The American Royal is proud to host the UPHA/American Royal National Championship Horse Show. The best Saddlebreds, Hackney Ponies and Road Horses in the country travel to Kansas City to compete for National Championship titles. 
New to Saddlebred Horses?
Origins of the Saddlebred Horse
The Saddlebred originated in Colonial America and can be traced to pre-Civil War times. The preferred horse for families of that era, the majestic Saddlebred horse was both a stylish harness horse and a trusted partner under saddle. Their ability to pull a buggy and also carry men across the fields to monitor their crops made them a versatile partner for families. Smooth gaits, plus speed were important.
Today, the standard of excellence is beauty, symmetry and balance. The Saddlebred possesses animation, brilliance and extreme grace of movement. The Saddlebred is seen in Three Gaited classes, Five Gaited classes, Pleasure classes and Fine Harness classes. No other breed of horse can match the smooth, beautiful gaits of the American Saddlebred Horse.
UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show
Nothing can match the fire and brilliance of the Saddlebred Horse! The American Royal is once again honored to be hosting the UPHA (United Professional Horseman’s Association) National Championship. The very best Saddlebreds, Hackney Ponies, and Road Horses from UPHA chapters throughout the country will come to Kansas City to compete for the prestige of being National Champions.
Ticketed sessions start at 6:30pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Be sure to attend The National Championship Stake Night (Saturday Night), where the competition comes to an exciting close as National Champions are crowned in 14 Classes. The final class will be the Five Gaited National Championship.
