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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 are important and should be taken into
consideration. The average height is 15 to 16 hands and the weight 1,000-1,200 pounds. HEAD—well-shaped with large, wide-set expressive eyes, gracefully shaped ears set close together on top of the head and carried alertly; a straight
face line with a relatively fine muzzle and large nostrils and a clean and smooth jaw line. NECK—long, arched and well-flexed at the poll with a fine, clean throatlatch. WITHERS - well defined and prominent. SHOULDERS—deep and sloping. BACK—strong and level with well sprung ribs. CROUP—level with a well carried tail coming out high. LEGS—The front leg should set well forward under the shoulder. The line of the hind leg, in a natural stance, should be vertical from the point of the buttock to the back edge of the cannon bone. The forearms and hindquarters are well muscled to the knees and hocks. Legs are straight
with broad flat bones, sharply defined tendons and sloping pasterns. HOOVES—good and sound, open at the heel, neither toed in or toed out. TO BE PENALIZED: lack of Saddlebred type, coarse or plain head, roman nose, round jaws, lop ears, wide ears, small eyes (pig eyes), short neck, straight neck, ewe neck, thick hroatlatch, flat withers, sway-back, roached back, hollow chest, straight shoulders, crooked legs, calved knees, over at the knee, bow legs, rough joints, round bones, straight pasterns, splay feet or pigeon toes, contracted heels, base stance too wide or too narrow, sickle hocks, cow hocks, dished feet, lack of muscle tone, thinness, obesity, rough coat or overall lack of conditioning. These and any other defects attributable to heredity must be penalized.
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