be cut off ( docked ) at the dock. In bird anatomy , the rump is the body immediately above the tail. The color of plumage on the rump is a characteristic widely used by ornithologists to distinguish between related species, and sometimes also between males and females of the same species. Similarly, the silhouette of the tailfan is a characteristic widely used for purposes of identification, particularly in

420-629: The Golden Age of Hollywood were also Saddlebreds, including the horses used in lead roles in My Friend Flicka , National Velvet , Fury and one version of Black Beauty . A part-Saddlebred played the lead role in the TV series Mr. Ed , and a Saddlebred was used in a prominent role in Giant . In the 1990s, William Shatner , an actor and Saddlebred breeder, rode one of his own horses,

462-732: The Golden Age of Hollywood . Saddlebreds are mainly known for their performance in the show ring, but can also be seen in competition in several other English riding disciplines and combined driving , as well as being used as a pleasure riding horse. American Saddlebreds often compete in five primary divisions: Five-Gaited , Three-Gaited, Fine Harness, Park and Pleasure. In these divisions they are judged on performance, manners, presence, quality, and conformation. American Saddlebreds stand 15 to 17  hands (60 to 68 inches, 152 to 173 cm) high, averaging 15 to 16  hands (60 to 64 inches, 152 to 163 cm), and weigh between 1,000 and 1,200 pounds (450 and 540 kg). Members of

SECTION 10

#1732764854273

504-450: The coccygeal vertebrae begin). Below the croup is the thigh or haunch. Behind the thigh is the buttock . On horses appearing in parades and other public ceremonies, the croup may be decorated with quarter marks , a grooming pattern made in the horse's hair by applying hair gel or spray, then brushing patches of hair in opposite directions. Applied to horses, the term "dock" has two additional uses. Its meaning may be extended to either

546-513: The "world's most beautiful horse" by admirers, and is known as the "peacock of the horse world". The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) describes the Saddlebred as follows: "He carries himself with an attitude that is elusive of description—some call it "class", presence, quality, style, or charm. This superior air distinguishes his every movement." Saddlebreds are popularly known as show horses, with horses being shown saddle seat in both three-gaited and five-gaited classes. The former are

588-528: The 1940s, organized the first "All-Negro" horse show in Utica, Michigan, allowing greater opportunities for African-American people to exhibit horses at a time when there was significant racial segregation in the United States . Gas shortages in the 1970s and 1980s put pressure on the recreational dollar, and saw the growth of single breed shows at the expense of the multi-breed traditional horse show. At

630-574: The American Saddlebred began to be exported to South Africa, and it is now the most popular non-racing breed in that country. Saddlebred horse show standards continued to evolve through the 1920s, as the popularity of the breed grew. The Saddlebred industry slowed during World War II , but began to grow again post-war, with Mexico, Missouri earning the title "Saddle Horse Capital of the World". Exports continued, and though attempts to begin

672-863: The British affiliate of the ASHA. Since the founding of the American registry, almost 250,000 horses have been accepted, with almost 3,000 new foals registered annually. It is the oldest still-functioning breed registry in the US. Most common in the eastern US, the breed is also found throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and in South Africa. Located at the Kentucky Horse Park is the American Saddlebred Museum, which curates

714-643: The Morgan, as early as 1857, but the NSHBA was the first national association for an American-developed breed of horse. A member of Morgan's Raiders, General John Breckinridge Castleman , was instrumental in forming the NSHBA. In 1899, the organization name was changed to the American Saddle Horse Breeders Association, clarifying the breed's name as the "American Saddle Horse," not simply "Saddle Horse." After World War I ,

756-491: The United States from Canada, he was registered as an American Saddlebred and became the foundation stallion of several Saddlebred lines. The American Horse was further refined in Kentucky, where the addition of more Thoroughbred blood created a taller and better-looking horse that became known as the Kentucky Saddler. There were originally seventeen foundation stallions listed by the breed registry, but by 1908

798-538: The beginning of the 21st century, the number of women showing Saddlebreds increased, with female competitors winning several world championships. Today, the Saddlebred is exhibited in the United States in multiple divisions, including assorted in-hand classes; ridden in saddle seat classes for three- and five-gaited horses in both Park and pleasure classes, hunter country pleasure , and western pleasure ; plus pleasure driving , fine harness , roadster harness classes. In five-gaited competition, they are shown with

840-480: The breed have well-shaped heads with a straight profile, long, slim, arched necks, well-defined withers , sloping shoulders, correct leg conformation , and strong level backs with well-sprung ribs. The croup is level with a high-carried tail. Enthusiasts consider them to be spirited, yet gentle, animals. Any color is acceptable, but most common are chestnut , bay , brown and black . Some are gray , roan , palomino and pinto. The first-known pinto Saddlebred

882-460: The breed since the late 1800s. They are considered a gaited breed, as some Saddlebreds are bred and trained to perform four-beat ambling gaits, one being a "slow gait" that historically was one of three possible ambling patterns, and the much faster rack. They have attracted the attention of numerous celebrities, who have become breeders and exhibitors, and purebred and partbred American Saddlebreds have appeared in several films, especially during

SECTION 20

#1732764854273

924-720: The breed's popularity continued to grow in the United States, and exports began to South Africa and Great Britain. Since the formation of the US registry, almost 250,000 American Saddlebreds have been registered and can now be found around the world, with separate breed registries established in Great Britain, Australia, continental Europe, and southern Africa. Averaging 15 to 16  hands (60 to 64 inches, 152 to 163 cm) in height, Saddlebreds are known for their sense of presence and style, as well as for their spirited, yet gentle, temperament. They may be of any color , including pinto patterns, which have been acknowledged in

966-594: The condition, and are eligible to compete in many divisions, but a swayback must be penalized as a fault at shows, in addition to other conformation flaws. The Saddlebred has origins in the Galloway and Hobby horses of the British Isles, animals sometimes called palfreys , which had ambling gaits and were brought to the United States by early settlers. These animals were further refined in America to become

1008-565: The conflict include John Hunt Morgan and Basil W. Duke during his time with Morgan's Raiders . Kentucky Saddlers were used during brutal marches with the latter group, and the historical record suggests that they held up better than horses of other breeds. The American Saddlebred Horse Association was formed in 1891, then called the National Saddle Horse Breeders Association (NSHBA). Private individuals had produced studbooks for other breeds, such as

1050-422: The dock. These include dogs , cats , sheep , pigs , and horses . Humans have a remnant tail, the coccyx , and the human equivalent of docking is coccygectomy . Usage varies from animal to animal. Birds and cattle are said to have a rump and tailhead. Dogs are said to have a rump and dock. Horses are said to have a croup (sometimes rump), thigh or haunch, buttock, and dock. In some breeds it

1092-503: The entire tail minus the skirt (i.e., synonymous with tailbone) or the tailhead only. In other equidae, it encompasses most of the tailbone, as most of that portion of the tail does not have long hairs. A lack of long hairs can be natural, as in zebras , donkeys , and the Przewalski horse , or artificial, the result of pulling, trimming, or shaving part of the skirt (see Horse grooming and Tail (horse) ). A sponge used to wash

1134-412: The field. Some birds have a food reservoir pouch in the esophagus that is known as a croup (or crop), which should not be confused with the croup (rump) of a horse. In equine anatomy , the croup refers specifically to the topline of the horse's hindquarters and surrounding musculature, beginning at the hip, extending proximate to the sacral vertebrae and stopping at the dock of the tail (where

1176-775: The first national horse show in the United States, held at the St. Louis Fair in 1856. The Kentucky State Fair began running a World Championship show in 1917, offering a $ 10,000 prize for the champion five-gaited horse. Also in 1917, the American Horse Shows Association, now the United States Equestrian Federation, formed and began to standardize show formats and rules. In 1957, the American Saddlebred Pleasure Horse Association

1218-769: The first three volumes of the breed's studbook. A second foundation sire was recognized in 1991, Harrison Chief . This sire was a descendant of the Thoroughbred Messenger , who is also considered a foundation stallion for the Standardbred breed. During the American Civil War , American Saddlebreds were commonly used by the military, and known for their bravery and endurance. Many officers used them as mounts, and included in their numbers are General Lee's Traveller , General Grant's Cincinnati , General Sherman's Lexington, and General Jackson's Little Sorrell. Other generals who used them during

1260-481: The lateral pairs of legs leave the ground together, but strike the ground at different times, the hind foot connecting slightly before the forefoot. In the show ring, the gait should be performed with restraint and precision. The rack is also a four-beat gait, but with equal intervals between each footfall. In the show ring, the gait is performed with speed and action, appearing unrestrained. Lordosis , also known as swayback, low back or soft back, has been found to have

1302-403: The registry decided to list only one and the remainder were identified as "Noted Deceased Sires." Today, two foundation sires of the breed are recognized, both Thoroughbred crosses. The first was Denmark , son of an imported Thoroughbred, who for many years was the only recognized foundation stallion. His son, Gaines' Denmark , was in the pedigrees of over 60 percent of the horses registered in

Bourbon King - Misplaced Pages Continue

1344-574: The success of breeders Charles and Helen Crabtree , the latter a renowned equitation coach. Although individual Saddlebreds had been exported to Great Britain throughout the breed's history, the first breeding groups were transported there in 1966. For the next three decades, enthusiasts worked to establish a breeding and showing platform for the breed in the UK. In 1980, the name of the American Saddle Horse Breeder's Association

1386-415: The tail, and corresponds to the human sacrococcygeal symphysis . In some mammals the tail may be said to consist of the tailbone (meaning the bony column, muscles, and skin) and the skirt (meaning the long hairs growing from the tailbone). In birds, similarly, the tail consists of tailbone and tailfan ( tail fan ). Some animals are subjected to docking , the amputation of the tailbone at or near

1428-416: The three common gaits seen in most breeds, the walk, trot and canter . The latter includes the three regular gaits, plus two four-beat ambling gaits known as the slow gait and the rack. Historically, the slow gait could be either a running walk, the stepping pace, or the fox trot, however, the modern five-gaited Saddlebred typically performs a stepping-pace. The stepping pace is a four-beat gait in which

1470-763: The time of the American Revolution , a distinct type of riding horse had developed with the size and quality of the Thoroughbred, but the ambling gaits and stamina of the Pacer breeds. This animal was called the American Horse. Its existence was first documented in a 1776 letter when an American diplomat wrote to the Continental Congress asking for one to be sent to France as a gift for Marie Antoinette . Other breeds which played

1512-414: The time of the American Revolution , the American Saddlebred includes the Narragansett Pacer , Canadian Pacer , Morgan and Thoroughbred among its ancestors. Developed into its modern type in Kentucky, it was once known as the "Kentucky Saddler" and used extensively as an officer's mount in the American Civil War . In 1891, a breed registry was formed in the United States. Throughout the 20th century,

1554-486: Was a stallion foaled in 1882. In 1884 and 1891, two additional pintos, both mares , were foaled . These three horses were recorded as "spotted", but many other pinto Saddlebreds with minimal markings were recorded only by their base color, without making note of their markings. This practice continued into the 1930s, at which time breeders came to be more accepting of "colored" horses and began recording markings and registering horses as pinto. The Saddlebred has been called

1596-651: Was changed to the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA), membership was opened to non-breeders, and the group began to focus on breed promotion. In 1985, the ASHA became the first breed registry to have their headquarters at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky . A decade later, in 1995, the United Saddlebred Association – UK was formed to register Saddlebreds in Great Britain, and acts as

1638-795: Was common, today, tail sets are generally not allowed on the show grounds for horses in the Pleasure divisions, and horses with unset tails are not penalized in any division. Gingering is prohibited and not used. Outside of breed-specific shows, the Saddlebred is also promoted as suitable for competitive trail riding , endurance riding , dressage , combined driving , eventing , and show jumping . Because they are so closely affiliated with their traditional show ring competition, they are sometimes mistaken for warmbloods or Thoroughbred crosses when participating in other equine events. They are also suitable family horses used for trail , pleasure riding , and ranch work. Many film and television horses of

1680-712: Was elected president of the American Saddle Horse Breeders' Association, the forerunner to the American Saddlebred Horse Association , in 1936. Bourbon King lived to be 30 years old. Bourbon King was a five-gaited horse. He won the Grand Championship at the Louisville Horse Show at age three. Bourbon King was the progenitor of the Chief family, one of the most influential bloodlines in Saddlebreds. His son Edna May's King

1722-705: Was formed to regulate English pleasure classes. Today, the most prestigious award in the breed industry is the American Saddlebred "Triple Crown": winning the five-gaited championships at the Lexington Junior League Horse Show , the Kentucky State Fair World's Championship Horse Show , and American Royal horse show; a feat that has only been accomplished by six horses. The breed's show history also paralleled major historical developments. Heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis , who owned and exhibited Saddlebreds into

Bourbon King - Misplaced Pages Continue

1764-490: Was the first horse to repeat win the Grand Championship at the Kentucky State Fair . One of Bourbon King's descendants, Wing Commander , was the first five-gaited horse to win six consecutive World Grand Championships. American Saddlebred The American Saddlebred is a horse breed from the United States. This breed is referred to as the "Horse America Made". Descended from riding-type horses bred at

#272727