About The Breed

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=80 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="03c00500dvldtc.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Rocky Mountain Horses at Canowindra</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rocky Mountain Horses at Canowindra"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="horses_for_sale.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Horses for Sale">Horses for Sale</A>   |   <A HREF="stallions.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stallions">Stallions</A>   |   <B>About The Breed</B>   |   <A HREF="my_farm.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="My Farm">My Farm</A>   |   <A HREF="photo_album.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Album">Photo Album</A>   |   <A HREF="new_foals.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Foals">New Foals</A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sold Horses">Sold Horses</A>   |   <A HREF="journey_of_my_foals.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Journey Of My Foals">Journey Of My Foals</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="03dd2c00dvldtc.png"> <div> <IMG SRC="0e2aa8f0.jpg" border=0 width="170" height="143" ALT="V.B.F. Kawlidga" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rocky Mountain Horses at Canowindra"><IMG SRC="0b175120.jpg" border=0 width="117" height="18" ALT="home link" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <div> <A HREF="horses_for_sale.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Horses for Sale"><IMG SRC="0bf75120.jpg" border=0 width="117" height="18" ALT="for sale link" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <div> <A HREF="stallions.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stallions"><IMG SRC="0b275120.jpg" border=0 width="117" height="18" ALT="stallion link" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <div> <A HREF="my_farm.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="My Farm"><B><IMG SRC="35b75130.jpg" border=0 width="117" height="19" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="photo_album.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Album"><IMG SRC="0b575120.jpg" border=0 width="117" height="18" ALT="photo album link" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <div> <A HREF="new_foals.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Foals"><B><IMG SRC="17d75120.jpg" border=0 width="117" height="18" ALT=" Link for New Foals" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="journey_of_my_foals.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Journey Of My Foals"><B><IMG SRC="35c75130.jpg" border=0 width="117" height="19" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> About The Breed</div> <div> <I><B>Tradition</B></I> has it that around the turn of the century a young horse appeared in eastern Kentucky that gave rise to a line of horses that have been prized and treasured in this part of the country ever since. The basic characteristics are a medium-sized horse of gentle temperament with an easy ambling four-beat gait. This gait made it the horse of choice on the farms and the rugged foothills of the Appalachians. It was a horse for all seasons. It could pull the plows in the small fields, work cattle, be ridden bareback by four children to the fishing hole, or to town comfortably on Saturday. They even performed well hitched to the buggy Sunday morning to go to church. Fancy barns and stalls were not necessary. Because of its cold-blooded nature, it tolerated the winters in Kentucky with a minimum of shelter. Naturally, out crossing with local horses did occur but the basic characteristics of a strong genetic line have continued.</div> <bR> <div> In Spout Springs, Kentucky, on the farm of Sam Tuttle, these horses found a nurturing ground. Sam, who had the concession for horseback riding at the Natural Bridge State Park, used these horses for many years to haul green and inexperienced people over rough and rugged trails. Old Tobe, his most treasured stallion, who fathered fine horses up until the ripe old age of 37, was as "sure" footed and as gentle a horse as could be found. He was the one that carried the young, the old, or the unsure over the mountain trails of Kentucky without faltering, even though a breeding stallion. Everyone who rode the stallion fell in love with him. He had the perfect gait and temperament. Many of the present Rocky Mountain Horses® carry his bloodline.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>The breed</B></I> is best known for gentleness. It is an easy keeper and a wonderful riding horse with a strong heart and endurance. Today the Rocky Mountain Horse® is being used as a pleasure horse, for trail, and competitive or endurance riding. As show horses, the breed is rapidly gaining in popularity because of its beauty and unique way of moving in the ring. The calm temperament of this horse makes it ideally suited for working around cattle and for 4-H projects. These horses have a lot of natural endurance, they are sure-footed on rough ground and, because of their gait, they require a minimum of effort by both horse and rider so that together they can cover a greater distance with less tiring.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>It is obvious</B></I> that a haphazard and unorganized maintenance of this breed would eventually result in its dissipation and loss. For this reason, in the summer of 1986, those who were interested in the breed got together to form the Rocky Mountain Horse Association. The purpose of this association is to maintain the breed, to increase the number of horses in the breed and expand the area which has knowledge of this fine horse. To that end, the association has established a registry which has shown steady and well-regulated growth in the number of horses registered. It is critical that standards be maintained and a panel of examiners has been set up by the association to provide vigorous supervisors to the growth and development of the breed. To achieve this, ALL horses must be examined for breed characteristics and approved prior to breeding. </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>The established characteristics for the breed are: </B></I></div> <div>  1. The horse must be of medium height from 14-2 to 16 hands, a wide chest sloping 45 degrees on the shoulder with bold eyes and well shaped ears. </div> <div>  2. The horse must have a natural ambling four-beat gait (single foot or rack) with no evidence of pacing. When the horse moves you can count four distinct hoof beats which produce a cadence of equal rhythm, just like a walk: left hind, left fore, right hind, right fore. Each individual horse has its own speed and natural way of going, traveling 7-20 miles per hour. This is a naturally occurring gait present from birth that does not require any training aids or action devices (i.e. chains, soring or built up shoes.) </div> <div> 3. It must be of good temperament and easy to manage. </div> <div> 4. All Rocky Mountain Horses® have a solid body color.  Facial markings are acceptable</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>        as long as they are not excessive. There may not be any white above the knee or hock. </div> <bR> <div> It is one of the finest natural occurring breeds; it may be trained to compete in any horse related activity and probably represents the most ideal horse for the family, for the trail ride and for endurance purposes.</div> <div> The Rocky Mountain Horse® presents strength and stamina with the smoothness of a four-beat gait and style of its Spanish background. It provides the discerning rider with a horse of superior skill and beauty. </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>What is the difference between Rocky Mountain Horses & Kentucky Mountain Horses ?</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Many of the "mountain horses" in both associations come from the same breeding sources tracing back for many years. When the RMHA was founded in 1986, some of those mountain horses and owners were brought together and the Association was formed. Later, when the RMHA was having some difficult problems, two groups split off and formed their own groups. One of those groups was the MPHA and the other was KMSHA. KMSHA was formed when it appeared that the<B> </B>RMHA might not survive as an association.</div> <bR> <div> The intent, from what is understood at the time, was to ensure that the mountain horse survived, its history honored, and the preservation and promotion of the horse secured. Ironically, all three associations have survived to date. As time passes, there are more and more differences being noted among the horses, probably due to each Association's registration rules, etc., which may affect not only the selection of horses, but also a number of other factors. However, the original gene pool was a common one<B> </B>for the three associations. Many RMHA members, at the time of the separations, chose to register their horses in one or two, or even all three associations. Nevertheless, when shown, the horses must be shown according to each Association's Show Rules and are judged according to the rules of that Association. For the most part, relationships among the associations are amiable.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>