Standard of Excellence

Breed Standard of Excellence

¨ Ears (well shaped, neat, fine, alert, out of top of head, pointed, set close together)

¨ Eyes (wide-set, large and expressive)

¨ Muzzle (fine with large nostrils)

¨ Head (straight face line and a clean smooth jaw-line)

¨ Neck (long and upright, supple, well-crested, throat-latch clean, head well set on)

¨ Withers (high, muscular, well finished at the top, extending well into the back)

¨ Front Legs (sinewy - when viewed from the front: a vertical line from the point of the shoulder should divide

the leg and foot into two lateral halves; viewed from the side: the same line should pass through

the centre of the elbow joint and the centre of the foot)

¨ Front feet ( round, uniform, straight, frog large and elastic, heels wide)

¨ Pasterns (long, sloping, at a 45 degree angle, smooth and strong)

¨ Knees (straight, wide, deep, strongly supported)

¨ Forearm (long, broad, muscular)

¨ Chest (medium-wide, deep)

¨ Shoulders (very long, 45% angle preferred sloping yet muscular)

¨ Back (short, straight, strong, broad)

¨ Croup (Long, level, smooth)

¨ Tail (comes out high from back, well carried)

¨ Hips (broad, round, smooth)

¨ Thighs (full, muscular)

¨ Gaskins (broad, muscular)

¨ Hocks (straight, wide, point prominent, deep clean cut, smooth, well supported)

¨ Cannons (short, broad, flat, tendons sharply defined)

¨ Hind Feet (slightly less round than in front, uniform, straight, sole concave, frog large and elastic, heels wide and full)

¨ Hind Legs (viewed from rear: a vertical line dropped from point of buttock should divide the leg and foot into

lateral halves; Viewed from the side: the same vertical line from the point of buttock should touch

the hind edge of the cannon from the hock to the fetlock)

¨ Flank (deep, long, full flank, not tucked, low underline)

¨ Ribs (well sprung, long, close)

Breed Standard of Excellence

(current with the National American Saddlebred Horse Society of Australia)

The ideal American Saddlebred is well-proportioned and presents a beautiful overall picture.

The animal should be in good flesh, with good muscle tone and a smooth glossy coat.

Masculinity in stallions and femininity in mares is important.

All colours are acceptable the most common are bay, chestnut, brown,

black, buckskin, palomino, pinto and greys

To find out more about the American Saddlebred breed please go to the

National American Saddlebred Horse Society website at the following link: www.americansaddlebred.org

No part of this website (including and without limitation, the design, text, graphics or other material comprised within it) may be reproduced, transmitted

(including broadcast), communicated, adapted, distributed, sold, modified, published or otherwise used

except as permitted by statute or with the prior written consent of the authors.