The American Saddlebred as Sport Horse - BELIEVE IT!
Harry Callahan - Promoting Diversity in the American Saddlebred Breed
Hello, my name is Linda Cawthon and I have been involved in the American Saddlebred breed for over 25 years. When I was a teenager I rode under the direction of Cedarwood Farm and Chuck Herbert and the late Shelley Herbert Mehling . I showed in Country Pleasure and 5-Gaited Juvenile and Amateur. After about six years in the Saddle Seat show ring, my interests turned to Hunt Seat and Dressage. My dream as I got older was to buy a young American Saddlebred and have him trained for Dressage. I was able to realize my dream in 2001 when I purchased a 3 year old ASB gelding by Supreme Heir and out of Make My Day by The New York Times. I named him Harry Callahan. In 2003, I put Harry in training with the best Dressage trainer I could find in Kentucky, Chrissa Hoffmann. Chrissa is a Grand Prix rider and trainer. Her credentials are of the highest and Harry is lucky to have found someone who appreciates his breed and learning style. Harry was the first ASB that Chrissa trained for Dressage. Because of Harry’s great temperament and enthusiastic work ethic, combined with Chrissa’ s talent and energy, Chrissa has brought Harry along from training level (very basic level) to schooling all the Grand Prix movements in three years, much faster than most Warmbloods.
Harry is the only purebred American Saddlebred in the entire United States performing, competing and winning at this level today.
Harry has been a wonderful ambassador for the American Saddlebred. He has won High Point Awards at Dressage shows, Kentucky State awards, also including National awards with the USDF (United States Dressage Association) winning an All-Breeds award for ASB’s. He and Chrissa were featured on the cover of the December 2005 issue of the USDF Connection magazine, the first American Saddlebred EVER to be on the cover. He was also in the May 2006 issue of Horse Illustrated in the article titled "Get Sporty" about ASB’s and Sport Horse disciplines.
From The Saddle Horse Report Dressage Saddlebred to perform at Shelbyville Show Issue for Thursday, July 27, 2006
Harry Callahan and Chrissa Hoffmann
Pendleton, KY -- Harry Callahan, the highest-performing competition dressage American Saddlebred in the world, will appear at the award-winning Shelbyville (KY) Horse Show in August. He will be presented by trainer Chrissa Hoffmann after the last class, Friday, Aug. 4.
Bred, born and trained in Kentucky, Harry Callahan (Supreme Heir x Make My Day) is the poster boy for American Saddlebred excellence in dressage. He was the first in his breed to appear on the cover of the national dressage organization magazine, The Connection, and in a dressage article in Horse Illustrated. Since the beginning of his career he has earned multiple regional and national awards and now at age eight is competing and winning against all breeds in the elite Prix St. Georges, a demanding, international level of training.
At the show Harry Callahan and his trainer will perform difficult dressage movements to music, “dancing” for his hometown crowd.
This year Harry is showing in the third FEI Level of Dressage called Intermediaire-2. FEI stands for Federation Equestre Internationale which is the governing body of International Equestrian Sports. The highest level of Dressage is Grand Prix. Harry will be there next year at the young age of ten! Go Harry!
Harry Wins Kentucky's Year End F.E.I. Award ! Harry is the F.E.I. Champion of Kentucky for 2006
Chrissa Hoffmann Has a Top Level Dressage Training Facility
Visit Harry and Chrissa at Her Fabulous Home and Facility
