[1][2] The National Show Horse combines the refinement of the Arabian with the animation of the Saddlebred.

The resulting horse has the high-set, upright, long, swan-like neck of the Saddlebred.

The horses are close-coupled with a level topline and have a very deep, laid back shoulder.

The NSH may be a variety of colors, including the traditional bay, gray, chestnut, and black of the Arabian, with Saddlebred ancestry adding a broader range of color than seen in the Arabian breed, including, most notably, pinto and palomino.

They are horses with high-stepping action and can be trained to move with a very elevated front end.