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You'll have to visit sometime to really appreciate it. The Appalachian terrain of Eastern Kentucky is breathtakingly beautiful, but exhausting. Lush, steep hills, plummeting valleys, and hidden draws are wedged together in a puzzle only an all-knowing Creator could conceive of, or hope to figure out. The fertile soil doesn't know or care that it covers such mean geography. Farmers and settlers of the area never gave it much thought either, only that it was theirs to work, and that any travel across it had better be worth the effort. And that any horse worth keeping there had better be worth his salt. Best Kept Secret These "Kentucky Saddlers" or "Mountain Horses" as they were known
for generations, were the pride of the region for their hardiness,
smooth gait and sweet, willing dispositions. From farm fields to
Civil War battlefields, these horses proved indispensable. Genetic markers found through blood typing research by the University of Kentucky, show that the horses bred in these Kentucky mountains contributed significantly to the Tennessee Walking Horse, the American Saddlebred and others, including most recently, the Rocky Mountain Horse. Indeed, in 1994 the Governor of Kentucky, then the Honorable Brereton C. Jones, issued an official proclamation which states: "The Horsemen of Eastern Kentucky developed a type of horse - known as the MOUNTAIN PLEASURE HORSE - to be smooth of gait, gentle of disposition, willing to work and surefooted as necessary for mountain terrain; and" The Beauty of the Beast The gait is smooth and from the saddle, relatively action-free, with ideally, only a slight front to back motion. The Mountain Pleasure gait is essentially the same as a low, moderate rack, in that it should be 4-beat, square, smooth and without exaggerated knee or hock action. Like other gaited breeds, the MPH covers the ground efficiently, quickly and smoothly without that instant of suspension that jars the rider of a trotting horse. The Mountain Pleasure Horse Association Today, the MPHA registration books are closed. Registerable horses must be the offspring of a registered stallion and a registered mare, with that parentage verified through blood typing. In addition, all horses submitted for registration must demonstrate gait (via videotape) to the satisfaction of the Board of Directors of the association. For more information on Mountain Pleasure Horses contact: Mountain Pleasure Horse Association |
The
Mountain Pleasure Horse
As
is the familiar story with many breeds, the horses were trusted
with precious cargo from school children to grandma to doctors and
clergy. But just as importantly, these rugged, reliable, smooth-gaited
horses came to bear the foundation of other breeds that were, in
years to come in other places, entrusted just as faithfully.
well
set on and easily breaking at the poll for a naturally proud carriage,
and a broad face with kind, yet bold, eyes. Medium-sized, well-shaped
ears and ample mane and tail round out the appearance. All solid
colors are found, including bay, black, chestnut/sorrel, roan, gray
cremello, buckskin, palomino, and chocolate. Golden coated horses
predominate in some lines. Spotted horses are currently discouraged
from registration.