The American Saddlebred

History

History The 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 Kentucky Kentucky 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 Fund To 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?

Today 90 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 Uses The breed’s use has evolved from war horse to riding and light harness horse to show horse The 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 Show This year the World’s Championship Horse Show had 1,599 total horses compared to 1,563 in 2010 The World’s Championship Horse Show draws entries from throughout the United States The FREE webcast/VOD (produced in partnership with USEF) promotes the show and the breed The show is webcast throughout the world South Africa • Australia • New Zealand • Germany • Asia

KSF Webcast Statistics - 2011 Viewership was up by 542% in year-to-year online video attendance The webcast was played 58,766 times The average viewing time was 58 minutes 56,809 hours of video were delivered to viewers throughout the week Live results, news, and photos were also available on the video player

Current American Saddlebred Statistics

American Saddlebred Statistics Approximately 75,000 American Saddlebreds are registered in the United States today Applications for registration are down significantly for most breeds Both the American Quarter Horse and the Arabian breeds showed significant declines in registration American Saddlebred registrations are up in 2011 over 2010 Overall the American Saddlebred breed has suffered from the same decline as many other breeds While 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. Statistics Stallions reporting in 2010: 581 Mares bred in 2010: 3,224 ASHA membership: 7,244 Stallions reporting in 2010: 118 Mares bred in 2010: 1,535 ASHAS membership: 878 ASR and ASHA Kentucky Statistics

Breed Incentives

Breed Incentives To promote interest in the breed, the American Saddlebred Registry has sponsored a variety of programs that incentivize the Saddlebred owner…

ASR Futurities Prize programs for young horses Futurities 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 Sweepstakes The 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 National Created 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 Program Designed 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 Awards Designed to acknowledge, reward, and promote the versatility of the American Saddlebred Open to purebred and Half-Saddlebreds Disciplines include: Dressage • driving • hunter/jumper •eventing • distance riding

Saddlebred Select Honors and acknowledges the achievements of registered American Saddlebred horses Points are earned at competitions approved by USEF Horses enrolled in the program earn points toward three levels of achievement: bronze, silver, and gold

ASR Pleasure Horse Awards Designed to recognize outstanding American Saddlebred pleasure horses Awards are given annually on a national state basis by ASR to pleasure horse champions Winners 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 Program Points are award at USEF recognized shows Upon earning enough points, the prefix “CH” or “CH-EQ” is acquired Designed to provide a reference source of current and accurate information concerning: The breeding records of Saddlebred stallions and mares To identify successful breeding combinations To identify and honor the outstanding performers of the show ring To keep the history of the breed

Breed Publicity

Breed Publicity The 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 Endeavors Breed magazine published four times per year Annual breeders’ reference directory Equestrian Life free lesson promotion Blaze Magazine Saddlebred feature