The way they move is natural but it sad how they break the tail bone.

To the people in the comments saying how these horses are "sorn" you cannot sore a high trotting breed that naturally picks up it's hooves, and the saddle bred horse will be bred either as a show horse which is in the video, or a sport horse that can be used for show jumping, hunt seat, dressage and more since this is a very flexible and smart breed, as, it may not have the skill to pick up its hooves as high for the saddle seat discipline. Just like an NBA football player compared to a high school kid on the football team, the skill and training levels are on different levels. Do not confuse the saddle seat for "big lick." That abusive "hobby" makes saddle seat look bad, of course every discipline can be abusive in their own ways if not done right. I have ridden in saddle seat for 10 years now and I can answer any questions people may have if asked nicely as I can agree this does look very different compared to a quarter horse :)

Is there still actually a walking horse. After this amount of abuse there cant be, no matter what the public think they are seeing

Coming along, you mean forcing the horse to move like this. And you're so unfit

When they stand, waiting, the horse's tails twitch quite violently

The cameras showed a closeup,, thhe horses mouth wide open, the riders face distraut as he yanked on the reins with a vicious bit. who is this awful commentator.

Tennersee is shrouded in its own world. Refusing that soring isnt barbaric. It needs to be stopped now!!

I agree that the riders' style in the show ring has become unattractive and a bit ridiculous. I'm sorry to see the extreme tails sets that have become expected. When I rode my Saddlebred mare, we took light hands and balanced horsemanship seriously. I was taught that the contact between the hands and mouth should be like butterfly on a thread. I loved the feeling of partnership between myself and my mare.

What a cruel and vile way to treat horses they are sweating and so stressed they are clearly in pain and the riders if thats what they call there selves are like a heavy lump of wood yanking on their mouths animal cruelty at its very worst and what happens when they are no longer rideable off to slaughter 😡

Good looking Athletes very nice

These beautiful souls are so miserable. The abuse is horrific. What has to happen to make this sordid spectacle go away!

NATTY CHAMPS BABY

Like all these horses trying to avoid pain just being so ignorant and disgusting to such beautiful animals. That's just sick! Never does a horse move you so unnaturally and this tailed posture Boa brings tears to your eyes, no one cares that the horses sweat from exertion and pain, just sick, the people who support this and find it great and practice it should be treated just like these poor people in my opinion horses that have to endure it.

Beautiful performance!

SADDLE SEAT IS HORSE ABUSE AND IS UTTER GARBAGE FULL OF NOTHING BUT PAIN AND SUFFERING FOR THE HORSES! END THIS BARBARISM NOW!

EKELHAFTE TIER QUÄLEREI !

Is this supposed to be beautiful?

His is this even legal. How can anyone be so disconnected and empty so they think this is ok

I cannot believe the ignorance of the vast majority of these commenters. Sort of reminds me of Politics. The ignorance of the Saddlebred breed, training practices, etc. shown here is stunning. I've ridden and shown Saddlebreds for decades and I certainly wouldn't have if there had been soring, abuse and stacks on their feet like the Tennessee Walkers. And look at their ears! They are all mostly forward. If a horse is in pain or miserable, they would not be looking through the bridle like that, happy to do their job! Get educated folks!

Sick cruel individuals this is so wrong

This isn't riding sport, this isn't love to horses at all - it's pure cruelty!😭 These awful people only love themselves, the show and the fame! I despise all people involved in this abuse of these poor creatures from the bottom of my heart! 😡

What is with the government in this country? Why they allowed this cruelty??😡

Glad to see Jack Rudin finally get it right and acknowledge NCCU’s #1 spot! 🦅

Are these horses sored? Do they wear weighted shoes or is that just TWH?

That poor grey looks like it's about to go down.

Cruel or not (I've always thought it was), I looks awfull and the riders are terrible.

Okay, not familiar with Saddlbreds, but I have ridden TWHs (non big lick). I don't understand why some of these riders are "posting," particularly the rider of the silver-dapple? My understanding is the whole purpose of gaited horses is that you don't need to post, because they aren't trotting, they're doing either a flat walk or a running walk. Asking an honest question, so don't flame me.

#STOPHORSEABUSE #STOPSADDLESEAT #STOPBIGLICK

'World championship'? What other countries/nations take part in this 'sport'? This might not be Big Lick but these horses are ridden with the saddle set so far back that the horses' back legs are subjected to the most horrendous and unnatural strain. This stunningly beautiful breed doesn't need to be distorted to show its elegance

Oh my lord! This is NOT abuse! A American saddlebred moves like this naturualy!!!!!!

nightmarish... literally.

It's time for cruelty to animals advocates and Humane Society to step in and put a stop to this "so called sport"".

Love American Saddlebreds!! Showing is exhilarating, although the Saddlebred can do so much more.

*Director: Robert Trowers* *Solos:* *Chinoiserie (**2:40**)* Piano: Ben Johnson (2:40) Tenor Sax: Shaquim Muldrow (4:57)** ****1st Place at 3rd Jack Rudin Jazz Championship**** * = Honorable Mention Award ** = Outstanding Award *Full Awards List* *Sectional Awards:* *Honorable Mention Saxophone Section:* Dexter Moses (Lead Alto), Emmanuel Howard (Alto), Shaquim Muldrow (Tenor), Joshua Rorrer (Tenor), Greg Tipton (Baritone) *Honorable Mention Trombone Section:* Brandon Seaforth (Lead), Taylor Garrett, ???, Nicholas Carter (Bass) *Honorable Mention Soloist Award:* Dexter Moses (Alto Sax) *Outstanding Soloist Award:* Shaquim Muldrow (Tenor Sax) Brandon Seaforth (Trombone)

*Director: Robert Trowers* *Solos:* *Such Sweet Thunder (**1:42**)* Trumpet: Yahyah Corbett (3:12) Bass Trombone: Nicholas Carter (3:52) *Ponderous Pachyderm of the Planks (**5:36**)* Trombone: Brandon Seaforth (6:41)** Alto Sax: Dexter Moses (7:56)* Guitar: Jay Killman (8:45) Piano: Ben Johnson (8:45) *Chinoiserie (**11:28**)* Piano: Ben Johnson (11:28) Tenor Sax: Shaquim Muldrow (13:58)** ****1st Place at 3rd Jack Rudin Jazz Championship**** * = Honorable Mention Award ** = Outstanding Award *Full Awards List* *Sectional Awards:* *Honorable Mention Saxophone Section:* Dexter Moses (Lead Alto), Emmanuel Howard (Alto), Shaquim Muldrow (Tenor), Joshua Rorrer (Tenor), Greg Tipton (Baritone) *Honorable Mention Trombone Section:* Brandon Seaforth (Lead), Taylor Garrett, ???, Nicholas Carter (Bass) *Honorable Mention Soloist Award:* Dexter Moses (Alto Sax) *Outstanding Soloist Award:* Shaquim Muldrow (Tenor Sax) Brandon Seaforth (Trombone)

Trained by trainers for owners who can't ride a lick. These beautiful saddlebreds having to put up with riders pulling on their mouths trying to keep their balance, jerking their mouths, losing there balance when they should be sitting straight up in their saddles not hindering their incredibly tolerant horses. A couple of those horses appeared lame going out the gate, their gait wasn't square , a slight hop while trotting out.

SHAME … SHAME … SHAME on you America … Land of the FREE home of the BRAVE my ass‼️ So it’s now December 2022 & this is still going on… will anything ever really change for the better❓ WHEN ARE AMERICAN EXISTING ANIMAL CRUETY LAWS GOING TO BE ENFORCED ❓ While these practices would never be permitted here in Australia & many other countries… they continue in the USA to this very day … feet soaring, shoe stacking, tail cutting and even “Gingering” of a horse’s body cavities (anus or vagina) … many horses never recover despite rescue efforts ‼️ why can’t these barbaric practices be stopped❓

The evil that men do .Don't people talk crap sometimes how can they think its ok accompanied by that equally crap music .The horses all look terrified .That beautiful grey horse is magnificent.

Abuse of horses so stop this now.

Abuse, the way the horses walk you can tell it isn't natruel and they clearly had some training done were they might of been beaten or hit behind the legs.

Absolutely barbaric and unacceptable

This is saddle seating I think and it’s almost as bad as bucks lick because the way there tails are up like that is not natural they nick the tails which is we’re they cut the legitimate in the horses tail and then they put it up in this demonic torture device and puts it up like that for hours so the tail stays up like that and they also ginger the horse or gingering which is where they literally shove ginger in the horses ass which is like what the fuck and this is just so messed up like why do they allow this.

More chronic horse abuse in the name of attention seeking inhumane humans.

No cantering? Do they still ginger horses? How about eye drops? More abuse it's sick. Transitions are terrible.

Are these horses trained with soring to pick up feet and did the have their tendons cut to prop up the tail?

Needs to be another way to make money people! Torturing and maiming Horses for profit and. $2.00 ribbon! You can dress up in anything you want and have a party. People will pay to to come! Other states do it! And no living thing gets hurt

Not natural at all. Abusive and cruel. I have a Saddlebred mare and she is all natural and is beautiful in her natural gaits without the torture these horses have been put through.

The truly horrendous equitation and positions of these riders is shocking. Truly disgusting from the poor horse's perspective. Absolutely abuse. ALL saddle seat events should be stopped immediately.

I agree

Disgusting how these horse are tortured to do this. Should be banned forever.