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Days in Horse Country – National Show Horse
Originally a cross between the Arabian and the Saddlebred,
the National Show Horse is now its own registered breed. With the grace of the Arabian and the
showiness of the Saddlebred, the National Show Horse is the quintessential
exhibition horse.
The breed was considered a crossbred until the early 1980s, when a group of fanciers established a registry. Today, horses that are at least 25 to 95 percent Arabian, with the remainder being Saddlebred, are eligible for registration.
The National Show Horse is a flashy animal with a long neck, high-stepping action, and considerable spirit. The head is relatively small and the eyes are large. The tail is high set and carried up when the horse is working. National Show Horses come in all colours seen in the Arabian and Saddlebred.
The breed is shown in halter, country pleasure, English pleasure, Pleasure Driving, Fine Harness, Western pleasure, hunter pleasure, show hack, and equitation. Three-gaited classes are also popular, as well as five-gaited events.
Michael