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Rocky Mountain Horses
04/07/2009 - By Jennifer Nichols
Snickerdoodles, a chocolate/flax Rocky Mountain mare
Rocky Mountain horses are a gaited breed which originated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains of eastern KY in the late 1800s. These sure-footed saddle horses have endurance, sturdy build, and a smooth gait as well.
History says that a gaited colt was brought to KY from the Rocky Mountain region of the US around 1890. He was referred to as "the Rocky Mountain Horse" by the local KY because of his origins, and he's the horse credited for the start of the Rocky Mountain Horse breed. Little is known about this gaited stallion, but oral hisotians say he was chocolate-colored with a flaxen mane and tail. The stallion was bred to the local Appalachian saddle mares in a relatively small geographical area and the basic characteristics of a strong genetic line continued.
Sam Tuttle bred many of these "Rockies" in the first part of the 20th century, and his stallion, "Tobe" can be found as a foundation stallion in many pedigrees. He was a calm horse, and carried many tourists on trail rides (even though he was a breeding stallion). He sired many foals until he was 34 years old, and he died a peaceful death at age 37.
In 1986, a number of people banded together to form the first mountain horse breed registry, which was called the "Rocky Mountain Horse Association". These foundation members scoured the hills of Kentucky to find horses which met the characteristics of the ideal mountain horse: Smooth (4-beat, even) gait, sturdy conformation, and specific height in the horses (currently, horses are acceptable from 14.2-16 H). The association, in order to keep breed standards high, began a "Certification" program for horses. This entails videotaping a horse under saddle, and proving (to three judges) that the horse has the correct looks, disposition, and gait under saddle. When a horse becomes "Certified to Breed", the horse's registration document will get a gold seal, and the horse then can be shown, and it's offspring can be registered in the association.
The Rocky Mountain horse is a beautiful example of an all purpose saddle horse today. They can be used on the trail, under saddle or pulliing a cart, or as a show horse. Many people use them in a ranch situation, as they have lots of endurance (and their smooth gait makes it easy to ride one all day long). These horses can walk, trot, canter and gait, and they have wonderful dispositions as well. They're definitely a "people" horse. Rocky Mountain horse can come in any solid colors (excessive white is not acceptable), but the signature color is the chocolate brown dapple with a flaxen or white mane and tail. Newer colors being seen more in the breed these days include roans, palominos, duns and cremellos.
So, if you're looking for a beautiful trail riding partner who is smoothly gaited and beautiful as well, please consider the Rocky Mountain horse. You'll have a friend for life, and your body will appreciate the gentle ride that your new horse is capable of giving to you. Happy trails!
