National Show Horses

The History of the Saddlebred Horse

The American Saddlebred Horse traces its history back to the naturally gaited Galloway and Hobby horses from the British Isles. These hardy horses were imported to America with the early settlers and through selective breeding and crossing with imported Thoroughbreds, the "American Horse" was developed about the time of the Revolutionary War. These animals had the size and the beauty of the Thoroughbred but had retained the ability to learn the easy-riding gaits. They were used for all sorts of farm work and leisure riding/driving and were prized for their pleasant temperament, eagerness, strength and stamina.

There was continual crossing with Thoroughbreds, along with other breeds, including the Arabian and Morgan Horse. By the time of the first horse shows (which were held in Kentucky and Virginia in the early 1800s) the American Saddlebred was frequently judged the winners because of their beauty, style, and versatility.

With its elegance and high stepping the American Saddlebred is often consdered the ultimate show horse. As well as the walk, trot and canter which all horses can do, he also possesses the ability to perform two extra gaits - the slow gait and the rack. The slow gait and rack were developed from the easy-riding gait traits the Saddlebred had inherited and are more predominant in certain bloodlines - just like some Thoroughbreds are "chasers" and some are "sprint" horses.

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The History of the National Show Horse

The National Show Horse Registry (NSHR) was created to meet a growing need within the equine industry for beautiful show horses with athletic ability, for new excitement and incentives in the show ring and for a broader base for the show horse industry.

The overwhelming choice for this new breed was an animal that would combine the beauty, refinement and stamina of the Arabian with the size and high-stepping motion of the American Saddlebred. Since its beginning in 1982,  the NSHR has taken steps to make possible the employment of a variety of combinations of these two basic bloodlines to produce a breed that continues to surpass its own standards, the always exciting National Show Horse.

Founders of the NSHR were not satisfied just to create a registry for the new breed.  They also wanted to create a new atmosphere in the show ring in order to generate broader public appeal and to develop a prize money system that would make it financially rewarding for exhibitors to show their horses

Danielle on Butterfly at the 2004 Arabian Youth Nationals

Breed Standard

The National Show Horse shall strive to produce an athletic horse which retains size, beauty and refinement. Specifically, the following traits are desirable:

A.  Motion.  Balanced and obvious power from the hindquarters flowing into an elevated front end, the front legs showing both flexion and extension;

B.  Neck.  Very long, set high on the shoulder and relatively upright with fine throatlatch.  The neck should be shapely but without a pronounced crest;

C.  Head.  Relatively small, short and refined with large eyes and small, well placed ears and a straight or slightly concave profile (a "Roman nosed" or convex profile is not desirable);

D.  Pronounced withers and a very deep and well laid back shoulder;

E.  Proportionately short back closely coupled with a long hip and relatively level top line (moderately sloping croup not to be penalized);

F.  Legs.  Correct from all angles with long forearms and short cannon bones in front and long, well angled pasterns front and rear;

G.  Refinement of bone but not lacking in substance, especially in the chest, girth, shoulder and hip;

H.  A relatively high set tail, natural and flowing;

I.  When observed at rest or in motion, the horse must exhibit a natural presence and, when animated, extreme brilliance.  The horse must exhibit high carriage when showing or relaxed.