CHAPTER XXXIV 

 THE KENTUCKY SADDLE HORSE 



^ I ^HE Kentucky saddle horse Is often described as 

 -■■ the most beautiful horse in the world. He is an 

 animal of great quality, with a small head, long, slim 

 neck, fine, sloping shoulders, rather long legs, small 

 feet, and quick, lively gait. The origin of the breed 

 is largely thoroughbred, with a considerable mixture 

 of Morgan, trotting horse, and pacing blood. Among 

 the famous saddle stallions that trace In the male line 

 to Justin Morgan are Cabell's Lexington, Coleman's 

 Eureka, Peavine, and Indian Chief. 



The Kentucky saddle horse is usually spoken of as 

 the representative American saddle horse ; but the name 

 of the Kentucky association Is "American Saddle 

 Horse Breeciers' Association." It is a national asso- 

 ciation and was formed In 1891. The list of founda- 

 tion sires was revised In 1902 and later still was cut 

 down to the single horse that heads it, namely, the 

 thoroughbred, Denmark. The real founder of the 

 now famous Denmark saddle family Is, however, not 

 Denmark, but his son, Gaines' Denmark, out of a mare 

 whose breeding has never been established. It is as 

 misleading to make Denmark the foundation sire as it 

 would be to describe Abdallah Instead of Rysdyk's 

 Hambletonian as the founder of the trotting family, or 

 True Briton Instead of Justin Morgan as the founder 



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