American Saddlebred Gaited Performance

Basic Overview

There are five different divisions for showing American Saddlebred: Five Gaited, Three Gaited, Show Pleasure, Country Pleasure and Park.

Five Gaited

Entries to be shown with a full mane and tail. Braids are permitted in the forelock and front of mane. Horses are shown at the walk, trot, slow gait, rack and canter both ways of the arena. Horses are judged on brillance of action, with energy directed toward speed in an animated form. Pads, weighted shoes are permitted, hoof length unlimited. Standing horses are "parked out."

Required Tack
A double bridle consiting of a snaffle and curb bit is preferred. The saddle should be a flat English type with a web or leather girth. Quarter boots are permitted to protect the bulb of the heel of the front legs.

Forbidden
Breast plates, tie-downs or martingales, use of a snaffle bridle only.

Rider
Informal dress is required for morning and afternoon classes. Dark saddle suits may be worn in the evening. Gaudy colors should be avoided. A saddle suit consists of Kentuck jodphurs, jodphur boots, a saddlecoat and vest. A tie is worn and a derby hat. Men wear alternate hats. Women wear their hair pulled back in bun or very small conservative braids tied up. Gloves are preferred on riders.

Horse
Although not required nearly every five gaited horse wears quarter boots on the front legs. This is for protection at the rack. Braids usually match the browband, which is usually a conservative color. Girths are almost exclusively white, and tack coloris deep chocolate brown but other tack color acceptable.

Three Gaited:

Gaits are collected, with energy directed toward animation and precision. Shown with a roached mane and tail. Horses are shown at a animated walk, trot and canter. Standing horses are "parked-out."

Required
A double bridle consisting of a snaffle and curb is preferred. The saddle should be a flat English-type with a web girth or leather girth.

Forbidden:
All boots, breast plates, tie-downs or martingales, or the use of a snaffle bridle only.

Rider:
Informal dress is required for morning and afternoon classes. For evening wear a formal saddle suit or tuxedo with top hat. See above for description.

Horse:
Braids usually match the browband and are of conservative color. Girths are almost exclusively white, tack color is deep chocolate brown but other tack color acceptable.

Current Trend
Showing a 3 gaited horse with a full tail. There is no crossover between Park aand the regular 3 and 5 Gaited Performance and Pleasure Classes.

Show Pleasure

A show pleasure horse should be a typical Saddlebred with appropriate style, conformation, with presense and prompt, comfortalbe gaits, giving the distinct impression that it is a pleasure to ride. Easy-going, ground-covering action is desired. The horse generally has less animation than the 3 or 5 gaited horse. Shown at a walk, trot, canter plus a slow gait and rack in the 5 gaited pleasure class. Special emphasis on a true flat walk. Shown with a full mane and unset tail. Horses are shown in either 3 or 5 gaited pleasure classes. Quarter boots permiited only in the 5 gaited pleasure class. Pads and weighted shoes permitted.

Required:
A full bridle, pelham, or curb and any English type flat saddle.

Permitted
Shoe bands and pads are permitted. Previously set rails are permitted but unset tails are preferred. Braids permitted.

Forbidden:
Stallions; professional riders (Amateurs and juniors only), breast plates, tie-downs, or martingales, hackamores, use of a snaffle bridle only, All artifical devices such as chains etc.

Horse
Braids usually match the browband and are of conservative colors. Girths are almost exclusively white and tack color is deep brown but other colors acceptable.

Rider:
Same as other Saddleseat classes see above description.

Country Pleasure

Note country pleasure classes for 3 and 5 gaited horses generally use the same style rider attire and tack. Horses are less showy than the Show Pleasure Horse but are still good representation of the breed, style, conformation and presence. The following are classes for the Country Pleasure division.

3 and 5 Gaited English Country Pleasure:
Shown at the flat walk, trot and canter, plus a slow gait and rack in the 5 Gaited Class. Quarter Boots only in the 5 gaited class.

Hunter Country Pleasure
Shown at a walk, trot and canter. Judges may ask for an extended trot, hand gallop and a reinback. Regulation snaffle, Kimberwicke, pelham or a full bridle may show all with a cavesson noseband. Forward or blanace English Saddle. No saddlebred braids allowed but hunter braids are. Martingales and colored browbands and colored cavessons prohibited.

3 Gaited Western Country Pleasure
Shown at a flat walk, jog-trot, and canter. Western saddle without taperdos, western bridle with bit; split or romal reins (horses 4 and under may wear snaffle bridle or hakamore. No bandages or botts, artifical devices, martingales and tie-downs allowed. Rider wears Western attire, hat, long-sleeved shirt and or jacket with a collar, necktie or bolo, pants (one-piece equitation suit is allowed) chaps, shot chaps or chinks and boots required. Vest, coat or sweater permitted. There is also a class called the Willaim Shatner Western Pleasure Class that is shown at a flat walk, jog-tot and lop on a reasonably loose reinand otherwise conforms to the 3 Gaited Western Country Pleasure Class.