THE AMERICAN SADDLE HORSE 



III 



strong and clean, and the cannons rather short, but with 

 clean, strong bone and well-detached tendons. The pas- 

 terns are a little long and sloping. The feet are of 

 medium size, hoofs elastic and the heels well spread and 

 well developed. 



In weight the Saddle horse is rather variable, though 

 on the average they run from 950 to 1,050 pounds. The 

 standard height is 15 

 hands 1% inches to 

 15 hands 2J/2 inches, 

 though as with 

 weight, height is also 

 exceedingly variable. 

 The solid colors, such 

 as bays, blacks, 

 browns and chestnuts, 

 predominate, though 

 all colors are occa- 

 sionally found. 



Classes of Saddle 

 Horses. — There are 

 three classes of Sad- 

 dle horses : The walk- 

 ing horse; the walk, 

 five-gaited or true 



Fig. 68. — American Saddle Horse 

 Colonel" 



'Kentucky 



trot and canter horse; and the 

 American Saddle horse, to which 

 may be added others, as the hunter, high school horse, 

 cavalry horse, polo pony, and the like. The walk- 

 ing horse is well schooled at the running-walk gait. 

 The walk, trot and canter horse is well educated at the 

 three gaits, while the true-gaited Saddle horse is required 

 to go five gaits. He must be able to walk, trot, rack and 

 canter, and for the fifth he may choose any one of the three 

 slow gaits, the running-walk, fox-trot or slow-pace. The 

 hunter is usually able to go most of the saddle gaits, and 

 in addition is well trained at the jump, while the high 

 school horse, in addition to going all the saddle gaits, is 

 well educated in many fancy steps. 



