Can saddlebreds jump very well?

Question

i am thinking of buying a yearling and training him to jump in big time shows.

[please do not try and discourage me for that or even comment on it because that is not my question]

my friend has saddlebred and she says she would jump the moon if she let her.

but a lady at my stable where i used to ride[til i swithed to a new stable] said saddlebreds are not ment for jumping and don't look nice doing it.

so whos right?

can saddlebreds jump?

if so do most look nice while doing so?

Answer 1

Any breed of horse can jump! Everyone thought my morgan/friesian would never make a great jumper and now he is the best jumper at the barn, everyone loves watching our lessons. Saddlebreds are so smooth that they make fantastic jumpers. They where not really bred to have heavy shoes on and look all fancy in the show ring. Without the shoes, tack, and rider saddlebreds are better at jumping and dressage then saddleseat. Here are some cool pictures of saddlebreds jumping;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30363480@N0...

http://www.americansaddlebredsporthorse....

and a video; http://youtube.com/watch?v=rQyJjHGdF2A

Answer 2

Yes they are very alert and are excellent at it I ride one too!

Answer 3

Yes! Saddlebreds can jump and can look very nice doing it.

I have shown ASBs for more than 20 years now in classes ranging from five gaited to driving to hunter to western. They can do it all. Even though they are nicknamed the Peacock of the Showring, in the past fifteen years the ASHA has really been pushing that they are in deed a versatile breed. Thanks to William Shatner and his family the association now has a wider range of classes for ASBs that do not fit into what are their "normal" classes. Saddlebreds are now being used more and more in hunter pleasure and working hunter classes, and even in dressage, as more shows add these classes to their prizelists.

The thing that has to be looked at here is the individual horse that you are getting. Not all ASBs will jump, or will be good enough to go to the level that you want them to go to. ASBs are typically more easily excitable than other breeds as that is their nature in order to be that Peacock of the Showring, but they will get used to things after desentization with them. That has always been our biggest issue with ASBs jumping is that they tend to be more likely to look at something versus other breeds.

You know that you are taking a risk by getting a younger horse that it is unknown as to what they will become in the future. That is a fact with any person regardless of breed, you never know what you are going to get. That is why when you are looking for something specific it is a great idea if you are set on doing the young horse thing to go to a farm where they specialize in what you are looking for. That way you are more likely to get something that will work for you in the future. Even though I have seen young horses who should be the best at jumping not like it at all or not be able to have great form naturally as they got older.

If you can find an ASB farm that does more hunters, dressage, and three day eventing, your chances of getting a really nice young horse that will fit your needs will be better. Not all horses will jump and do it nicely.... just depends on the individual horse as even full siblings can be completely different on what they do well.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Saddlebreds can jump!  Check out http://www.americansaddlebredsporthorse....

You can see for yourself pictures of saddlebreds jumping and make your own decision about how they look going over jumps. You will also learn about how many saddlebreds are doing different disciplines, and how versatile the bred really is. This is the biggest problem facing saddlebreds is people's closed views of what the bred can do. They are bred to drive from their hocks and have a free shoulder, what happens from there depends on their training and shoeing.

Answer 5

people forget, having a horse is suppose to be  about enjoyment, companionship,and the love  for the horse. If you are competing and theres a rule than follow it, but if not and you just want to have fun and enjoy yourself and you like this horse then go for it...because if this horse has -the heart- to be a jumper....  he will be as pretty at it ,as any other horse.no matter his breed..

Answer 6

any horse can jump

and if they are fast to jumpers with you SDB

i don't think they would rock the hunter world

Answer 7

My saddlebred jumps really well AND looks great doing it! the lady at your stable is just prejudiced, and it just mostly depends on the saddlebred's conformation. any horse can be trained to jump and do just about anything, it really has nothing to do with the breed (unless you were doing something like driving, which would need a bigger horse... whatever)

i say go for it! saddlebreds are usually fast learning with great personalities

Answer 8

Absolutely if a saddlebred is trained properly they can be wonderful jumpers.  Their naturaly upright build and gait actually help them clear the larger fences.  They don't do very well in the hunters because they do not possess the low level headset and relaxed gait that is judged in the hunters.  However as jumpers they can be great horses!

Just this spring at Poplar Place Farm in Hamilton, GA there was a Saddlebred showing in the jumpers.  She smoked them all and never touched a rail.  And this isn't just some little local show, Poplar shows are USEF recognized and attract even olympic riders.

Go for it, and best of luck!

Answer 9

Any horse can jump.  but if you are doing big time shows remember this: you do not train a horse to jump you only cirtique their skills.  My saddlebred filly will jump anything puddles, hay, you name it she jumps it.  

What i'm saying is the horse has to love it that's what makes a great jumper.

Non-gaited saddlebreds jump better than gaited ones.  It depends on the horse if it looks nice doing it, i say go for it but people in the saddlebred world may not like it because its not a breed thing

Good luck

Answer 10

Doesnt matter what breed!!!!!

It all depends on the training of the horse and how it jumps...

Answer 11

Any breed of horse can jump if they want to. I have a morgan horse which I bought from a showing background who had never jumped and he has found that within a year that he loves it! All the saddlebred I know only ever show and it would be great to see people doing other things with them!

Answer 12

Any horse can do about anything you ask, to some extent.

However, Saddlebreds were bred for riding about Plantations for long stretches and hours while providing a comfortable ride.  They are showy and made to exhibit ground-covering gaits.  They were never bred to jump.

You say you wish to purchase a yearling and train it to jump in big - time shows.  I won't ask about or comment on your professional experience starting horses before you embark upon such an undertaking - I hope you understand the level of expertise required in simply starting a young horse at halter and basic movements let alone advanced disciplines like jumping.

If you want to make it to "big time" shows - you better look for a breed that's been developed FOR jumping.  Thoroughbreds for example or Warmbloods are the breeds one sees in big time competition.

You did not say your friend says her Saddlebred is bred to jump - only that she said the animal enjoys it and "loves" it.  So I have to say neither one is right - because your freind isn't saying the Saddlebreds are the best to jump nor that they should, only that her particular one will jump if requested.

Also, why are you worried about what a horse looks like?  Jumping when done properly, looks nice - the breed of the horse does contribute to how well it can perform jumping maneuvers - therefore, the best animals developed for jumping and properly trained will look the best.  Pretty is as pretty does.

Answer 13

They can but usually don't get very high. There body isn't really made for it, therefore they don't look very pretty 90% of the time. There are the once in a lifetime exceptions, but if your looking to get a baby with no background of being able to jump i wouldn't. My best breed for you would be some sort of warmblood, american, dutch, danish, belgian. Most of these are very quite making them easy to train and they have a really good body for jumping. Making them upper level horses and very scopey jumpers. Hope I am to some help to you.

Answer 14

Ya!Duh they can jump!

Answer 15

It depends on the individual horse. Saddlebreds are not bred for jumping and they probably don't look good doing it, but that doesn't mean that they can't. Personally, I would buy an older horse that has at least started jumping so that you know s/he enjoys it. If you buy a yearling, there's a good chance that he might not like jumping. Also if youre breaking a horse you might want to get your friends help. Unless youve been with horses for years, I would get an older horse. Here's a video of a Saddlebred jumping: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6b3twOfC... Good luck finding the right horse and keep in mind  that it's going to take helluva lot of work to make it to those big shows.