Exciting Five-Gaited American Saddlebred action at last year’s Mane Event Horse Show (Shiflet)
You’ll see top horses and riders compete in five gaited, three gaited and harness performance and pleasure classes. Mane Event also hosts three national finals competitions – the National Horse Show’s prestigious “Good Hands” (originally held at the Garden in New York) and the Pleasure Equitation Olympics for saddle seat riders, plus the American Hackney Horse Association Youth Medallion Finals.
To watch the show, go our coverage page. You’ll find a schedule of classes and individual class entries available on the site for a more enjoyable viewing experience.
Mane Event is held at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. It is produced by Mid-America Horse Show Association, one of the largest charter clubs of the American Saddlebred Horse Association.
Saddlebreds are an original American breed developed in the 1700s. Today they’re known for their distinctive elegant look – high head carriage with high leg action – and often called the “peacock of the horse world.” The five gaited Saddlebred gives a smooth ride while performing in an uninhibited manner with great animation, speed and correct form. Popular as show horses, they are ridden saddle seat in five-gaited and three-gaited classes, driven in harness, and also shown western and hunt seat.
The Hackney breed originated in England. Bred for elegant style, Hackneys became the ultimate driving machine of the 1880s in Britain and America – before the automobile. Today they are sought out for their glamour, presence and versatility. It’s crisp action, knees raised high at each step, hind quarters powerfully propelling, makes the Hackney Pony a dynamo in a small package.