Tuesday 16 August 2011

THE BEAUTIFUL, VERSATILE AMERICAN SADDLEBRED


ARGUABLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HORSE BREED IN HISTORY (AND IN THE OPINION OF MANY, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL EVER CREATED BY GOD), THE SADDLEBRED’S VERSATILITY AND USEFULNESS IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

Because the top of  the breed is more well known in the show ring, the Saddlebred (unjustly) carries a lable of a breed which can only be trained and ridden by the most professional horsemen.
Truth is, almost all (a rough estimate would rate it at 90%) of these exciting horses are as docile (and more intelligent) as most other breeds. Few breeds are as responsive to training, and trainers who are familiar with Saddlebreds seldomly get along with other breeds. The reason these horses create the image of “wild excitement”, is because they are capable of creating the most exciting image of all animals, when called upon to do so. Yet they are among the most adaptable of all equine breeds.
There is hardly a purpose which the Saddlebred cannot serve, depending upon the way it has been trained. And despite being one of the most beautiful horse breeds ever in existence, the intelligence and docile disposition of this breed makes it almost unique.
These photos will give the reader a cross section of the many purposes which the Saddlebred can adapt to.



A BEAUTIFUL SADDLEBRED OF HIGH QUALITY BEING HANDLED BY A SMALL GIRL, PROVING THE WONDERFUL DISPOSITION OF THIS BREED.


BECAUSE OF ITS EXTREME BEAUTY, NATURAL MOTION AND SUPERB DISPOSITION THE SADDLEBRED IS AN EXCELLENT DRESSAGE HORSE. AS A DRESSAGE HORSE IT CREATES A PICTURE FEW OTHERS CAN COMPARE WITH.


ARGUABLY THE ULTIMATE PICTURE OF BEAUTY IN HARNESS. FEW BREEDS, IF ANY, CAN MATCH THE PICTURE THE SADDLEBRED MAKES IN HARNESS, YET THEY ARE WELL BEHAVED AND DISCIPLINED BECAUSE OF THEIR NATURAL DISPOSITION


IT IS NOT HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHY MANY HORSEMEN ARE IN LOVE WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL HORSE


THREE GAITED. CAN ITS BEAUTY BE MATCHED? 



BECAUSE OF ITS INTELLIGENCE AND DOCILE DISPOSITION, THE SADDLEBRED IS AN EXCEPTIONAL TRAIL HORSE


A COMBINATION OF BEAUTY, DISPOSITION AND ADAPTABILITY – IN ITS ROLE AS TRICK HORSE


EVEN GOING WESTERN – AND STILL EXCELLING IN ITS ROLE


THE MOST WELL KNOWN ROLE OF THE SADDLEBRED – THE EPITOME OF THE EQUINE WORLD: THE FIVE GAITED SADDLEEBRED. ARGUABLY THE MOST EXCITING, ELECTRIFYING EQUINE IN HISTORY. TO THOSE WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS BREED, ITS THRILLING PERFORMANCE IS UNEQUALLED.


BEAUTIFUL, EXCITING, BUT SUITABLE FOR A LADY. AN UNEQUALLED COMBINATION OF DOCILITY AND BEAUTY. IMAGINE THE THRILL THIS LADY GETS FROM DRIVING SUCH A UNIQUE ANIMAL


SADDLEBREDS ALSO MAKE EXCELLENT JUMPERS

CAN ANOTHER BREED MATCH THE SADDLEBRED FOR BEAUTY, VERSATILITY, ELECTRIFYING PERFORMANCE, DISPOSITION.
CAN ITS OWNERS BE BLAMED FOR CALLING IT THE ULTIMATE EQUINE?

READ MORE INTERESTING ARTICLES ON HORSES http://www.thehorsecity.com/ws/articles/

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Thursday 11 August 2011

HISTORY OF THE MAGNIFICENT S.A.VLAAM

HISTORY OF THE S.A.VLAAM

Strange as it may seem, the Vlaamperd (Flemish Horse) did not develop in Flanders, but in South Africa. During the 19th century a distinctive type of horse came into being in the former Cape Province, namely the "Hantam Horse", which was developed through the use of good quality Arabian and Thoroughbred stallions imported by Lord Charles Somerset in 1820's.

After the end of the Anglo - Boer war in 1902, some Friesian stallions were imported to South Africa by a Cape Town funeral undertaker. Apparently there was a prohibition on the exportation of Friesian horses from Holland by the Dutch authorities at the time. To evade this regulation, the Friesian horses were shipped from the Belgian harbour of Antwerp. As a consequence, these Friesian stallions were called "Vlaamse perde", referring to the port of their departure. The name became generally accepted in the common language and also became the preferred term when referring to the offspring of these early imported stallions. These Friesian stallions were used on the Hantam and other local mares and the progeny eventually became the foundation stock of a new South African breed.

It must however be stressed that the Friesian was not the only breed to play a role in the creation of the SA Vlaamperd.


An imported East-Friesian/Oldenburg stallion by the name of "Kemp" had a great influence on the breeding of the Vlaamperd in South Africa. There also was an infusion of some Cleveland-bay blood and even today, some of the Cleveland-bay can still be observed in certain Vlaamperd horses.


A famous stallion, "Scheepers", bred and owned by the family van der Merwe of Kwaggasfontein, Sutherland (1930's) and sold in 1942 to Mr. H. Serdyn from Riebeek West in Boland, had the greatest influence on the breeding and development of the Vlaamperd.


The Vlaamperd breed had its origin in the Western Cape, which is considered to be the mecca of this breed.


The Vlaamperd is a truly dual-purpose horse. In harness it is almost peerless, with its graceful conduct and stylish high stepping action, while as a saddle horse its eminence is well-known to the most fastidious riders.


The Vlaamperd is extremely adaptable in single and double harness, as a team of four and a team of eight. Its beautiful appearance and docile disposition, together with other qualities, make the Vlaamperd a very popular breed, for showing as well as for festivals, weddings and tourism. The main colour found in this breed is black, though pale-black and dark brown are allowed with mares. 

The ideal however remains a black horse. The Vlaamperd's height is between 14.2 hand and 15.2 hand. It is a lightweight horse with a fine bone structure.


The SA Vlaamperd Breeders' Society was formed in Bloemfontein in 1983. The South African Vlaamperd is an established, independent breed and is considered a precious asset of South Africa that deserves greater recognition.

VLAAM MARE 1970'S VLAAM MARE 2011
VLAAM MARE 1970'S MODERN VLAAM MARE 2011

VLAAM 4 IN HAND VLAAM SINGLE HARNESS
4 IN HAND
SINGLE HARNESS