Intro
Like most sport horse breeds, the South African Sporting Horse is bred specifically for modern competitive equestrian sports. South Africa in particular has a variety of rangy and athletic breeds to contribute bloodlines.
Origins
This is a recently established breed and the goal of their association is to develop an athletic sport horse based on phenotype (observable traits) rather than genotype (genetic makeup). In other words, they are not concerned with breed lineage, but rather with developing a dependable, athletic performance horse. They will register a variety of breeds, as long as they carry the required physical characteristics.
Due to the variety in equestrian sports, Sport Horse registries are generally broken into sub-categories based on discipline. Horses that excel in dressage are not built the same as polo ponies, but they are both athletes in competitive sports. In fact, this registry will accept everything from Friesian carriage to Welsh ponies to drafts like Percheron and Clydesdale.
Features
Average height varies considerably
Physique
Conformation will vary considerably with this breed, but animals must possess an overall harmonious and correct conformation
Traditional Colors
All colors
Temperament
Sound temperament and easy to work with
Generally sport horse registries discourage registering difficult or aggressive animals
Use
Dressage
Eventing
Jumping
Polo
Helpful Links
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South Africa Sport Horse Federation (SASHF)