National Show Horse Registry
10368 Bluegrass Parkway
Louisville, Kentucky 40299
www.nshregistry.org
By combining the beauty of the Arabian with the high-stepping action of the American Saddlebred, a magnificent horse called the National Show Horse is born. It harmonizes these two distinct horses by projecting grace, stamina, agility, and charisma. Its character and flowing athleticism enthrall show ring crowds wherever it competes.
The grounds for the breed’s inception was to meet a growing need within the equine industry for beautiful show horses with athletic ability, new excitement and incentives in the show ring, and a broader base for the show horse world. The National Show Horse Registry (NSHR) has proven since it was founded in 1982 that the combination of Arabian and Saddlebred is perfect to meet that need, creating a breed with classic show ring style and presence. These two basic breeds, bred through a variety of bloodline combinations, have produced a show horse that continues to surpass even its own standards.
The NSHR was established in the best interest of the show horse industry for promotion of the English-type horse. Founders were not satisfied just to have a registry for their new breed. They also wanted to generate broader public appeal and encourage the amateur equestrian athlete. by creating a new atmosphere in the show ring reflecting the excitement produced by the horses themselves.
A magnificent National Show Horse with high-stepping action. Courtesy Cindy Clinton
The National Show Horse is also appealing as a horse the whole family can become involved with, as its versatility underlies its popularity. Whether devoted exclusively to exhibiting the breed, or including it as part of an overall horse program, producing National Show Horses can be an exciting and profitable venture.
Outstanding Competitors
The evolution of the National Show Horse is evidenced in the show records of today’s champions. One of the greatest nominated National Show Horse sires was Night of Roses, a World Champion three-gaited Saddlebred stallion that won his championship in the walk/trot division for junior horses. He consistently passed on his personality, carriage, and structure to his foals that were winners in nearly every division at National Show Horse Finals. Of the 123 registered foals he sired, 49 won ribbons in National Show Horse classes—nearly 40 percent. Collectively, they won over $209,000 in prize money, making Roses the National Show Horse High Point Sire from 1995 to 2001, and again in 2007.
Two of the most successful National Show Horses in NSHR history are Power of Love and Second Editions Debut. Power of Love, a black bay National Show Horse gelding foaled in 1989, competed in almost every division the NSHR offered at the time. Frequently, he was a champion in the Five-Gaited, Three-Gaited, English Pleasure, Fine Harness, Pleasure Driving, and Halter classes, and he did this not only in the open divisions, but the amateur division as well. This fantastic animal has show ring winnings of over $136,000.
Second Editions Debut is an elegant gray mare that was foaled in 1993. She competed in the amateur and open divisions throughout her career. Many times a champion in English Pleasure, Pleasure Driving, and Halter, she accumulated over $71,000 in NSHR winnings.
These are just a few of the outstanding representatives about which the National Show Horse breed can brag. National Show Horses are bred to be the ultimate show horse, with the talent and stamina not only to compete at the open level, but also to have enough tenacity to successfully compete with children in the amateur classes.
Eligibility
Once originating as a cross between registered Arabians and American Saddlebreds, offspring can now be the result of registered National Show Horse parents, or a combination of registered parents from those three breeds. National Show Horse stallions that are registered Arabians or American Saddlebreds must be nominated to qualify for breeding use. The resultant foal is eligible for registration if it is a minimum of 25 percent Arabian, but no more than 99 percent Arabian.
Beside the walk, trot, and canter, there are specific classes for five-gaited horses that can slow gait and rack. All the classes a National Show Horse can compete in include Halter, Five-Gaited, Three-Gaited, Fine Harness, Pleasure Driving, Equitation, English Pleasure, Country and Classic Country Pleasure, Show Hack, Ladies Side Saddle, Hunter Pleasure, Western Pleasure, Walk/Trot 10 and Under, and Lead-Line. Horses can also compete in sport horse events including, but not limited to, Dressage, Eventing, Hunter Over Fences, Endurance/Competitive Trail, and Working Western.
In response to the recent explosion in popularity of horse events based on discipline, the NSHR has formed the Show Horse Alliance, which promotes the Saddle Seat English type horse as a discipline. The emphasis is placed more on phenotype than on genotype. One of the goals is to encourage breeders to create an extreme saddle seat type of horse relatively free of blood content restrictions.
There are no shoeing regulations except that soundness of the horse is required. Artificial tails are not allowed, only natural flowing tails.
Standards
The National Show Horse is an athletic horse that contains size, beauty, and refinement. When observed at rest or in motion, the horse must exhibit a natural presence, and when animated, an extreme brilliance. The horse must exhibit high carriage when showing or relaxed.
The very long, high-set neck adds to the refinement of this National Show Horse stallion. Stuart Vesty
The National Show Horse comes in a variety of colors, including pinto and palomino.
Specifically, the following traits are desirable:
• Motion: balanced with obvious power from the hindquarters flowing into an elevated front end, and the front legs showing both flexion and extension. Proper movement is paramount
• Head: relatively small, short, and refined with large eyes and small, well placed ears, and a straight or slightly concave profile (Roman nose or convex profile not desirable)
• Neck: very long, set high on the shoulder, relatively upright with fine throatlatch, and should be shapely, but without a pronounced crest
• Withers: pronounced withers and a very deep and well laid-back shoulder
• Back: proportionately short back closely coupled, with a long hip and relatively level topline (moderately sloping croup not to be penalized)
• Legs: correct from all angles with long forearms and short cannon bones in front, as well as long, well angled pasterns front and rear
• Bone: refinement of bone, but not lacking in substance, especially in the chest, girth, shoulder and hip
• Tail: a relatively high set tail, natural and flowing
• Height: 14.3 to 16.2 hands tall, with some individuals under or over this.
Credit: National Show Horse Registry