Talk:Saddle seat

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Saddle seat ruins breeds--look at the Arab and the Morgan. Apparently some people are now riding Friesians and Canadians in saddle seat, which marks the beginning of the end for those breeds too.

I don't compare correlation with causation. While it's true that the Arabian, a breed I know well, has probably not benefitted from the current obsession with high action that has been around since the 1980's or so, the breed was shown in Saddle Seat equipment and attire for a good 30 or 40 years before that with no ill effects. It has only been changes in shoeing rules and a push for ever higher action that has -- debatably -- "ruined" some representatives of the breed. though I don't know the Morgan world very well, I suspect that is also what has happened there.

The drive for more action has had bad effects on other breeds too--the American Saddlebred has some bloodlines that also have conformation defects (such as a too-long back) that are linked to breeding for action over long-term soundness, and Equus magazine did an absolutely horrifying expose on the Tennessee Walking horse industry in late 2005 or early 2006.

Properly performed, Saddle Seat riding shows off the action and flash of naturally high-stepping, flashy horses. Like anything, it can go to extremes that become abusive. But the "rush" of riding a high-action horse to the peak of its ability is an absolute thrill. Because I refuse to shoe my horses to fit the current fads, I don't ride Saddle Seat much any more. But I miss it. Montanabw 18:59, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

While some of the practices of Saddle seat are inhumane, one must look to all forms of competitive riding (and sport in general) and admit that abuse occurs in all divisions. If practiced properly and riding a horse suited to the discipline, saddle seat can be quite fun for both horse and rider. Quatrilho 21:53, 15 January 2007 (UTC)