The American Saddlebred Horse

Children's Literature

In the early 1700's, American colonists bred thoroughbreds with Narragansett Pacers to create a mix called the American Horses. Today they are called American Saddlebred horses and they are renowned for their sweet temperament, their graceful movements, and their smooth ride. This book is divided into four chapters. The opening chapter talks about the saddle bred ancestors. Chapter two discusses the gait, rack, and personality features of the breed. The third chapter covers the training, as well as the show divisions and types of classes. The last chapter, entitled "Saddlebreds in Action," contains information about the World's Grand Championships, Dressage, and Show Jumping. The illustrations are mainly color photographs but also include a nineteenth century painting of a military horse. In the center of the book, a photograph of a saddle bred is shown, with arrows pointing out the different parts of the horse. The back matter contains a "Fast Facts" section, a glossary, a short bibliography, a list of related internet sites, and an index. This book is part of Capstone Press/Edge Books' "Horse Breed" series, which includes the titles The American Paint Horse, The American Quarter Horse, The American Saddlebred Horse, The Appaloosa Horse, The Arabian Horse, The Belgian Horse, The Clydesdale Horse, The Friesian Horse, The Lipizzan Horse, The Morgan Horse, The Percheron Horse, The Shetland Pony, The Spanish Mustang, The Tennessee Walking Horse, and The Thoroughbred Horse. 2005, Capstone Books/Edge Books, Ages 8 to 10.
—Sally J. K. Davies