The American Saddlebred typically ranges between 15 and 17 hands high, and carries a refined head and a long, arching neck.

The American Saddlebred, the Racking Horse, and the Standardbred are all linked by a single breed, the Narragansett Pacer. But you won’t cross paths with this breed on the trail. Today, the extinct Narragansett Pacer’s only proof of existence is the bold step of its descendants.

The origins of this small, hardy horse are unclear. Some sources cite the English and Dutch horses that first arrived in the new world in the 1600s. Others attribute Irish and Scottish ancestry. Little visual evidence of the breed exists, but the Narragansett, named after the Rhode Island bay where it was initially bred, is believed to have been a stout, less-than-handsome equine, typically chestnut in color.

Throughout the 18th century, these horses were preferred over other mounts for their smooth step, strong feet, and endurance. However, as colonists’ transportation needs evolved, the demand for the breed’s comfortable gait slowly diminished. Around the same time, Spanish colonists of the Caribbean islands began to heavily import the breed, leaving even fewer numbers on the mainland.

Despite the Narragansett’s disappearance sometime before 1900, its bloodlines were absorbed by more recent breeds, including the Canadian Pacer, the Morgan Horse, the Tennessee Walking Horse, and the three breeds described here.

Opt to Adopt

"There are probably 1,000 Saddlebreds out there right now that need to be adopted," says Saddlebred Rescue founder Pat Johnson, noting that Standardbreds are equally at risk for a questionable fate. Although the nonprofit is considered a rescue organization, Johnson stresses that the horses haven’t necessarily been starved or abused. Once they’re brought to the Blairstown, New Jersey, facility, the horses are retrained and cared for, then put up for adoption. Johnson notes that while the Saddlebreds are most commonly placed as lesson horses, they also excel on trail. "We’ve found that they make absolutely wonderful horses that will basically go anywhere you aim them," she says. And now, you can help Saddlebred Rescue and indulge in a good read at the same time: A portion of the proceeds of the Hoofbeats & Heartstrings, a horse-oriented romantic-novel series by Teri Wilson (Wild Rose Press), will be donated to the nonprofit. For more information on Saddlebred Rescue, call (908) 304-3560, or visit www.saddlebredrescue.com. For more on Hoofbeats & Heartstrings, call (210) 824-3314, or visit www.teriwilson.net.

American Saddlebred
The paintings and textbook images that we now associate with our country’s Revolutionary War are scattered with horses charging through battlefields. It was around this time of rebellion that the "American Horse" was born.

These animals had maintained the Narragansett’s easy gaits, but the athleticism and size of the Thoroughbred were steadily introduced, creating a new, definite type of horse. The developing breed continued on as part of our country’s history — pioneers of the new frontier, strugglers of the Civil War, and competitors in the World Fair’s first national horse show (in 1856) all relied on this American Horse. Thus, the Saddlebred is known as "The Horse America Made."

In 1891, the National Saddle Horse Breeders’ Association, now known as the American Saddlebred Horse Association, became the first organization for an American-bred horse. Gait was an essential factor in the breed’s development. The registry was extended to horses that successfully demonstrated the "saddle gaits" — the rack, running walk, fox trot, and the slow pace (a bilateral stride not to be confused with the Standardbred’s speedier pacing step).

Today’s American Saddlebred ranges from 15 to 17 hands, and is typically less stocky than earlier horses. Its head is refined with small ears, a long, arching neck, and withers situated higher than the hips. The breed offers a range of gait abilities; while some horses are capable of all five gaits, not all modern Saddlebreds are gaited.

Although the breed’s popularity in the show world continues, the Saddlebred is gaining popularity among trail riders who appreciate their combined energy and level-headed disposition.

"They’re that perfect in-between," says Lida Pinkham, creator of the American Saddlebred Sport Horse group online. "On the trail, people say, ‘Boy, it must be great to have a family sedan when you need it and a sports car when you want it!’"

Throughout a lifetime with horses, Pinkham fell in love with the Saddlebred’s disposition and agility while honing her skills in dressage. But when she bought Whitehall’s Doctor Joe eight years ago, her interests began to change.

"Doc will do dressage, but he prefers the trails," Pinkham says. She’s moved several times over the years, enabling the pair to explore a range of trail-riding delights, from the carriage trails of Blowing Rock, North Carolina, to the open range of Bar Harbor, Maine, to the endless paths of Brown County State Park, Indiana.

Along the way, Doc has proved to be the ideal partner. "He’ll go over, under, or through anything, and he never panics in tricky situations," says Pinkham. What’s more, Doc’s unending alertness and perked ears have earned him the title of "watch horse."

"He’s never surprised by anything," Pinkham says. "You always know something’s out there ahead of time, because Doc will give the warning."

Kim Ross and her Racking Horse, Little Miss Dangerous, gracefully tackle trail obstacles. â¬SI can trust her on the side of any mountain,⬝ says Ross.

Racking Horse
"Once you rack, you never go back," declares Margie Smith of New Oxford, Pennsylvania. Like all Racking Horse owners, Smith swears by the breed’s gaited abilities and personality, declaring it the perfect mount for a trail rider who’s ready to cover serious ground.

The Racking Horse’s gaits date back to the pre-Civil War era. A closely related breed, the Tennessee Walking Horse, was created over time by breeding Narragansett Pacers with American Saddlebreds, Standardbreds, Canadian Pacers, Morgans, and Thoroughbreds.

Over time, the Walking Horse diverged on the basis of two signature gaits, especially the running walk, a four-beat, smooth lateral gait characterized by several inches of overstepping and a head nod.

Other breeders chose to develop the rack. This bilateral gait also possesses four beats, but the natural rack is more collected. Because only one foot strikes the ground at a time, the rack became synonymous with the term "single-foot." The gait is energetic, relying on considerable work from the hindquarters and shoulders as the horse seemingly jumps from one foot to the next.

"It’s like pistons and an engine," says Smith. "You cover a lot of distance. And there are so many speeds, you don’t have to worry about leads or posting. You move along, but you never miss seeing nature."

According to Smith, the distinct natural gait of the Racking Horse isn’t to be confused with "the rack"— a gait, as cited by the Racking Horse Breeders’ Association of America, that’s artificially achieved through special training and that other breeds can perform.

Today, the Racking Horse is well-boned, with a sloping neck, full flanks, smooth legs, and finely textured hair. In 1975, the Racking Horse was declared the state horse of Alabama.

In 1998, Smith and several other members of the RHBAA created Rack Across America, a trail-mileage program for all registered Racking Horses.

One enthusiastic RAA participant is veteran trail-rider Kim Ross. After her doctor prescribed smooth-gaited mounts after she had back surgery, she’s relied solely on Racking Horses. She now owns seven of the breed. "The whole family is getting involved," she says, noting that in recent years, four generations of women in her family have shared the trails.

One trail challenge that Ross and her husband, Steve, look forward to each year is the Shore-To-Shore Ride, organized by the Michigan Trail Riders Association. Their favorite trail partners, Little Miss Dangerous and Wind Walker, have smoothly guided them across the state of Michigan seven times. The ride has allowed them to rack up well over 1,000 hours with the RAA, and they’re still going strong.

"I can’t say enough about the breed," says Ross. "They’re dependable, durable, versatile, great-natured horses that you can easily enjoy a smooth trail ride on. I’m 46 years young, and I’ve owned a lot of different breeds. I love Racking Horses the best."

Then there’s trail-rider extraordinaire Randy Davisson. "I didn’t initially set out to set a world record," says the 71-year-old. But he did.

From July 2000 to April 2005, Davisson and his dual-registered Racking Appaloosa, Eli Whitney, trekked the trails of all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Canada’s 10 provinces and two territories.

The adventure started with Davisson’s interest in the heritage that fueled the Appaloosa Horse Club’s Chief Joseph Trail Ride. He was also intrigued by the Indian Shuffle, a lateral gait that was characteristic of the early Spanish Appaloosas, the natural step that ties Eli to the Racking Horse breed.

After his brush with Native American culture, Davisson continued on his quest to see the rest of North America. He spent the next five years trailering and boating to each trail-riding destination, using The Trail Rider’s "Where-to-Ride Guide" to find places to rest along the way.

Eli proved to be the perfect horse for the challenge. Through the tropics of Hawaii and the forests of California Redwoods, Davisson says that Eli’s rack carried them over logs and under trees for hours on end.

"He’s no quitter," says the proud owner. "When the going got tough, when those trails got steep, he kept going."

After her Standardbred mare, Shay, was given time to recover from her life before adoption, owner Kysa Gilkerson says the mare became the worlds greatest trail horse.

Standardbred
Shay arrived at Kysa Gilkerson’s home in a cattle trailer, bruised and beaten up. "She was afraid of people, which isn’t typical of Standardbreds," says Gilkerson. At age 14, the bay mare had already endured a year on the harness racetrack and a decade at a Canadian PMU farm.

Before the two were united at the Gilkersons’ dairy farm in Brookings, South Dakota, the rider had known the horse only through an Internet transaction. But, she says, she simply had a good feeling about the mare when she saw her picture.

For the next two years, the Gilkersons guided Shay on a steady road of recovery. "She was in poor shape and required a lot of TLC, but she really bonded with us, trusted us, and became the world’s best trail horse," says Gilkerson. In honor of her strength and ability to start a new life, they named the mare Shay, the Gaelic word for "admirable."

Laura Adams’ experience with Standardbred adoption had a slightly different beginning, but an equally positive outcome. The Michigan resident’s curiosity about the breed struck after her hoof-care practice led her to several Standardbreds that didn’t quite fit the stereotype of a hot, retired racehorse. She contacted New Vocations, a leading organization in Standardbred and Thoroughbred adoption, and selected Mountain Melody, a striking gray mare, as her new trail partner.

"She was a 4-year-old off the track, and was represented exactly the way she arrived," she says. Attributing the animal’s level-headed and "dead broke" personality, Adams was able to train Melody under saddle right away.

Both owners agree that the Standardbred breed is one of the best-kept secrets in the world of recreational and trail riding. "They’re so underrated as pleasure horses," says Adams. "They’re perfect for people who have some experience but want to start a horse under saddle on their own."

Not only do the Standardbred’s gaits assure a comfortable ride, but the breed also possesses a serious work ethic. "Shay loves to be on trail," says Gilkerson. "She goes farther and faster just because she wants to please me."

The history of the Standardbred is strongly tied to harness racing. The breed’s name comes from the sport’s early days, when horses were required to achieve a standard 2½-minute mile to be registered. Unlike the tonier Thoroughbred racing, Standardbred harness racing emerged on country roads and city streets.

Standardbreds became known as both "trotters" and "pacers," according to the gaits they could perform. The trot, a diagonal gait, is performed at record speeds. The pace, in which the foreleg and hind leg on the same side move in unison, is the breed’s faster, more common gait.

The breed was created by crossing Thoroughbreds, to maintain the speed; Narragansett and Canadian Pacers were used to secure the trotting and pacing gaits. The combination of breeds resulted in a horse that resembles the refined Thoroughbred in many ways, but slightly smaller, more muscled, and possessing a larger head and longer back.

In an effort to ensure happy endings like Melody’s and Shay’s, the United States Trotting Association promotes the well-being of retired racehorses. "We’re very active in supporting the Standardbred retirement groups by providing funds and resources as much as possible," says director of communications Nicole Kraft. "They’ve served us well and they deserve to have a productive and positive future."

In 1996, the USTA created the Standardbred Equine Program for its nonracing membership. The program’s Equine Membership offers noncompeting members help with identifying horses, retraining tips, and other resources. The Medallion Program, similar to a trail-mileage program, gives members the opportunity to earn rewards for recording their time spent training and riding.