St. Louis National Charity Horse Show

Smiling young girl competitor atop horse

The Ins & Outs of Saddlebred Week:

Whup, Trot! After being created by generations of selective breeding in the United States, the American Saddlebred has come to be known as “the horse America made.” These horses are known for their beauty, talent, spirit and versatility. This special week of events highlights this versatility. Spectators will see horses ridden in Saddleseat, Huntseat and Western disciplines, and horses and Hackney ponies pulling carts and buggies.

For exhibitors converging at the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show, Saddlebred Week is filled with numerous exciting and prestigious events. St. Louis hosts five National Championship Events for American Saddlebred Pleasure Horses thanks to Saddle & Bridle magazine, and the beautiful Shatner Country Western Pleasure Championships culminating the week on Saturday night. For equitation enthusiasts, we are pleased to host the Saddle & Bridle Pleasure Medallion Finals and MHSA Junior Saddle Seat Equitation Medallion.

Horses will demonstrate varying gaits from big, strong trots to slow steady jogs. Others will showcase the smooth slow-gait and exhilarating rack. Horses and ponies are judged on manners, performance, conformation and quality, depending on each class. Saddle seat equitation, however, is judged on the rider’s abilities and presence. It is an open division.

Open Jackpot Stakes classes were back in 2017 for the Fine Harness, Three-Gaited and Five-Gaited Horses, along with the $5,000 Ruth and R.S. Palmer Memorial Five-Gaited Stake drawing open five-gaited horses from across the country.

2018 Special Features:

The St. Louis National Charity Horse Show is proud to offer a new saddlebred class, Folds of Honor, which will take place on Thursday evening class 58.1. This class will feature “Veteran” Three Gaited Show Pleasure American Saddlebred horses, 11 years and over. To honor and showcase the longevity and competitiveness of the American Saddlebred, and in appreciation of our military veterans, this new division is being introduced to promote our seasoned American Saddlebred show horses. Learn more here.

More new classes have been added, included a 3-gaited show pleasure veteran and roadster under saddle. Learn more here.

For exhibitors and guests who want to get their glam on, Fetzer Face will be in St. Louis! For appointments, contact Ling Fu Wylie at dragonsmeade@aol.com. Raffle tickets for a Fetzer Face will be available during the show ($25 per ticket).