American riding horse. History of the breed

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The American riding horse is a native of the United States and a favorite horse of American cowboys. It is this breed that can most often be seen in numerous films about the Wild West.

Description of the American Riding Horse

The average height of the animal is 1.55 m, and the weight is up to 0.5 tons. The horse's head, as a rule, has the correct shape, usually quite miniature in size. The profile is most often ideal proportions. Although occasionally you can meet individuals with the so-called mutton features.

The neck is long and graceful. The American riding horse has a pronounced withers, small shoulders, well-placed hooves and a powerful back. The line of the back of these horses is straight. Animals also have a high-set croup with a raised tail. To do this, some muscles are cut at the base of the tail to artificially create the effect of elevation. However, the strands themselves are not cut much. Therefore, American Saddle horses are distinguished by rather long tails.

Saddlebred (as this breed is called in their homeland) has a well-developed musculature. For this reason, in all equestrian competitions, she is always among the contenders for victory. The intellectual abilities of these horses are extremely well developed. Large expressive eyes look at the world around almost humanly.

Features of running

The "Americans" have their own signature style of running, developed by American horse breeders to make horses suitable for riding at high speed over long distances. This original move is called a "rack". When ridden like this, an American riding horse is able to develop a speed equal to that of a gallop.

Saddlebreds that are trained to walk in five styles: walk, canter, walk, trot and plus wreck are called five-gaiters. Such horses are often compared to dancers. Almost all animals of this breed are endowed with an innate ability to rack. There are individuals who do not need special training in this gait and run wreck from birth. If a horse does not have such a gift, then it can be easily taught. Training takes place according to a special technique, the essence of which is to upset the balance of the course by tilting the animal's head in different directions. Sometimes the imbalance occurs due to the mixing of the body of the rider alternately to the right and left. The vast majority of animals of this breed need only a few lessons to learn this gait.

Distant ancestors

Saddlebred has a rich pedigree. The history of this breed dates back to the 17th century, when thoroughbred horses from England began to be massively imported to America. They were not tall. But they perfectly and quickly acclimatized in new habitat conditions. As a result of the selection activities of American horse breeders, a breed came from English horses, called the Narraganasset pacer. These animals fully met the requirements for riding horses and were extremely popular among the local population.

However, the breed is now considered lost as a result of the fact that these hardy animals, ideal for agricultural work, were exported to India in large numbers. But still, part of the mares, an endangered breed, managed to leave offspring from horses that were brought from the British Isles in the 18th century.

The origin of the breed

Closer to the 19th century, a new breed was formed, which in those distant years was called American horses. From their purebred ancestors, they inherited natural grace and an innate ability to move softly. The first documentary mention of this breed is found in sources dated 1776.

Participants in historical events

The new breed was perfect for horseback riding, and for helping in peasant labor. Also, these animals were used by the cavalry of the colonial troops during the American Revolution and later in the war with the British and Indian tribes.

By the time of the American Civil WarThe American riding horse has become the most widespread breed in this country. It is known that the famous General Robert Lee rode a saddlebred horse. After the end of the war, the national horse fair was revived. At the end of the 19th century, several initiative horse breeders of the country put forward a proposal to create an organization of horse breeders involved in breeding horses of this particular breed and officially register the breed of an American riding horse with a description in the relevant documents. Which happened soon.

Equestrian sport with American riding horses

Saddlebreds are distinguished by their increased energy, love for an active lifestyle. The motto of this breed could well be the slogan: "Movement is life." Therefore, these animals are often involved in sports. Three-gait competitions traditionally demonstrate walk, trot and canter. Each of them has specific requirements. The step of the horses must have sufficient elasticity. When trotting, the legs of the animals must rise high, and it is necessary to gallop in a certain rhythm and pace (usually not fast and measured).

In competitions for 5 gaits, two more types of ambles are added to the above moves. In some photos of American riding horses, artificially elongated legs can be seen. This effect is achieved by building hooves or putting on special boots.