The Spotted Saddle Horse is an American gaited breed from central Tennessee. These horses descend from small pinto Spanish-type horses and are closely related to the Tennessee Walking Horse.
Unlike other gaited breeds developed in the region, all Spotted Saddle Horses have pinto patterns. Their striking colouring and comfortable gaits make them a popular pleasure horse in the southeastern United States.
Spotted Saddle Horses are susceptible to health problems commonly found in related breeds from Tennessee and Kentucky. But with correct management that prioritizes welfare and natural gaits, these horses can have long, successful riding careers.
This breed profile will discuss the history, characteristics, conformation, health problems, and nutritional needs of the Spotted Saddle Horse breed. Keep reading to learn more about feeding and caring for Spotted Saddle Horses.
Spotted Saddle Horse History
The Spotted Saddle Horse, known for its distinctive coat pattern and smooth gait, is a breed that combines beauty with grace of movement.
This breed’s origins trace back to Kentucky and Tennessee, where gaited horses first rose to prominence centuries ago. The Spotted Saddle Horse was developed as a breed that combined the practicality of comfortable gaits with colourful coat patterns.
Origin
The pinto coat patterns seen in American breeds can be traced back to the spotted Colonial Spanish horses brought over by early settlers and explorers. Some horses established feral herds in the Southeastern United States, while others were domesticated by Colonial Americans. [1]
Settlers later brought gaited and pinto horses to the Western Frontier, where ambling gaits were more comfortable to ride over the rocky terrain. American gaited horse breeds likely descend from horses with ambling gaits imported from Spain and England. [2]
Gaited pinto ponies were common in central Tennessee by the mid-19th century. After the Civil War, breeders crossed these ponies with larger gaited breeds to produce more substantial horses.
Tennessee Walking Horses and Missouri Fox Trotters significantly impacted the breed’s development. Other influences include the Paso Fino, Peruvian Paso, and American Mustang.
Historic Use
Spotted Saddle Horses emerged as a distinct breed through the selective breeding of gaited horses with pinto colouring. Ancestors of the breed served practical purposes throughout the region’s history.
Ambling gaits allowed settlers to cover long distances quickly and comfortably on the frontier. These horses also needed the stamina and strength to carry riders over the challenging terrain. Sure-footed horses that could stay sound thrived in these conditions. [2]
The small pinto pony ancestors were versatile all-around mounts used for farm work and transportation. Larger Spotted Saddle Horses served as cavalry mounts in the American Civil War.
Today, the breed is primarily used as a show and pleasure horse. Modern breeding programs prioritize producing an ideal family horse for riders of all ages.
Breed Registry
Breeders formed the first official Spotted Saddle Horse breed organization in 1979. There are two registries for Spotted Saddle Horses in North America: the National Spotted Saddle Horse Association (NSSHA) and the Spotted Saddle Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association (SSHBEA).
The NSSHA has an open studbook that allows the registration of any horse that meets colour and gait requirements. The SSHBEA has additional pedigree requirements.
Breed Characteristics
Colouring and gait are the defining characteristics of the Spotted Saddle Horse. However, these horses often have other traits that help them excel in the show arena.
Conformation
While many of their ancestors stood under 15 hands tall, modern Spotted Saddle Horses have an average height of 14.3 to 16 hands. Ponies over 13.3 hands are eligible for registration, but are not considered ideal.
The modern breed has a light riding type that resembles a slightly stockier and smaller Tennessee Walking Horse. They have refined heads with slightly convex or straight profiles that attach to long, arched, muscular necks.
A muscular chest and long, sloping shoulders connect to a short back and broad hindquarters. Their croups are rounded and sloping with high-set tails.
Gaits
Spotted Saddle Horses must display a smooth four-beat ambling gait. This gait provides a comfortable, rhythmic pace where each of the horse’s four feet touches the ground independently, offering a smooth and steady ride.
Acceptable ambling gaits found in the breed include the rack, fox trot, and stepping pace. Specific gaits vary depending on the ancestry of the horse.
Colours
All fully registered Spotted Saddle Horses must have pinto colouring, defined as a coat featuring large patches of white and any other color, arranged in a distinct and visually striking pattern.
These horses may have any base colour with tobiano or overo pinto patterns. The only colour requirement is that white patches must appear above the hock.
The SSHBEA makes exceptions for parentage requirements for tobiano horses. Tobiano and overo patterns arise from different genetic variations. [3]
Temperament
In developing the Spotted Saddle Horse, breeders aimed to preserve the gentle dispositions and charming personalities of Tennessee’s spotted ponies but with a larger body side. The breed generally has a calm and friendly temperament suitable for families and beginner riders.
However, personalities can vary between individuals. All horses need proper training, handling, and care to support good behaviour.
Disciplines
Both the NSSHA and the SSHBEA breed registries organize shows for Spotted Saddle Horse owners to showcase their horses. These horses can participate in halter, driving, and riding classes judged by their conformation and gait against the breed standard.
Like other gaited breeds, saddle seat is the most popular show discipline for Spotted Saddle Horses. They are also versatile Western and English pleasure mounts, and many owners enjoy these horses for trail riding due to their stamina and smooth gaits.
Health Profile
Spotted Saddle Horses are relatively healthy, but they can inherit genetic diseases found in related breeds. Welfare concerns in the breed contributed to the Horse Protection Act of 1970. But today, most owners prioritize their horse’s care over show results.
Genetic Diseases
Congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) is a common eye disorder in Tennessee Walking Horses, a breed closely related to the Spotted Saddle Horse. A recent study determined a mutation in the CSNB2 gene is responsible this inherited disease. [4]
While there are no published reports of CSNB in Spotted Saddle Horses, the CSNB2 gene mutation has been observed in the breed. This suggests that these horses can inherit this disorder, which causes impaired vision in low light. [4]
Breeds that carry genes for overo spotting patterns are also susceptible to lethal white overo syndrome. This is an autosomal recessive condition, meaning a foal must inherit the defective gene from both parents to be affected. [5]
Foals with two copies of the mutated gene are born with a completely white coat. The syndrome is characterized by severe digestive issues due to an underdeveloped intestinal tract, which eventually leads to colic and death.
There is no cure for lethal white overo syndrome, but genetic testing can help breeders identify carriers of the gene and avoid mating two carriers. [5]
Health Problems
Like all breeds, the health of Spotted Saddle Horses can be influenced by various factors such as their lifestyle, environment, management practices, and feeding program.
Health problems commonly observed in performance horses are often associated with the rigors of competition. For example, research shows that competition horses have a higher risk of gastric ulcers due to their stressful lifestyles, intense training regimens and feeding programs. [6]
Spotted Saddle Horses are also one of the breeds named in the Horse Protection Act of 1970. This law banned the practice of soring, a harmful and inhumane method used to enhance a horse’s gait for show purposes. Soring involves intentionally causing pain to a horse’s legs or hooves to force them to perform an exaggerated high-stepping walk or trot. [7]
Breed organizations now advocate for care and management that prioritizes equine welfare over artificial performance. Practices that support soundness and overall health allow these horses to perform their best and enjoy long careers.
Care and Management
All Spotted Saddle Horses need quality basic horse care that meets their physical, behavioural and psychological needs. Proper management can also prevent health issues associated with intense training and competition.
Work closely with your veterinarian, farrier and other equine practitioners to put in place a preventative wellness program that includes:
- Veterinary Exams: Regular veterinary check-ups are crucial for early detection and treatment of health issues in Spotted Saddle Horses.
- Vaccines: Keep your horse healthy by following your veterinarian’s recommended vaccination schedule.
- Dental Care: Annual dental exams, including teeth floating, are important for maintaining your horse’s dental health. Senior horses with dental issues may require more frequent care.
- Parasite Control: Implement a strategic deworming program to protect your horse from internal parasites.
- Farrier Care: Regular farrier care is essential for keeping horses sound in everyday work.
Identifying lameness in gaited horse breeds is often challenging. Consider adding lameness exams to your horse’s wellness appointment to identify problems before they impact soundness.
Shoeing and trimming should always prioritize ideal hoof balance. Some owners use stacked wedge pads to lift the heel and enhance gaits artificially. However, this practice causes severe alterations in joint angles and is banned in the show ring for all equestrian sports in the US. [8]
Daily grooming can help keep your Spotted Saddle Horse’s colourful coat healthy and shiny. Grooming also promotes circulation and supports skin and muscle health.
If you keep your Spotted Saddle Horse inside, ensure he gets adequate daily turnout for exercise and mental stimulation, along with opportunities for social interaction with other horses. Free movement is also beneficial for your horse’s bones, joints, gastrointestinal system and emotional well-being.
Spotted Saddle Horses with suspected congenital night blindness should be housed in a well-lit, secure, familiar location at night. These horses can inadvertently break fencing and hurt themselves if left outside in the dark.
Nutrition Program
The optimal diet for your Spotted Saddle Horse should be tailored to their specific workload and individual nutritional requirements.
These horses are frequently overweight, underscoring the importance of prioritizing weight management to ensure their health and well-being. [9]
Weight Maintenance
Most Spotted Saddle Horses are easy keepers, with an efficient metabolism that can cause them to become obese when overfed. They are prone to metabolic syndrome which explains the easy weight gain.
A survey study of horse owners revealed that Spotted Saddle Horses have higher rates of obesity compared to other breeds. [9]
Maintaining your Spotted Saddle Horse at a healthy weight requires careful management of their diet. Choose feeds and forages to match your horse’s energy requirements.
Regularly evaluate your horse’s body condition score to determine if your horse is at a healthy weight. An ideal score is a 5 on the 9-point Henneke scale. Adjust their diet as needed if your horse is overconditioned or underconditioned. [10]
Sample Diet
The following sample diet is intended for a mature 450 kg (1000 lb) Spotted Saddle Horse with normal body condition at maintenance (not exercising).
Feed | Amount per day |
---|---|
Mid-Quality Hay (8% crude protein) | Free-choice |
Salt | 30 g (2 tbsps) |
Omneity® Pellets | 200 g (2 scoops) |
Diet Analysis | |
Digestible Energy (% of Req) | 105% |
Protein (% of Req) | 127% |
HC (ESC + starch; % Diet) | 8.7% |
Hydrolyzable carbohydrate (HC) is the components of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), namely ESC + starch, which are digested in the small intestine and contribute to the insulin response. It is critical to provide diets that contain less than 10% HC to support metabolic health.
Most Spotted Saddle Horses in light work do best on a forage-based diet. Spotted Saddle Horses with heavier workloads and intense competition schedules may need additional calorie sources, but commercial concentrates are generally not recommended.
While forage alone should be sufficient to meet the energy and protein requirements of most horses, it will not supply all the required vitamins and minerals a horse needs for optimal health. [13] Supplementing with a well-balanced vitamin and mineral formula can help fill these nutritional gaps, ensuring a balanced diet.
Mad Barn’s Omneity® is a comprehensive vitamin and mineral supplements expertly formulated to address common nutrient deficiencies in forage-based diets. This supplement contains 100% organic trace minerals, essential amino acids, vitamins, yeast and digestive enzymes to support overall health and performance.
Forage
Horses evolved as grazing animals, with a digestive system that is designed to process a nearly continuous intake of high-fiber roughage. Providing your Spotted Saddle Horse with free-choice forage is the best way to support their digestive health and natural grazing behaviours.
The average 450 kg (1000 lb) Spotted Saddle Horse is expected to eat approximately 9 kg (20 lb) of forage dry matter per day. [13] For Spotted Saddle horses, aim for the total diet to be less than 10% hydrolyzable carbohydrate (HC) by choosing mid-maturity low-starch, low-sugar hay.
HC is the components of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), namely ESC + starch, which are digested in the small intestine and contribute to the insulin response.
Low-fibre, high-protein hay such as early-growth grass hay or alfalfa hay might be suitable for show horses in heavy work that need additional energy. However, most easy keeper horses benefit from more fibrous forages to maximize their intake while preventing excess weight gain.
Unrestricted pasture access may not be appropriate for Spotted Saddle Horses prone to metabolic disorders. Consider using a grazing muzzle or turning your horse out on a dry lot to reduce grass intake.
For Spotted Saddle horses that need restricted hay supply, you can place it in a slow feeder to extend forage availability.
Feeding Recommendations
Easy keepers in light work do not need commercial concentrates to meet their energy requirements. Diets that contain excess high-starch grains can increase the risk of metabolic problems and digestive upset.
Horses in heavy work may require additional energy sources to meet their increased demands. Consider incorporating alfalfa hay into your horse’s diet as a protein-rich forage. [11] Fiber-based feeds, such as soaked hay pellets or beet pulp, also offer safe energy sources for Spotted Saddle Horses. Consider low HC meals such as a 2:1 mixture, by weight, of alfalfa pellets or beet pulp with wheat bran. Be sure to actually weigh them with a scale instead of using volume measures like cups or scoops.
Fat supplements are another alternative that provide a concentrated source of calories. Feed fat sources with omega-3 fatty acids to support joints, respiratory, skin, coat, and immune health. [12]
All horses require constant access to fresh, clean water to support digestion and prevent dehydration. Free-choice access to salt is also important to fulfill their sodium requirements and promote water intake. It is also recommended to feed 1 – 2 ounces of plain loose salt per day in your horse’s ration.
Nutritional Supplements
When designing a nutrition program for your Spotted Saddle Horse, the first step is to provide a balanced, forage-based diet that corrects for any nutrient deficiencies. Once the diet is balanced, you can consider supplements as needed to address your horse’s individual needs and performance goals.
- w-3 Oil is an essential fatty acid supplement enriched with high levels of natural vitamin E and the omega-3 fatty acid DHA. Feeding DHA and vitamin E supports healthy connective tissue, skin and coat quality, immune function and more.
- Visceral+® is a comprehensive gut supplement that is veterinarian-recommended to maintain stomach and hindgut health. This supplement contains prebiotics, probiotics, amino acids, minerals, and herbs that support your Spotted Saddle Horse’s entire digestive tract.
- MSM is a natural compound that provides extra joint support for exercising horses. MSM also supports muscle function and anti-inflammatory processes.
- Spirulina is a nutrient-rich blue-green algae with benefits for skin, metabolic health, respiratory function and the immune system. It’s particularly useful for horses with allergies and those involved in competitive or high-intensity activities.
Not sure what to feed your Spotted Saddle Horse? Submit Submit their diet online for a free evaluation, and get help from out experienced equine nutritionists to formulate a balanced diet.
References
- Conant, E. et al. A microsatellite analysis of five Colonial Spanish horse populations of the southeastern United States. Anim Genet. 2011. View Summary
- Vincelette, A. The Characteristics, Distribution, Function, and Origin of Alternative Lateral Horse Gaits. Animals. 2023. View Summary
- Brooks, S. et al. A chromosome inversion near the KIT gene and the Tobiano spotting pattern in horses. Cytogenet Genome Res. 2008. View Summary
- Esdaile, E. et al. Additional evidence supports GRM6 p.Thr178Met as a cause of congenital stationary night blindness in three horse breeds. Vet Ophthalmol. 2023.View Summary
- Metallinos, D. et al. A missense mutation in the endothelin-B receptor gene is associated with Lethal White Foal Syndrome: an equine version of Hirschsprung Disease. Mammalian Genome. 1998.View Summary
- Hartmann, A. et al. A preliminary investigation into the association between competition and gastric ulcer formation in non-racing performance horses. J Equine Vet Sci. 2003.
- Haussler, K. et al. Mechanical nociceptive thresholds within the pastern region of Tennessee Walking Horses. Equine Vet J. 2010. View Summary
- Everett, J. et al. Effects of stacked wedge pads and chains applied to the forefeet of Tennessee Walking Horses for a five-day period on behavioral and biochemical indicators of pain, stress, and inflammation. Am J Vet Res, 2018.View Summary
- Catalano, D. et al. Estimation of Actual and Ideal Bodyweight Using Morphometric Measurements of Miniature, Saddle-Type, and Thoroughbred Horses. J Equine Vet Sci. 2019.
- Geor, R. Metabolic Predispositions to Laminitis in Horses and Ponies: Obesity, Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndromes. J Equine Vet Sci. 2008.
- Lybbert, T. et al. Feeding alfalfa hay to exercising horses reduces the severity of gastric squamous mucosal ulceration. Proceed AAEP. 2007.
- Zeyner, A. et al. Effect of feeding exercised horses on high-starch or high-fat diets for 390 days. Equine Vet J. 2010.View Summary
- National Research Council. Nutrient Requirements of Horses. National Academies. 2007.
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