SSHBEA Mid-Season Show begins tonight

The owners of spotted saddle horses like to brag about the versatility of their chosen breed.

"They can be your weekday trail riding horse and your weekend show horse," they'll tell you.

And they're right. A quick glance at any group of trail riders is going to reveal at least one, if not more, spotted saddle horses in the herd. They're easy to spot -- and not just because of the bright splotches of "broken color" that earned their name. Unlike some of the western paint breeds, the spotted saddle horse has a smooth gliding gait, and the horses tend to be a shade taller and little narrower than the mustang- and quarter horse- descended paints and pintos.

While the breed is versatile -- they can be used from cross country endurance rides or show jumping -- their strongest appeal for many people is their comfortable ride under saddle. It's those easy-going gaits that will be under the judges' scrutiny today and Saturday at the Calsonic Arena, where the Spotted Saddle Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association's mid-season show is taking place this weekend.

Like almost all of the spotted horses, the big, bold patches of colors that identify the breed come from pony ancestors, such as the "pit ponies" who escaped from shipwrecks, like those on Chincoteague and Assoteague islands. They were eventually crossed with the larger, easy-riding gaited horses, including the Tennessee walking horse.

Florida trainer and owner John McKeehan and his wife, Heather, know all about that versatility. Heather has trained in dressage and Western trail, show jumping and saddleseat. The couple, from Spotted Haven Farm in Hudson, Fla., discovered Tennessee walkers, then the spotted saddle horses. They also raise world class championship speed racking horses, including Grave Digger, a many-times champion recently featured in international magazine Equus Caballo. But despite their worldwide exposure, the McKeehans like making the 14-hour drive to Shelbyville several times a year -- for SSHBEA, racking and walking horse shows.

"It's kind of like a home away from home," said John, who rode Incredible Wolf to a world grand championship in 2007 and hopes to do it again this year. "We have a lot of friends here and it gets us away from the farm."

SSHBEA Show schedule

Friday, 7 p.m.

1. Amateur Model (Must be Amateur Handled and Horse can NOT show in any other Model Class at this show)

2. Weanling Fillies

3. Model Mares

4. Juvenile 11 & Under Open Shod, No stallions

5. 2-Year-Old Trail Pleasure, Open Riders

6. Juvenile 11 & Under Lite Shod, No Stallions

7. Amateur Owned & Trained Trail Pleasure, 12 Yrs. & Over

8. 3 Yr. Old Amateur Lite Shod, 12 Yrs. & Over

9. Juvenile 11 & Under Country Trail Pleasure, No Stallions

10. Weanling Stallions

11. Juvenile 12-17 Lite Shod

12. Juvenile 12-17 Open Shod

13. Amateur Country Trail Pleasure 12 Yrs. & Over

14. 2 Year Old Lite Shod, Open Riders

15. Amateur Owned & Trained Traditional Trail Pleasure, 12 Yrs. & Over

16. 2 Yr. Old Open Shod, Open Riders

17. Country Trail Pleasure, Open Riders

18. 2 Year Old Amateur Trail Pleasure, 12 Yrs. & Over

19. 3 Year Old Amateur Open Shod, 12 Yrs. & Over

20. 3 Year Old Trail Pleasure, Open Riders

20A. Traditional Trail Pleasure, 2 & 3 Year Old

21. 4 & Over Amateur Lite Shod, No Canter 12 Yrs. & Over

22. 4 & Over Amateur Trail Pleasure, No Canter 12 Yrs. & Over

23. 4 & Over Amateur Open Shod, No Canter 12 Yrs. & Over

24. 4 & Over Open Shod, No Canter, Open Riders

Saturday, 6 p.m.

25. Stick Horse -- Blue Ribbon to All

26. Leadline (riders 6 years & under, feet must be in stirrups)

27. Juvenile Model 17 & Under, No Stallions

28. Model Stallions & Geldings

29. Amateur Traditional Trail Pleasure, 2 Yrs. & Over

30. Juvenile 11 & Under Trail Pleasure, No Stallions

31. Juvenile 12-17 Traditional Trail Pleasure

32. Yearling Fillies

32A - Country Trail Pleasure 2 & 3 Yr. Olds

33. 2 Yr. Old Amateur Open Shod, 12 Yrs. & Over

34. 3 Yr. Old Amateur Trail Pleasure, 12 Yrs. & Over

35. Juvenile 11 & Under Traditional Trail Pleasure, No Stallions

36. Yearling Stallions

36A. Amateur Traditional Trail Pleasure 2 & 3 Year Old

37. Juvenile 12-17 Country Trail Pleasure

38. 3 Yr. Old Lite Shod, Open Riders

39. Juvenile 12-17 Trail Pleasure

40. Water Glass Class, Fun Class, Any Rider

41. Amateur Owned & Trained Country Trail Pleasure, 12 Yrs. & Over

42. 3 Yr. Old Open Shod, Open Riders

43. Traditional Trail Pleasure, Open Riders

44. Trail Pleasure Amateur 50 & over

45. Pro/Am Open Shod, Amateur Riders show first way of ring, followed by Trainers to ride on the reverse

46. 2 Yr. Old Amateur Lite Shod, 12 Yrs. & Over

47. Lite Shod Championship, No Canter, Open Riders

48. Trail Pleasure Championship, No Canter, Open Riders

49. Open Shod Championship, CANTER, Open Riders

Admission: $6 per person.