The American Saddlebred as Sport Horse - BELIEVE IT!
Belle Beach
Tom Bass on Belle Beach
Long before there was Dressage in the United States there was the "High School class". Tom Bass was a master of training American Saddlebreds for the "High School". High School classes included collected trot, extended trot, piaffe, passage, tempi changes, trot half passes and interesting gaits that you don't see much today including canter on three legs, backwards canter, and the tango. This is a picture of the famous Tom Bass riding his most famous horse, the American Saddlebred mare Belle Beach . Picture circa 1890's
Colonel Washington
Arthur Konyot on Colonel Washington
The Konyot family has a long history of training horses for Dressage and the Circus in Europe. Arthur Konyot and his family immigrated to the US in 1939. He and his family chose to use American Saddlebreds to train for the "High School" and for the circus. Arthur Konyot wrote an autobiography, Arthur Konyot: The White Rider. Arthur is shown riding his black high school American Saddlebred gelding Colonel Washington.
Kalarama, Jr.
Alexander Konyot on Kalarama, Jr.
Alexander Konyot, father of the famous Dressage trainer/rider Tina Konyot, immigrated into the US in 1939. The first civilian Dressage show in the United States was in Chicago in 1948 and was judged by Chuck Grant. Until that time, Dressage was found only in the military and the circus. Alexander and his family performed in the circus. Alexander Konyot died in 2006 at the age of 91. Alexander is shown riding his black High School American Saddlebred gelding Kalarama, Jr.
Bomba
Dorita Konyot on Bomba
Dorita Konyot , daughter of Arthur Konyot, came to the US in 1939 along with her family. She is shown riding her 17.2 hand High School American Saddlebred gelding Bomba. Dorita and Bomba performed in the circus. Bomba was owned by Dorita until his death at 32 years of age. Dorita said "He used to do a fabulous levade, his hocks were about 2 inches from the ground, Beautiful". Dorita went on to become a famous Dressage instructor in Florida. She died in 1997.
My Privateer
Emma Dye and My Privateer
My Privateer, 1986 black ASB gelding by Spartan's Colonel and out of Lady of the Knight by Night Symbol was owned and shown by Emma Dye. My Privateer was shown by Emma through Intermediare-1 and was schooling all of the Grand Prix when he passed away in January 1998. My Privateer was the USDF ASHA All Breeds Prix St. Georges Champion in 1997.
