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 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, 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.
Wing Commander (1943–1969) was an American Saddlebred show horse out of the mare Flirtation Walk and by the stallion Anacacho Shamrock. Wing Commander was a chestnut with four white socks and a thin white stripe that ran from his forehead all the way to his upper lip. He was trained to be a five-gaited horse, meaning he performed the walk, trot, canter, slow gait and rack. Through both sides of his pedigree, Wing Commander traced back to the highly influential Saddlebred stallions Rex McDonald and Bourbon King, who were themselves successful show horses. In 1948, the stallion won his first Five-Gaited World Grand Championship, a title he kept for a total of six years. In total he won 6 Five-Gaited World Grand Championships, and was the first of only two horses to accomplish this. In 1950 Life magazine featured Wing Commander as an example of a fine athlete and an American Idol. He was owned by Dodge Stables, and trained by Marvin Lane and ridden by Earl Teater. Wing Commander stood at stud at Castleton Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and died at the age of 26.
The World's Championship Horse Show, held at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds in Louisville, Kentucky, in Freedom Hall, is a large horse show that includes the American Saddlebred, Hackney pony, Dutch Harness Horse, and Standardbred breeds. It is usually held annually in late August, coinciding with the dates of the Kentucky State Fair and in the middle of the show season for the three breeds. Any horse or rider who wins there earns the title of World's Champion, and a second-place finish is identified with a Reserve World's Championship title. In addition to the WC and RWC titles, a horse can also earn the World's Grand Championship (WGC) or World's Championship of Champions (WCC) title. The winner of a championship class which requires a qualifier is given one of these titles.
Emerson "Bud" Dunn was a Tennessee Walking Horse trainer from Kentucky who spent most of his career in northern Alabama. He trained horses for over forty years and won his first Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Championship at age 74 with Dark Spirit's Rebel; at the time, he was the oldest rider to win the honor. He was inducted into the Tennessee Walking Horse Hall of Fame in 1987 and named trainer of the year in 1980 and 1991. In 1999 at age 81, Dunn surpassed his own record for the oldest winning rider by winning his second World Grand Championship, riding RPM. He died of a heart attack in January 2001.
My-My (1957–1968) was an American Saddlebred mare. She was one of only two horses ever to win six Five-Gaited World's Grand Championships in the World's Championship Horse Show.
Belle Reve Farm is a horse farm located in Versailles, Kentucky that was owned by actor William Shatner, a breeder of American Saddlebred show horses.
Sky Watch was a five-gaited American Saddlebred show horse. He won four open World's Grand Championships and five stallion World's Grand Championships in the World's Championship Horse Show.
Imperator (1974–1997) was an American Saddlebred show horse. He won four Five-Gaited World's Grand Championships and eight Gelding Championships at the World's Championship Horse Show, besides four five-gaited Grand Championships at the National Horse Show. He retired to the Kentucky Horse Park after the end of his show career and when he died was buried there.
Rex McDonald was an American Saddlebred stallion. He was only beaten three times in his show career and had an influential career as a sire.
Tom Bass was an American Saddlebred horse trainer. Bass was born into slavery, but became one of the most popular horse trainers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Bass trained the influential Saddlebred stallion Rex McDonald, as well as horses owned by Buffalo Bill Cody, Theodore Roosevelt, and Will Rogers.
Bourbon King was an American Saddlebred stallion. He was known for being the founding sire of the popular Chief family of Saddlebreds.
Valley View Supreme was a chestnut American Saddlebred by Genius Bourbon King, out of Diana Gay. He has proven in both America, and South Africa, that he is the greatest son of Genius Bourbon King.
Earl Teater (1905/06-1972) was an American Saddlebred horse trainer. He was best known for showing the stallion Wing Commander to six World's Grand Championships, although he later won another World's Grand Championship on Dream Waltz.
Mary Gaylord McClean is an American horse breeder, horse owner and exhibitor, businesswoman and philanthropist. McClean owns and shows American Saddlebred horses and Hackney ponies, on which she has won multiple Championships. Many of her philanthropic ventures are horse-related.
Elisabeth Goth is a horse breeder, horse exhibitor, and businesswoman. She owns Elisabeth Goth, LLC in Kentucky and raises, shows and sells American Saddlebreds. She has won multiple awards and Championships in the horse industry. She is the vice president of the United States Equestrian Federation.
Redd Crabtree (1935–2015) was an American Saddlebred horse trainer. Crabtree, the son of notable Saddlebred trainers and saddle seat riding teachers Helen and Charles Crabtree, who owned Crabtree Stables, won three Five-Gaited World's Grand Championships and multiple World's Championships in the World's Championship Horse Show. He was president of the United Professional Horsemens Association, vice president and a director of the American Saddlebred Horse Association and was inducted into three Halls of Fame. Redd Crabtree died on January 19, 2015.
Breaking News is an American Saddlebred horse who won the Saddlebred Triple Crown in 2008, meaning he won the five-gaited stake in the Lexington Junior League Horse Show, the Five-Gaited World's Grand Championship in the World's Championship Horse Show, and the five-gaited stake in the American Royal Horse Show in the same year.
Boucheron was an American Saddlebred horse who won the Five-Gaited World's Grand Championship in 2004, the same year he won the five-gaited stake classes in the Lexington Junior League and American Royal Horse Shows, making him a Saddlebred Triple Crown winner.
Top of the Mark is an American Saddlebred horse who won the Five-Gaited World's Grand Championship in 2016 and 2017. He was named a Horse of Honor by the United States Equestrian Federation in 2016.
Michele Macfarlane is an amateur horse trainer from the United States, who competes in the sport of saddle seat. She has been one of the leading amateur trainers and riders in the sport for over 40 years. Macfarlane resides in San Diego, California and is Marshal for the Scripps Miramar Ranch Saddlebreds parade unit.
