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National Show HorseAmerica's Newest Breed |
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National Show HorseAmerica's Newest Breed |
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The National Show Horse is a new breed of horse being developed which utilizes the distinguished bloodlines of the American Saddlebred and the Arabian. The blood content for the National Show Horse may range from 75% Saddlebred to 99.9% Arabian.
It is a young breed, but in a relatively short time, it is producing a large quantity of horses representative of the type and high quality outlined in the "breed standard" adopted in 1981 by the National Show Horse Registry at the time of its inception.
The Arabian traces its ancestry back into the annals of history. Its regal bearing, delicately shaped head and expressive eye can be seen in paintings and tapestries depicting the earliest years of Eastern civilization. Its beauty has been typically described in the written word over the centuries.
The American Saddlebred is the product of the combination of several breeds and includes in its lineage the Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Morgan and the Arabian. Over many years, the best feature of these horses were refined through careful breeding to produce the intelligence, animation, brilliance, stamina and show ring presence which was to become officially registered in 1891 as the American Saddlebred.
Almost exactly ninety years from the establishment of the American Saddlebred Association, the Registry for the National Show Horse was initiated. Breeders have again drawn on the bloodlines of other breeds to produce a horse of recognized show ring ability and appeal, the National Show Horse.
The National Show Horse Registry strives to produce an athletic horse which retains size, beauty and refinement. Specifically, the following traits are desirable:
a) Motion - Balance and obvious power from the hind quarters flowing into an elevated front end, the front legs showing both flexion and extension;
b) Neck - Very long, set high on the shoulders and relatively upright with fine throatlatch. The neck should be shapely, but without a pronounced crest;
c) Head - Relatively small, short and refined with large eyes and small, well placed ears and a straight or slightly concave profile (a "Roman nosed" or convex profile is not desirable);
d) Pronounced withers and a very deep and well laid back shoulder.;
e) Proportionately short back closely coupled with a long hip and relatively level top line (moderately sloping croup not to be penalized);
f) Legs - Correct from all angles with long forearms and short cannon bones in front end and long, well-angled pasterns front and rear;
g) Refinement of bone, but not lacking in substance, especially in the chest, girth, shoulder and hip;
h) A relatively high-set tail, natural and flowing;
i) When observed at rest or in motion, the horse must exhibit a natural presence and, when animated, extreme brilliance. The horse must exhibit high carriage when showing or relaxed.
The National Show Horse Registry is celebrating is 10th Anniversary this year (1992). From the beginning, the concept was, and remains that the Arabian- Saddlebred cross would produce an exciting and dynamic show horse.
This wasn't a new concept, but what was new was the decision to turn this cross into a specific breed. This new breed would combine the grace and beauty of the Arabian with the show ring charisma of the Saddlebred. The ultimate goal is to produce a high performance, low maintenance, affordable show horse.
Three types of stallions and three types of mares can produce National Show Horse offspring - Arabian, Saddlebred and National Show Horse. Each must be registered with its respective registry and the offspring must maintain a minimum of 25% Arabian blood, but less than 100%.
The National Show Horse is to be a conformationally correct animal with the ability to perform at a high level of ability and achievement.
There has been steady and continuing growth in the breed. Today there are 972 nominated sires, more than 9,200 registered horses and a membership that had grown to 5,500 from an early base of about 1,800.
In the very beginning, open registration was allowed in order to form a nucleus of the new breed. This meant that any registered half-Arabian could become a registered National Show Horse. However, in order to maintain the integrity of the breed where parentage from both sides is verifiable, open registration was soon closed.
The next step was to establish eligibility for registration based on Arabian and Saddlebred bloodlines. In the early days of the Registry, National Show Horses eligible for registration were foals resulting either from breeding a Saddlebred stallion to an Arabian mare or vice versa, and with National Show Horse also being bred to National Show Horse.
In 1984, because of the unchanging goal of the Registry has been to create a new breed, the requirements were changed so that the Arabian blood requirement was lowered to 37 1/2%. In 1987, that figure was modified to 25%, thus providing breeders with some latitude in making their breeding choices.
The National Show Horse Registry has adopted the most economical, simple and all inclusive approach to registration of foals. It costs $250 to register a National Show Horse foal, but this registration makes the horse eligible to earn prize money throughout its lifetime. One registration payment covers all, and currently includes a subscription to the National Show Horse Magazine.
The National Show Horse as a breed is growing rapidly and based on this growth, there can be no other conclusion but that is not only a pleasure to own and exhibit - it is the rising star in a breed of animal that has captivated mankind for centuries.
Three types of stallions and three types of mares can produce National Show Horse offspring -- Arabian, Saddlebred, and NSH. Each must be registered with its respective registry and the offspring must contain a minimum of 25 percent Arabian blood, but less than 100 percent. The horse has to be a conformationally correct animal with the ability to perform at a high level of ability and achievement. They strive to produce an athletic horses which retains size, beauty and refinement.
Traits that are desireable are: Motion - Balance and obvious power from the hindquarters flowing into an elevated front end, front legs showing both flexion and extension. Neck - Very long, set high on the shoulder and relatively upright with fine throat latche, neck should be shapely but without a pronounced crest. Head - Relatively small, short and refined with large eyes and small, well placed ears and a straight or slightly convex profile. Pronounced withers and a very deep well laid-back shoulder. Proportionately short back closely coupled with a long hip and relatively level top line (moderately sloping croup isn't penalized). Legs - Correct from all angles with long forearms and short cannon bones in front and long, well-angled pasterns front and rear. Refinement of bone but not lacking in substance, especially in the chest, girth, shoulder and hip. A relatively hig-set tail, natural and flowing. When observed at rest or in motion, the horse must exhibit a natural presence and, when animated, extreme brilliance. the horse must exhibit high carriage when showing or relaxed.
Beside solid colors acceptable in the breed, there are many pinto colored horses registered.
In the early days (1980s) open registry was allowed in order to form the nucleus of the new breed. This mean that any registered Half Arabian could become a registered NSH. By breeding an Arabian to a Saddlebred or vice versa, the offspring war registered in order to maintain the integrity of the breed where parentage from both sides is verifiable. This was soon closed. The requirements were changed so that the Arabian blood requirement was lowered to 37 1/2%. In 1987 that requirement was changed to 25% to provide breeders som latitude in making their breeding choices.
In 1986 the National Show Horse was recognized by the American Horse Show Association as a specific division, complete with its own judgess' educational clinics. The National Show Horse is also recognized by the American Horse Council as a breed.
The National Show Horse Registry has shows throughout the nation with their finals usually held in Omaha, Nebraska.
For more information on this exciting new breed, contact: The National Show Horse Registry, 11700 Commonwealth Dr., Suite 200, Louisville, Kentucky 40299. (This information obtained from the National Show Horse Registry.) Or, visit:
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© 1997-2007
NW Breyer Horse Club & Refiner of Gold Creations Equinealities in place since 1997, Section in place 2001, Updated 3/13/2007 |
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