What Is the American Saddlebred and How Does ASHA of Canada Support Owners?

The American Saddlebred is a purebred horse breed, and in Canada its breeding, registration, and promotion are overseen by the American Saddlebred Horse Association of Canada (ASHA of Canada). If you own, breed, or plan to register a Saddlebred in Canada, ASHA of Canada is the organization that sets breeding standards, keeps records, and runs programs for members — with registration and membership handled through the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation (CLRC).

What ASHA of Canada Does

According to the association, its stated object is the encouragement, development, promotion, and regulation of the breeding of purebred American Saddlebred Horses in Canada. In practice that means ASHA of Canada:

• Works to establish breeding standards for the breed in Canada
• Keeps records and collects, preserves, and publishes documents relating to those breedings
• Carries out a system of registration under the CLRC
• Encourages and supports Canadian breeders, who the association notes have been producing top quality American Saddlebreds for over 60 years

So the association functions as both a breed registry partner and a member organization for Canadian Saddlebred owners and breeders.

Membership: What It Is and What It Gives You

Membership in ASHA of Canada is what keeps the association running and gives members a voice in it.

What membership provides, based on the association's own description:

• Members are subject to the rules and regulations set out in ASHA of Canada's constitution
• Members are eligible to hold office and vote at the annual meeting
• Membership fees help support the ongoing operations of ASHA of Canada

How to join or renew: Memberships are renewed and sold through the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation (CLRC), not directly through a separate checkout on the association site. If you want to become a member or renew, the CLRC is the route the association points to.

Breeding and Registering a Saddlebred in Canada

Registration in Canada runs through the CLRC system, which ASHA of Canada operates under. The association lists breeding and registering as a core function alongside membership.

If your goal is to register or breed a Saddlebred in Canada, the practical path is:

1. Confirm your horse qualifies as a purebred American Saddlebred under the association's breeding standards.
2. Handle the registration or breeding paperwork through the CLRC system.
3. Maintain ASHA of Canada membership if you want voting rights, eligibility to hold office, and to support the association's record-keeping work.

The association does not publish a step-by-step registration walkthrough on the page referenced here, so for specific forms, fees, or timelines you would need to go through the CLRC directly.

The Versatility Program

ASHA of Canada developed its Versatility Program to encourage members to continue to use and display the versatile American Saddlebred. Under the program, the association offers incentives to exhibitors of Saddlebreds in Canada for participation in a wide variety of activities and disciplines.

This matters if you ride or show your Saddlebred in more than one discipline — the program is designed to reward that breadth of use rather than a single competitive track.

Where to Find News and Resources

The association's site organizes its content around a few main areas: Membership, Breeding & Registering, News, and the Versatility Program. Canadian Saddlebred owners looking for updates, program details, or registration information should start with those sections, and use the CLRC for membership transactions and registration records.

Quick Reference

If you're a Canadian Saddlebred owner or breeder, the association is the body that connects breed standards, registration, and member programs — and the CLRC is the operational entry point for membership and registration transactions.