A saddle seat horse and rider ready to go into a show ring.
Although riders sit upon any type of saddle, the saddle seat is a specific type of riding discipline developed in England and the American south. It is now seen mostly in just certain types of horse shows catering to saddle seat riders. There is an annual Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup that determines the best horses and riders competing in the sport of saddle seat style riding.
Competition
Saddle seat show classes are held on the flat, which means the horses and riders do not go over any jumps. Horse and rider teams walk, trot, canter and any other gait specific for the breed or particular class. The teams then turn around and perform the same gaits in the other direction. The pairs then line up in the center ring. The horses must stand "parked out," which means they stand like a sawhorse. The horses may have to back up or perform another round of trotting at the judge's discretion.
History
Dressage riding with a straight leg was developed in the Middle Ages for the cavalry. Trotting breeds did not come into fashion until the construction of roads in England. The saddle seat saddle, modified from the classical dressage saddle, was made to show off the high trotting action of the horses. But it was in the American South that contributed most to modern saddle seat equitation. Horses were bred to work on plantations and take the Master to church in style. Although the South lost the American Civil War, the plantation culture lives on in saddle seat riding.
Breeds
Horse breeds often shown in saddle seat classes include the American saddlebred, the Tennessee walker, the Arabian, the Morgan, the National show horse, the racking horse, the Rocky Mountain horse and the hackney. These breeds have a level back, a high head carriage and a high trotting action. Other breeds that have been shown under saddle seat include the Friesian and the Standardbred.
Equipment
The saddle is called usually called a "saddle seat," but is also known as a "cutback" or "Lane Fox" saddle. The horses are not shown with a saddle pad. The horses wear a double bridle, or a bridle with four reins. Horses are often allowed to have colored ribbon in their mane braids. Riders must wear outfits of specific colors reminiscent of the American South pre-Civil War days, including top hats, gloves and flared trousers. Female riders must wear makeup.
Controversy
The horses do not naturally lift their legs to the exaggerated heights seen in some saddle show classes, particularly for the highest level of showing in Tennessee Walkers, the Big Lick level. The horses are trained by having them wear chains on their legs, have their hooves grow longer so that they need to pick them up higher and by inserting weighted pads in shoes. This can cause pain, injury and permanent lameness.
Tags: saddle seat, saddle seat, American South, high trotting, high trotting action
