1. The American Saddlebred

2. History

3. 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

4. The American Saddlebred and Kentucky

5. 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

6. 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

7. Where are we today?

8. 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

9. Breed Uses

10. 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

11. World’s Championship Horseshow

12. 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

13. 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

14. Current American Saddlebred Statistics

15. 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 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

16. 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

17. Breed Incentives

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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. Breed Publicity

28. 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.

29. 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

30. Other Promotional Endeavors

31. Other Promotional Endeavors
Breed magazine published four times per year
Annual breeders’ reference directory
Equestrian Life free lesson promotion
Blaze Magazine Saddlebred feature