Rocky Mountain Horse
The Rocky Mountain Horse is a horse breed developed in the state of Kentucky in the United States. Despite its name, it originated not in the Rocky Mountains, but instead in the Appalachian Mountains. A foundation stallion, brought from the western United States to eastern Kentucky around 1890, began the Rocky Mountain type in the late 19th century. In the mid-20th century, a stallion named Old Tobe, owned by a prominent breeder, was used to develop the modern type; today most Rocky Mountain Horses trace back to this stallion. In 1986, the Rocky Mountain Horse Association was formed and by 2005 has registered over 12,000 horses. The breed is known for its preferred "chocolate" coat color and flaxen mane and tail, the result of the relatively rare silver dapple gene on a black coat, seen in much of the population. It also exhibits a four-beat ambling gait known as the "single-foot". Originally developed as a multi-purpose riding, driving and light draft horse, today it is used mainly for trail riding and working cattle.
The breed exhibits a natural ambling gait, called the single-foot,[6] which replaces the trot seen in a majority of horse breeds.[1] Both gaits are an intermediate speed between a walk and a canter or gallop; ambling gaits are four-beat gaits, whereas the trot is a two-beat gait. The extra footfalls provide additional smoothness to a rider because the horse always has at least one foot on the ground. This minimizes movement of the horse's topline and removes the bounce of a two-beat gait, caused by a moment of suspension followed by the jolt of two feet hitting the ground as the horse shifts from one pair of legs to the other.[7] The value of an intermediate speed is that the horse conserves energy.[8] More than thirty horse breeds are "gaited," able to perform a four-beat ambling gait, and some can also trot.[7] Thus, a Rocky Mountain Horse, with rider, can use the single-foot to cover rough ground at around 7 miles per hour (11 km/h) and short stretches of smooth ground at up to 16 miles per hour (26 km/h).[3] The faster speed is known as the rack.[6] In comparison, the average medium trot speed is 6 to 8 miles per hour (9.7 to 13 km/h).[9]
The Rocky Mountain Horse is a horse breed developed in the state of Kentucky in the United States. Despite its name, it originated not in the Rocky Mountains, but instead in the Appalachian Mountains. A foundation stallion, brought from the western United States to eastern Kentucky around 1890, began the Rocky Mountain type in the late 19th century. In the mid-20th century, a stallion named Old Tobe, owned by a prominent breeder, was used to develop the modern type; today most Rocky Mountain Horses trace back to this stallion. In 1986, the Rocky Mountain Horse Association was formed and by 2005 has registered over 12,000 horses. The breed is known for its preferred "chocolate" coat color and flaxen mane and tail, the result of the relatively rare silver dapple gene on a black coat, seen in much of the population. It also exhibits a four-beat ambling gait known as the "single-foot". Originally developed as a multi-purpose riding, driving and light draft horse, today it is used mainly for trail riding and working cattle.
The breed exhibits a natural ambling gait, called the single-foot,[6] which replaces the trot seen in a majority of horse breeds.[1] Both gaits are an intermediate speed between a walk and a canter or gallop; ambling gaits are four-beat gaits, whereas the trot is a two-beat gait. The extra footfalls provide additional smoothness to a rider because the horse always has at least one foot on the ground. This minimizes movement of the horse's topline and removes the bounce of a two-beat gait, caused by a moment of suspension followed by the jolt of two feet hitting the ground as the horse shifts from one pair of legs to the other.[7] The value of an intermediate speed is that the horse conserves energy.[8] More than thirty horse breeds are "gaited," able to perform a four-beat ambling gait, and some can also trot.[7] Thus, a Rocky Mountain Horse, with rider, can use the single-foot to cover rough ground at around 7 miles per hour (11 km/h) and short stretches of smooth ground at up to 16 miles per hour (26 km/h).[3] The faster speed is known as the rack.[6] In comparison, the average medium trot speed is 6 to 8 miles per hour (9.7 to 13 km/h).[9]
These horses are also in high demand. Due to this some have not been bred well and have hotter temperaments and also may not be doing the correct gait. They can also be very costly. Make sure to buy one set in it's gaits and calm enough for you to handle.
Remember when buying it is best to learn how to keep them in gait. Take some lessons before you take the horse home and make sure it has the energy level that you are able to control. Although the young horses can be calm, they also have not had as much exposure and are usually more athletic.
Remember when buying it is best to learn how to keep them in gait. Take some lessons before you take the horse home and make sure it has the energy level that you are able to control. Although the young horses can be calm, they also have not had as much exposure and are usually more athletic.