Here's a description of the Spotted Saddle Horse's most common color patterns.
Tobiano: The tobiano (or "toby") typically shows white over his back and up his legs; it's common for two, three, or all four of a tobiano's legs to be white below his hocks and knees. His head is normally like that of a solid-colored horse, either solid or showing a star, snip, strip, or blaze. His spots are regular and distinct, with clear borders. His mane and tail are usually two colors.
Overo: With the overo, the white originates on the horse's underside, and rarely crosses his back. He tends to show color on all four legs. There's typically a lot of white on his head; overos may be bald-faced, apron-faced, or bonnet-faced. Often, one or both eyes will be blue. Where color meets white, the borders are often irregular, and the spots of color may be "bordered" (surrounded by a mixture of colored and white hairs).
Sabino: The sabino has an entirely different white pattern, usually including wide blazes and completely white legs. Some have so much white that color may appear only on his ears and chest ("medicine hat" coloration), or on the dock of the tail. The sabino's base coat color isn't solid, but mixed with white hairs-this looks like roaning, but it's not. He might sport a "roany" white that begins on his belly and reaches up his sides.
Tovero: The tovero horse shows both tobiano and overo characteristics. For example, this horse might have basic tobiano coloring, but with a bald or "apron" face. Or, he might be almost all white, showing base color only on his muzzle, ears, chest, and flanks.
The breed also sports a smooth gait, a high energy level, and stamina. He's energetic and calm, strong and controlled, friendly and businesslike, all at the same time. Take one out on the trail, and you'll also have the sheer fun of knowing that everyone else is looking at you and admiring your horse. (One 4-year-old of our acquaintance is sure that SSH stands for "Special Spotty Horse.") Is this the breed for you? Read on to find out!
Breed Background
If you've always assumed the Spotted Saddle Horse is a Tennessee Walking Horse with an exotic paint job, you aren't far off the mark. Most of the SSH family tree consists of Tennessee Walking Horses. In fact, many SSHs are double-registered as Walking Horses. But other breeds-such as Standardbreds and Missouri Fox Trotters-have also gone into the breed's pedigree. And the bold colors and patterns are said to go back to Spanish-American spotted horses. (For pattern definitions, see page 34.) Here's a bit more on the breed.
Expect a smooth ride. Like the Tennessee Walking Horse (see Breed Showcase, July/August '04), the SSH has a long, easy-moving, ground-covering four-beat gait, and is extremely comfortable to ride. Both breeds move smoothly and easily over terrain. And, since there's no moment of suspension (when all four feet are off the ground), you'll experience no bouncing or bumping. SSHs will cover more ground at the walk than most other horses will at the trot. And you can sit easy and just glide on by-no posting necessary. Whether you're going for a short ride or a very long one, you can relax in your saddle and just let the horse flow over the ground.
Be sure to register. If you acquire an SSH of your own, you'll want to join at least one of the organizations that register these horses. (For contact information, see page 36.) The oldest registry is the Spotted Saddle Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association, which is member-owned and membership-driven. To be eligible for registration, a horse must have a white spot above the hocks (excluding the face), a non-trotting gait, and one parent registered with the SSHBEA. To double-register an SSH with the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitor's Association, both parents must be registered with the TWHBEA. Two other registries are the National Spotted Saddle Horse Association and the American Spotted Horse Association. The NSSHA dates from 1979. It was formed to establish a uniform, naturally gaited saddle horse that performs without mechanical or chemical abuse. The ASHA was formed in 1999 to promote the sound, naturally gaited, Western-style SSH.
Check out the competition. If you enjoy the show arena, don't miss the World Grand Championship Show held every October in Shelbyville, Tennessee. In the show ring, the SSH is expected to work at three gaits: show walk, show gait, and canter.
