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| Rocky Mountain Horse |
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| Tradition 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. |
| The breed 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 his 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. |
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