History of the American Saddlebred
            
             The American Saddlebred is famous for its beauty, intelligence, endurance and lofty action. The breed is considered the peacock of the show ring because of its flashy high action gaits, its strikingly long arched neck, and high set tail. As few written records were kept in early US history, little is known of the complete origins. However, through various pieces of information the puzzle of how this remarkable horse was bred has been put together to give some understanding on how this remarkable horse came to be. The beginning of the American Saddlebred began in 500 – 1500 A.D. in the British Isles. The Ancient English Pacer, developed in the Middle Ages, became the basic blood foundation for the American Saddlebred. In the northwest coasts of England and Ireland, Vikings
             used these regions as staging areas for their long journeys. The English Pacer soon were transported by the Vikings to Iceland where they remained as the Icelandic horse. This breed is known for its speedy rack and pace. Pace in this sense does not refer to the Standardbred movement but as an amble, single foot movement.
             Colonists to America brought with them the Hobbies and Galloways (all ancestors of the English Pacer) to America in the early 1600's. These early breeds developed through selective breeding and better nutrition in Rhode Island and Virginia. The idealized Narangansett Pacer, named after the famous Rhode Island coast Narangansett Bay, formed from the Hobbies and Galloways. The breed became very popular because of its smooth gait. This breed became a commercial product where they were sold to Spanish plantation owners in the West Indies. The horse was also imported into Canada and began to be bred to Thoroughbred Stallions. Eventually the breed died out in the colonies. Paso Fino's, Morgans, and Standardbreds can all attribute their heritage to this breed. It is also thought that the Narangansett...