Our History
In the early 1980s, an informal exchange of Saddle Seat riders for international competitions began between the United States and South Africa. Saddle Seat Equitation, a style of horseback riding fairly unique at that time to the United States, had its first opportunity to go international. At this time the seat was ridden mostly on the American Saddlebred breed of horse although the seat was also popular in the Morgan, National Show Horse and Arabian breeds. This exchange was initiated by South African Pietie Joubert, heading the South African Amateur Saddlebred Union (SAASU). He contacted the American Saddlebred Horse Association in hopes of spreading the popularity of the beautiful style of riding. South Africa was introduced to the art of Saddle Seat Equitation when they began importing the American Saddlebred in the early 20th century.
In 1992, the competition was renamed the Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup and an exchange between the two countries every two years was created. Formal guidelines for U.S. team selection would not exist until 1996, nor were formal rules governing the International competition in place until that time. In that year, due largely to the continuing efforts of Mr. Joubert and American Anne Judd, the competition became truly international and took steps to formalize. Rules governing the competition were created and an International World Cup Committee comprised of delegates from each participating country was established. Five nations competed for the coveted World Cup trophy, designed with gold and diamond accents. This beautiful trophy donated by South Africans Kosie and Dina Botha remains in the possession of the winning country during the two-year interim between competitions. In 1996 the United States, after a tremendous amount of effort in organizing and hosting the first competition of its kind at Equitana in Louisville, Kentucky, was rewarded when Team USA emerged victorious.
In 1998, the U.S. operation incorporated as a 501(c)3 organization. In that year, the U.S. followed a selection process similar to the one used in 1996 to field a team, which then traveled to Paarl, South Africa for the next competition. Again, after heavy competition from four other nations, the United States captured the coveted World Cup. The 1998 competition also featured the first Five-Gaited equitation event, held as an invitational competition. The five-gaited event would go on to become a permanent part of the competition in 2000.
It was at the 1998 event in Paarl that a meeting of the International World Cup Committee was held. As a result of that meeting, an international sporting body, the first to recognize Saddle Seat Equitation, was created. The International Saddle Seat Equitation Association (ISSEA) has two primary objectives-to administrate the International Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup competition and to promote the Saddle Seat discipline internationally. Comprised of members from all nations participating in the World Cup, this organization hopes to encourage visibility for Saddle Seat by fostering continued international exchanges of riders for competition.
The success of the Saddle Seat World Cup event has brought about many changes in the horse industry in the United States as well as in the other founding member countries of South Africa, Namibia, Canada and Great Britain. The goals of the creators of this competition were to spread the art of Saddle Seat Equitation throughout the world and to elevate the sport to international acceptance and recognition. It was the intent of the founders to help raise the credibility of these fine athletes and their beautiful horses to that of other top international athletes. All of these objectives have been met in a relatively short history.
Interestingly, there have been some great additional achievements that have occurred as a result of the event. The effects have benefited the breeders of horses that compete in this discipline by increasing their visibility and promoting sales internationally. Our coaches, trainers and judges are now traveling internationally doing clinics and judging shows. Our athletes are competing in pre-World Cup invitational events worldwide. Even equine businesses such as horse care product manufacturers, clothiers, insurance agencies, jewelers, tour guides and veterinary product manufacturers have benefited from increased exposure on an international level. One of the most important accomplishments has been the exchange of information on social, methodological and technological levels.
Whatever your interest in the Saddle Seat World Cup, we hope you will join us as we continue our efforts to take Saddle Seat and our athletes to new heights of recognition on the world stage.