American Saddlebred

American Saddlebreds were first imported into Australia from the United States by Ron and Gail Besaw in the early 1970s

The first home of the Saddlebred in Australia was Sutton Farm (near Moss Vale) in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, originally a Cobb & Co. coaching stop. Sutton Farm was refurbished and expanded with an immense Kentucky style stable block and (at that time) advertising the largest indoor arena in the Southern Hemisphere. Though today no longer a Saddlebred farm, horse activities continue at the now Highlands Equestrian Centre.

Ten horses, all from top US bloodlines were brought in to start the breed here. Six of the ten were mares in foal to American stallions and within a few days of their arrival by plane (via New Zealand) there were four foals at Sutton Farm, one of which was Suttons Anacacho King out of Vanity’s Compass Rose (her sire was the brilliant Vanity’s Sensation of Crebilly USA). Anacacho King had a major impact on the ASHAA studbook and was to be the sire of two stallions still standing today: in NSW Suttons Kings Image (winner of the first Saddlebred class at Sydney Royal in 1994) and in Queensland, Suttons Anacacho Prince sire of Tarquins Anacacho Challenge, who in 1998 was the first Gold SASH Award winner in Australia.

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