saddlebred

The saddlebred was descended from the Narraganset Pacer, the breed that Paul Revere rode during his famous ride, and American Horses such as those Daniel Boone rode through Cumberland Gap into Kentucky.

After the war of 1812, it was important for people in Kentucky to have good saddle horses.  They were a large part of the development of settlement in the Ohio Valley.

The first horse show, on record, was held in Lexington, Kentucky in 1817.

By 1846, and the Mexican War, the American Saddlebred was an established breed of horse.  They were great in war.  They gained even more fame during the Civil War, when famous generals rode them- including stonewall Jackson, Lee, and Grant.

Increasing popularity and the commercial value of Saddlebred horses caused the formation of the breed association and registry to occur in the 1880's.  American Saddlebreds are excellent jumpers, carriage horses, and dressage- and actually can be trained to handle almost any task.