What's the difference between a saddlebred and a saddle horse?

Question

What's the difference between a saddlebred and a saddle horse?

Answer 1

A Saddlebred horse (note the capitalization) is a specific breed of horse;  this is the web page for the registry association:  http://www.asha.net/

Saddlebred horses were specifically bred to have very high-action gaits.  At the trot, they are capable of lifting the hooves of their front legs to be on a level with their elbows, with their knees almost on level with their muzzles.  Some Saddlebreds are 5 gaited, having two pacing gaits, the rack and the slow-gait, in addition to the walk, trot and canter.  

Saddlebreds were the equine equivalent of the fancy automobile in the 1800's.  They were bred to look flashy and stylish, and were used under saddle by the "landed gentry."  They were also used as light harness horses, either as singles or teams, to pull roadsters or light carriages or other driving vehicles.  A team of saddlebreds in fancy harness is a sight you have to see to appreciate.  Gleaming and stepping, high, they are the epitome of grand style.

A saddle horse is any breed of light-legged horse (as opposed to draft horse) that can be used under saddle.  A Quarter Horse can be a saddle horse.  So can a Thoroughbred, and Arabian, a Morgan, or any other light horse.