If you are a Saddlebred enthusiast, own a saddlebred, or have any involvement in the saddlebred industry whatsoever, you have at least heard some rumblings of the mess going on within the ASHBA (American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association). That is, unless you’re living under a rock somewhere very remote, then maybe you’re actually better off. I try to keep my distance from drama, but if you’re at all involved, you can’t really ignore everything that is happening. The board, the members, everyone from the “elite” to the “nobodies” and all in between are ready to throw hands over who is right and what is to be done about it. This is, in my opinion, the boil finally coming to a head after many years of festering infection below the surface.

In 2024, the KY State Fair decided USEF should not be the governing body over the World Championship Horse Show, even though the ASHBA had a contract with USEF for the prize programs held within the World Championship. However, the ASHBA does not own the rights to the World Championship Horse Show, the KY State fair does. And so, the Ky State fair did what they do, and said to hell with ASHBA’s contract with USEF and went with another governing body for the show. ASHBA responded by moving the prize programs to the Indianapolis Charity Horse Show in Sept 2024. Many big barns didn’t attend WCHS as a result. From there, it has just spiraled. Some big breeders, one in particular, are calling out the ASHBA on their standard practices and demanding more transparency. As part of that uproar, new bylaws for the association were proposed. I’m not an attorney and I don’t really understand a lot of the lingo or the process, but now it’s coming down to membership casting votes on “keeping things as they are” (NO) or “doing something new” (YES) at the annual meeting in February 2025. Some trainers have posted videos stating their reasons for voting NO, the association has sent out documentation encouraging people to vote NO, and I’ve seen a lot of breeders and members speaking out that things need to change so voting YES is the answer. Both sides make very good points and arguments for their reasoning.

I’m over here thinking everyone looks ridiculous and this is pathetic. It’s all absurd and it is a really bad look for our breed as a whole that the people running the show are all fighting with each other. It makes us look like fools. ALL of us. Worse yet, NO ONE wins. What is most critical is, no matter what, the horses are the ones who lose. The horses, who someone chose a mare and stud and intentionally chose to bring them into the world. The powers that be in the association are too oblivious to even realize all of this bickering is hurting everyone and helping no one. Both sides are so focused on the “who’s who” and the “world champions” that they could give a rats ass about anything or anyone else.

Every chance the Association (and/or the Saddlebred museum-which is yet another conversation) gets they send solicitations wanting donations or for you to attend some exorbitantly priced fundraiser or go to a convention or event in some fancy place hundreds of miles away. And if you can’t? Well, you’re a nobody and you’re part of the problem. Or at least, that’s how it feels.

The other side has been caught stating if there’s not a world champion in every one of their foal crops, it’s considered a failure. Imagine saying those lives, who didn’t ask to be here, are failures because they are not in the top 1% of their breed. That sounds a lot like if humans were to say kids who don’t grow up to become president are failures. That everyone else is useless.

Will the “new” board and “new” bylaws change any of that? I’m still not convinced.

As an AOT who has seen the best and worst of this industry and the people in it in the last 35 years, I don’t even know what to think anymore. In some ways I feel like I should stick with the devil I know, but in other ways, I think a change might be for the better. I love the breed.  Some of the people I have met in this industry are the best I’ve ever met.  Some are literally the worst.  The upper echelon of this breed and the association seem not to want me, people like me, horses like mine.  It’s frustrating and disheartening and there are so many times I just want to give up, but I love the saddlebred and somehow that’s always managed to be enough for me. Even when every turn has an obstacle, every show has politics, many shows come with a price tag I can’t afford, and it gets worse year by year. 

Not to mention the price of a saddlebred coming out of a show barn these days.  Imagine paying for one individual horse what some people don’t even pay for their entire home (over the course of a 30 year mortgage). Then imagine people having one of those for every division for themselves, or their kid, or both and they are paying $1200-$1500 per month each for training, not to mention any other associated costs (shows, vet, farrier, chiropractor, massage therapist, magnawave, and the list goes on and on and on). Hello! The training bill for one horse alone is more than my monthly mortgage payment on a home that didn’t cost a fraction of what one of those horses did. THOSE are the people this industry wants. Those high dollar horses are what this industry wants. The resounding feeling I get is if they aren’t those, they are not good enough. And if they aren’t good enough, they’re thrown away. Shunned. Frowned upon. Thought as “less” and worst of all, forgotten.

Let’s be honest here. The “less than” horses are probably about 75% if not more of the entire population of Saddlebreds walking this earth, and therein lies the problem. Preach you want to grow the breed. Preach versatility. Preach your love for the saddlebred. But then ignore every person and every horse who isn’t showing and winning at the top breed shows and at the World Championship level. Remember, this is the same “World Championship” for this breed promoted as so versatile, where people had to fight tooth and nail to get ONE western class (qualifier and championship) and ONE hunt seat (qualifier and championship) flat class. Then, the same horses show in both qualifier and championship because they take so few they don’t need to eliminate anyone. THEN, “they” act like that was such an accomplishment when there are saddleseat classes of all types and age groups for DAYS. It’s so difficult for the western and hunt horses to even qualify to go there that you basically have to kill your horse, yourself, and your bank account by trotting through every open gate you can get to at every show in the country to even stand half a chance. But that’s yet another conversation.

Something needs to change. I’m not saying the proposed “new” bylaws are the change that’s needed, but over and over again, people have spoken up and over and over again, the ASHBA has changed… nothing. They have continued to cater to the elite people, the elite horses, and “forget” everyone else. People are feeling it and that is where the conflict is.

This past year has been very eye opening and as I said before, it’s not a good look for the breed as a whole from any side. Considering the controversy surrounding our breed, our training practices, the “look” of our horses, how we treat and more importantly how we educate people about our breed matters. As someone who has been involved with the saddlebred since I knew what one was, I still feel like an “outsider” and feel unwanted in the industry I’ve been a part of for the better part of 3 decades. The conflict and divisiveness just pushes me further away.  What do you think that does to people who are looking at the Saddlebred as a potential breed to become involved in? What taste do you think that puts in their mouths? It probably tastes like the soap my mom used to wash my mouth out with as a kid when I said something ugly. Infact, it probably tastes worse.

It’s so sad for the horses. Ultimately losing people like me only hurts the horses in the end. People like me are the majority, and the elite are a fairly small group if we’re being honest. People like me give that 75% a place to go. People like me can’t afford top horses, but would go hungry any day of the week just so some of that 75% could eat well. People like our rescue and repurpose organizations who take in the “not good enough” ones and repurpose them into someone’s best friend, someone’s best lesson horse, someone’s favorite trail mount, the next great eventer, or the fanciest dressage mount, despite those horses being thrown away by their breeders and trainers and despite them meaning nothing to those whose opinions “matter” in this industry.  It seems like the well being of the horses, and having a place for everyone, would be good for everyone. The feeling I get though, is “everyone” isn’t “someone” to the ASHBA and every horse doesn’t deserve to be represented if it doesn’t cost 3 normal people mortgages to buy.

So don’t mind me over here. I am just a measly little AOT, a nobody, sitting here in my modest home with my small personal barn where my 2 throw away horses I train myself live because I can’t afford any different. Myself and my husband have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice a LOT to even afford that, and I realize it’s a privilege. One I am very grateful to have. However, I’m still patiently waiting for the governing association that holds the registration papers for my two “lesser than” saddlebreds to get their shit together; To be better, do better, and practice what they preach. Include us. ALL of us. The world champions down to the throw aways. Embrace all disciplines and encourage everyone. We ALL matter and it’s time that is realized, otherwise, I fear the future for this wonderful breed.

Here’s where I stand, outside looking in at the ASHBA: Look down on “us” if you want, but you know what? That says more about you than it does about us. Ignore the crazy ramblings of a nobody: You’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember. Exclusivity has put your numbers on the decline for years, but isn’t that what you wanted? To be exclusive? To exclude people like us? If that wasn’t the intent, it sure was the result. If you want that to change, inclusiveness is something you should consider. Whatever changes or bylaws supports that, that’s where my vote goes.

All that to say, I vote “OTHER” and why can’t that be an option?