American Saddlebred Horse Association

What American Saddlebred Horse Association does

The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) is the official breed registry and membership association for the American Saddlebred horse, headquartered at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The organization provides pedigree recording, ownership transfer, breed certification, and registration services for American Saddlebred and Half Saddlebred horses, complemented by a suite of member services that includes competition management, awards programs, youth development initiatives, breeder educational resources, and futurity prize programs.

ASHBA operates a website-based technology platform anchored by the myASHBA member portal, a mobile application, and online Horse Search tools covering pedigree lookup, hypothetical mating analysis, name changes, and pending registrations/transfers. The organization is governed member-led through a Board of Directors and Nominating Committee, with a network of Charter Clubs and Youth Clubs providing community infrastructure nationwide.

Revenue is generated through five documented streams: recurring membership subscriptions, transactional registry fees for horse registration and ownership transfer, event registration including annual conventions and youth conferences, merchandise sales through an online shop, and donations/corporate sponsorships. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on the Charter Club network, multi-year Annual Conventions, competition programs, and digital channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) to acquire and retain members. ASHBA is a private nonprofit organization with no disclosed external investors, parent company, or acquisition activity.

Name

American Saddlebred Horse Association

Legal name

American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association

Website

https://asha.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) is the official breed registry and membership association for American Saddlebred horses, headquartered at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. It serves individual horse breeders, show competitors, and youth members through pedigree recording, ownership transfer, competition programs, and community-based Charter and Youth Clubs nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Breed Registry and Equestrian Association Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Animal Production (11521), Horses and Other Equine Production (112920)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Training, Stables & Equine Services (MPAEADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Horse Breeding & Stud Farms (AFAEAGAA), Sport/Show Horse Training & Performance Programs (AFAEAGAF)

Keywords

• Breed registry services
• Equestrian membership association
• Horse pedigree records
• Equine competition programs
• Youth equestrian programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees providing access to showing eligibility, member-only publications, online tools, and partner discounts.
2. Registry Services: Horse registration services including initial registration, transfer of ownership, half Saddlebred registration, and related horse services with associated fees.
3. Event Registration: Convention and competition event registration fees including Youth Conference registration and Expo booth sales.
4. Merchandise Sales: ASHBA branded merchandise sold through the online shop.
5. Donations and Grants: Donations, corporate sponsorships, and legacy giving programs support the association's activities.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ASHBA serves as the official breed registry and national membership association for the American Saddlebred horse in the United States. Its core offerings include horse registration services (initial registration, half-Saddlebred registration, ownership transfer), pedigree and horse record search tools, annual competition programs and awards, sport horse programs, futurity prize programs, youth development programs, annual conventions, and breeder educational resources. The organization is supported by an online member portal (myASHBA), a mobile app, and a merchandise storefront.

Product overview

The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) operates as a breed registry and membership organization for American Saddlebred horses, not a technology company. The organization offers a unified set of services centered around horse registration and pedigree recording, complemented by member services including competition programs, youth development, and educational resources. The core offering is the Horse Registry Services, supported by the myASHBA member portal for online access to horse records and pedigrees, Horse Search Tools for searching records, Competition Programs managing awards and events, Sport Horse Programs covering multiple equestrian disciplines, Prize Programs including futurity incentives, the ASHBA App for mobile access, Youth Programs for member development, Convention Events for community gathering, and Breeder Resources for breeding education. The organization is headquartered at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Horse Registry Services Official breed registry services for American Saddlebred horses, including initial horse registration, half-Saddlebred registration, ownership transfer documentation, and pedigree recording. For horse owners, breeders, and buyers who need authoritative breed documentation and competition eligibility.
• ASHBA Membership Annual membership program providing access to showing eligibility, member-only publications including the Journal of the American Saddlebred, online tools, partner discounts, and access to grants and scholarships. For horse owners, breeders, riders, and breed enthusiasts.
• Competition Programs and Annual Awards Competition management programs including annual awards such as Academy, Breed Ambassador, Breeders Award, Broodmare Hall of Fame, High Point, Saddlebred Record CH, Sport Horse, and Youth, along with a competition calendar and show results. For show competitors and horse owners seeking eligibility, points accumulation, and recognition.
• Sport Horse Programs Sport horse competition programs covering multiple equestrian disciplines including carriage driving, competitive trail, dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, fox hunting, hunter/jumper, ranch riding, trail riding, and western dressage. For American Saddlebred owners competing in non-traditional show disciplines.
• Prize Programs (Futurity) Futurity prize programs including the main Futurity and Half Saddlebred Futurity, providing breeding incentives and awards for nominated horses. For breeders investing in American Saddlebred breeding programs.
• Youth Programs Youth development programs including youth clubs, junior judging, Saddle Time program, youth scholarships, youth council, youth awards, and academy awards. For young equestrians and their families developing skills in the American Saddlebred breed.
• Convention Events Annual convention events including Convention 2027, Convention 2026, Convention 2024, Convention 2023, and Saddlebred Legends events, featuring speakers, Expo, Ladies Legends of Saturday Night celebration, and youth conference. For members, sponsors, and exhibitors across the Saddlebred community.
• ASHBA Mobile App Mobile application providing members with access to membership services, horse information, and association updates. For ASHBA members who want on-the-go access to breed and member resources.
• Breeder Resources Educational resources for breeders including breeder spotlight features, breeder's perspective articles, continuing education conversations, futurities information, and breeding guides. For American Saddlebred breeders seeking education and best practices.
• Shop ASHBA Merchandise Online storefront selling ASHBA branded merchandise and apparel. For members, supporters, and breed enthusiasts wanting branded products.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• FreedmansminorOthersFeatured partner in the Partners Along For The Ride section. Nature of partnership not explicitly detailed on the website.
• EquidaeminorOthersFeatured partner in the Partners Along For The Ride section. Nature of partnership not explicitly detailed on the website.
• Fluid FilmminorOthersFeatured partner in the Partners Along For The Ride section. Nature of partnership not explicitly detailed on the website.
• Independent EquineminorOthersFeatured partner in the Partners Along For The Ride section. Nature of partnership not explicitly detailed on the website.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Quarter Horse Association: The largest US breed registry and membership association, serving Quarter Horse owners with pedigree recording, competition programs, youth initiatives, and member services — a direct functional analog to ASHBA at materially greater scale.
• American Paint Horse Association: National breed registry for Paint Horses offering registration, transfers, performance tracking, competition programs, and youth activities — closely parallel to ASHBA's registry-led operating model.
• International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association: Breed registry and membership organization for Andalusian and Lusitano horses with similar registry, showing, and member-service structure to ASHBA.
• National Reining Horse Association: International association governing reining competitions with affiliate membership structure, competition awards, and youth programs — a discipline-focused analog to ASHBA's competition and awards model.
• American Morgan Horse Association: National breed registry and membership association for Morgan horses, offering pedigree recording, showing competitions, youth programs, and a network of regional clubs — structurally and operationally analogous to ASHBA.
• Appaloosa Horse Club: International breed registry for Appaloosa horses providing pedigree recording, membership services, and competition programs — a directly comparable breed association in scope and structure.
• Friesian Horse Society: North American breed registry and membership association for Friesian horses, offering registration, member services, and competition programs — directly analogous to ASHBA at similar scale.
• Arabian Horse Association: Breed registry and membership association for Arabian horses in the US, providing registration, competition programs across multiple disciplines, youth development, and member services — directly comparable to ASHBA's mission and service mix.

Broad incumbents

• The Jockey Club: The breed registry for Thoroughbred horses in North America, operating at significantly larger scale than ASHBA but serving the same fundamental registry and pedigree-recording function for its breed.
• United States Equestrian Federation: The national governing body for equestrian sport in the US — not a breed registry, but provides the competition infrastructure, rules, and safe-sport framework within which ASHBA members compete, making it a key institutional peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@saddlebredofficial
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/SaddlebredAssoc
• Facebookfacebook.com/saddlebredofficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/saddlebredofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-saddlebred-horse-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Saddlebred Horse Association