Off to the Texas State Fair!

I am leaving tomorrow to cover my first American Saddlebred horse show as Editor for Saddle and Bridle Magazine. www.saddleandbridle.com I could not be more excited than I am! So I thought I would show you a bit of what I am going to see and the breed of horses that stole my heart!

Here is Big Tex in all his glory!

Fried Coke????? Okay - I may have to try this since our office diet begins on Tuesday the 18th of September!

THE AMERICAN SADDLEBRED HORSEThis is a Saddlebred being shown "in hand". One handler runs beside the horse, showing the horses natural motion and gaits, while a second handler (not shown in this photo) runs behind the horse to keep him moving forward. This is done with weanling's, yearlings and two year olds.

Here is a weanling being shown "in hand" after they have trotted up and down the rail. He is now posed so that the judge can see his conformation. The mane is completely roached (shaved) off so that nothing is hidden.

This horse is being shown in Fine Harness. We break our horses to drive before they are broke to saddle. Again - notice the natural motion!

This is my friend Susan Norton, showing her horse Snow Fooling in a Parade class. Saddlebreds make the most wonderful parade horses because they prance. They are naturally fearless and are taught to move forward through unfamiliar situations. BTW - that silver saddle set weighs in at more than 250 pounds!

This is a champion 5 gaited Saddlebred performing at the rack. Please notice that we do not put huge shoes on our horses to "make" them use their legs. Saddlebred's are bred to have their necks set higher up on their backs, therefore freeing their shoulders, allowing them to easily raise their legs much higher than low headed horses such as Quarter Horses.

Here is a gorgeous grey Saddlebred performing the trot. Again - notice the high animation. Saddlebreds come in all colors - even pintos!

This Saddlebred is being shown in Hunt Seat. Some of the riding styles we show our horses in are Hunt Seat, Side Saddle, Western Pleasure and most commonly Saddleseat.

Here the Saddlebred is being shown in the discipline of Western Pleasure.