The American Saddlebred. History The breed dates back to the 1600s and is a mixture of English Thoroughbred, Morgan, Narraganset and Canadian Pacers.

The American SaddlebredThe American Saddlebred

History

HistoryThe breed dates back to the 1600’s and is a

mixture of English Thoroughbred, Morgan, Narraganset and Canadian Pacers

It played an important role in the development of the country; also a favored mount in the Civil War

In 1891, General Castleman and others founded the Saddlebred registry in Louisville, Ky. (the American Saddle Horse Breeders Association)

From 1891 to present, the registry has kept strict records, and it is the oldest breed registry in the United States

The American Saddlebred and Kentucky

The American Saddlebred and KentuckyKentucky is prominently featured in the history

and future of the American Saddlebred The American Saddlebred Association has

benefited from it’s Kentucky roots and location: with the wonderful Kentucky Horse Park facility

which has brought together breeds and disciplines at the Park and is home to the American Saddlebred Museum

with the exposure of the breed during the Kentucky State Fair, World Games and hopefully, the National Horse Show

The Kentucky Breeders Incentive FundTo date, Kentucky has awarded more than

$464,000 to Kentucky breeders, owners, and stallion owners whose stallions stand in Kentucky

Kentucky-bred American Saddlebreds competing in selected classes at Kentucky competitions receive added prize money from the fund

Where are we today?

Today90 years after inception the original registry changed its

name to the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA)

Located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, ASHA is a 501(c)(3) corporation

ASHA’s responsibility is for the education and promotion of the breed

The American Saddlebred Registry (ASR) is a 501(c)(5) corporation

ASR’s responsibility is for maintaining the registration of horses and ensuring the purity and integrity of the breed

ASR was the first breed registry to adopt the use of DNA testing

Breed Uses

Breed UsesThe breed’s use has evolved from war horse to

riding and light harness horse to show horseThe Saddlebred is the “peacock of the show ring”Since 1902 the World’s Championship Horse

Show has been the most important Saddlebred show of the season

Saddlebreds have historic importance to the National Horse Show

ASHA had 322 registered competitions for 2011, in 2010 there were 296, and in 2009 there were 260

World’s Championship Horseshow

KSF World’s Championship Horse ShowThis year the World’s Championship Horse Show

had 1,599 total horses compared to 1,563 in 2010The World’s Championship Horse Show draws

entries from throughout the United StatesThe FREE webcast/VOD (produced in

partnership with USEF) promotes the show and the breed

The show is webcast throughout the worldSouth Africa • Australia • New Zealand • Germany •

Asia

KSF Webcast Statistics - 2011Viewership was up by 542% in year-to-year

online video attendanceThe webcast was played 58,766 timesThe average viewing time was 58 minutes56,809 hours of video were delivered to viewers

throughout the weekLive results, news, and photos were also

available on the video player

Current American Saddlebred Statistics

American Saddlebred StatisticsApproximately 75,000 American Saddlebreds are registered

in the United States todayApplications for registration are down significantly for most

breedsBoth the American Quarter Horse and the Arabian breeds

showed significant declines in registrationAmerican Saddlebred registrations are up in 2011 over 2010Overall the American Saddlebred breed has suffered from

the same decline as many other breedsWhile other breed association memberships have suffered

as much as a 20% decline according to AHC information, ASHA’s membership has held flat to slightly down

ASR and ASHA U.S. StatisticsStallions reporting in 2010: 581Mares bred in 2010: 3,224ASHA membership: 7,244

Stallions reporting in 2010: 118Mares bred in 2010: 1,535ASHAS membership: 878

ASR and ASHA Kentucky Statistics

Breed Incentives

Breed IncentivesTo promote interest in the breed, the American

Saddlebred Registry has sponsored a variety of programs that incentivize the Saddlebred owner…

ASR FuturitiesPrize programs for young horsesFuturities award purses made up of entry fees

paid to the program over a period of time by participants

In 2011, more than $192,000 was awarded in ASR Futurity classes

ASR SweepstakesThe American Saddlebred Sweepstakes Program

is designed to perpetuate the breeding, training and showing of the American Saddlebred horse and bring new people into the industry

In 2011, more than $170,000 was awarded in ASR Sweepstakes classes

ASR Grand NationalCreated to generate excitement in owning and

showing the American Saddlebred by offering additional prize money for Grand National recorded horses

Grand National has awarded more than $2.9 million since its inception

Sport Horse Incentive ProgramDesigned to identify and reward owners of

registered Saddlebreds and Half-Saddlebreds competing in Sport Horse Disciplines

Horses registered with ASR or HSRA competing in: dressage • driving • endurance/trail • eventing • show jumping/hunters • reining are eligible for $15,000 in prize money

Sport Horse Year End AwardsDesigned to acknowledge, reward, and promote

the versatility of the American SaddlebredOpen to purebred and Half-SaddlebredsDisciplines include:

Dressage • driving • hunter/jumper •eventing • distance riding

Saddlebred SelectHonors and acknowledges the achievements of

registered American Saddlebred horsesPoints are earned at competitions approved by

USEFHorses enrolled in the program earn points

toward three levels of achievement: bronze, silver, and gold

ASR Pleasure Horse AwardsDesigned to recognize outstanding American

Saddlebred pleasure horsesAwards are given annually on a national state

basis by ASR to pleasure horse championsWinners are awarded custom-made coolers, are

recognized in the American Saddlebred magazine, and are recognized at the ASHA Convention/Annual Meeting held each February

ASR Saddlebred Record/Equitation ProgramPoints are award at USEF recognized showsUpon earning enough points, the prefix “CH” or

“CH-EQ” is acquiredDesigned to provide a reference source of current

and accurate information concerning:The breeding records of Saddlebred stallions and

maresTo identify successful breeding combinationsTo identify and honor the outstanding performers of

the show ringTo keep the history of the breed

Breed Publicity

Breed PublicityThe Association takes its responsibility of

promotion very seriously. In addition to the webcast at KSF, it also

webcasts select sales to promote interest in the purchase of Saddlebreds.

Tattersalls Fall Sale Fall 2011 Sale: 6,118 plays 7,272 hours delivered 1 hour, 11 minutes watched ON AVERAGE per view 2,348 unique individual plays of the video 3,024 unique people visited the page Top 5 countries: US, Canada, UK, Kenya Germany Fall 2010 Sale: 1,846 unique viewers 6,056 hours delivered 1 hour, 2 minutes watched on average per view Top countries: US, Canada, UK, Germany Top cities: Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, Charlotte,

Charleston, Nashville, Minneapolis, New York

Other Promotional Endeavors

Other Promotional EndeavorsBreed magazine published four times per yearAnnual breeders’ reference directoryEquestrian Life free lesson promotionBlaze Magazine Saddlebred feature