SS riding for "Average Americans"

[Michelemarrano]

HI Folks.... I lease an ASB lesson horse at a training/lesson barn near Columbus, Ohio. I really enjoy this barn as it is a "middle class" barn full of pleasure SS riders. Those that do show tend to stick to the Academy classes.

We have a number of ordinary, average guys who ride at this barn. A few of my co-workers (non-horsemen) who are middle aged men in a blue collar profession have asked me for my trainer's business card and her hours of operation as they are intrigued by the history of the Saddlebred and they visualize SS riding as the style of riding of our officer class of the Civil War and WW I cavalry. These guys are interested in riding and at this phase in their lives they have the means financially and timewise. They are not interested in the show aspect of riding.

I have ridden both hunt seat and Saddleseat; I stopped riding when my gaited mare passed in 1994 when I was starting my family. I just started riding again last year and I find that the SS lessons I've had in the last year have enabled me to ride with comfort, ease and confidence that I never had...ever....and...at times I'm the only female "student" in the group lesson!

Many of us who have ridden hunt seat (and...I'm also a distance cyclist) and are nearing fifty find that the erect riding positions of dressage and SS are just simply more comfortable as our backs become less flexible over time. I ride our lesson horse once a week in SS tack and I find that this one hour of riding completely "irons out" my back and neck after 5 hours in a week on a road bike and in the blue collar work that I do.

Is there a way we can include in our breed's promotional materials, including Saddlebred Rescue, if we could picture "average Joes" and "Ethel Merztes" in street clothes (no jodphurs) riding ASB's for fun? How about shots of guys riding ASB's in Civil War reinactments? Kids in sweatpants?

What are your thoughts?

[rider]

I think that's a great idea! We know an older gentleman in our area who also does reenactments and then brings the same horses to all the shows and rides in as many classes as possible. While his horses wouldn't be great promotional tools for the show horses, he would be awesome as the pleasure rider showing versatility

[Tazsprout]

there are regular guys riding SBs on saddlebredsarefun.com and I am always looking for more! Look in the trail riding section. I agree that the more photos we have of people trail riding and doing "regular" things with SBs, the better!

[GottaDrive]

This all sounds wonderful!

Nearly every owner, breeder, or trainer wants to see saddlebreds used in the recreational and non traditional markets. All recognize that every horse cannot be a show horse. On a day to day basis they do everything possible, as individuals, to help this happen. No one wants to send horses to auctions.

Most barns are willing to work out leases, shared use or ownership, and other programs that make it possible for more families to participate in equestrian sports.

However, it is incredibly important for all to understand that, at least for now, having a supply of ASBs for recreational use, carriage driving, or other non traditional uses largely depends on the show horse market. If its healthy, horses will always be available. If its not healthy people cannot afford to breed and train ASBs for these other programs. The economics simply do not work out. Not because of anything we do or do not do but because of the incredibly large supply of available horses when you add in other suitable breeds.

[wilkinak]

I just saw this, but my read on the orignal post is "Do we have any publications showing saddleseat in street clothes, as opposed to the full show habit?" Not "let's showcase the versatility of the breed." If that was the intent of the OP, I have the same question. If not, I'll just keep quiet.

[getupasb]

I think it's a good idea. I have ridden at plenty of barns where there were people (particularly older, middle-aged folk) that would come to ride saddleseat just for fun with no intention of showing. People do it at my current barn and they do it at my old barn as well. I think there are a lot of saddleseat barns that have casual saddleseat riding for that reason, just nobody hears about it because saddleseat is so competitive--everybody just hears about the WC horses. :l Those pictures would be nice.

Speaking of sending pictures in for promotional materials;
I was told by somebody that I should send some photos in to the Saddlebred Museum for their up-and-coming versatile Saddlebred section. How do I do that?

[Michelemarrano]

Thanks for the feedback on this topic...I hope I'm not beating a dead horse (no pun intended)...

Does anyone here ride SS just because they find it comfortable? I started as a kid in a Western saddle (rode bareback when possible) and after my first English experience at age 14 never rode in a Western saddle ever again. My timeline is then Hunt Seat---Saddleseat---Hunt Seat....Nothing (20 years)....Saddleseat again.

I'm also a recreational cyclist (road bikes) and found that I take a narrow saddle on a bike due to narrow 'sit bones'. I prefer a skinny road bike over a nubby mountain bike (again..."English" vs "Western") . Perhaps this is why I find SS and ASB's so much more comfortable than other riding styles. I've been very sore after riding QH's on fox hunts due to their wide torsos and the knee rolls of jumping saddles.

My favorite equestrian experience is to simply ride a Saddlebred at all gaits (preferably all FIVE of them---I hope to slow gait and rack one more time before I die) in open fields, wooded trails, country lanes...etc. For that, I wear sweatshirts, old khakis, paddock boots and a helmet. DH rides in jeans and sneakers. DD rides in sweats.

Does anyone else do this?

[janders]

getupasb....look in the members tab at the top of the page for KimASB, and send her an email. She is coordinating the exhibit.