Horse
Breed Description:
The Kentucky Mountain Saddle breed of horse is aptly named, as it was developed to be a gaited saddle horse in Kentucky in the latter half of the last century. The most distinguishing feature of the Kentucky Mountain Saddle horse is the four-beat gait, which allows the animal to move in the same hoof pattern as a walk, but at very high speeds. The Kentucky Mountain Saddle horse has a handsome countenance with a small but refined head, wide forehead and a flat profile. The breed has a medium-sized neck that is muscular and features a luxurious mane. The chest is deep and wide, rising up toward the shoulders, which slope moderately. The breed standard allows for any color, such as bay, chestnut, gray, or black; and small patches of white may be permissible on the face and body.
Temperament:
The Kentucky Mountain Saddle breed of horse was bred with temperament as a top priority. Farmers in Kentucky required an animal that could be put to any use and could be managed by a young adult or even a child. This was because in early American history, young children often worked on the farm, including heavy work with draught animals. Therefore, the Kentucky Mountain Saddle horse was bred to be extremely willing to work, docile in nearly every way, and gentle under saddle, in the harness, and on the line. The breed is highly intelligent and can easily be trained for any purpose.
Height:
A very wide range from 11 hh to 16 hh
Health Problems:
The Kentucky Mountain Saddle breed of horse is a hardy animal that experiences few health concerns. While many different horse breeds were used when developing the Kentucky Mountain Saddle breed, the most prominent was probably the Tennessee Walking horse. As a result, the Kentucky Mountain Saddle horse may experience similar health problems to the Tennessee Walker. Tennessee Walkers are predisposed to hip and joint problems, and may also suffer from moon blindness. A more serious condition, Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy, is frequent in Tennessee Walking horses, and can lead to severe issues with gait and overall quality of life.
Origin:
The Kentucky Mountain Saddle breed of horse was developed by the mountainous people living in Kentucky during the last 200 years. These hill farmers required a horse that was hardy, sure-footed, willing and able to work hard, and docile enough to be trained by anyone, for any purpose. Many different breeds were used in the horse, and pedigree and other breeding information was not recorded until the 1980’s. However, today the breed enjoys its status as a popular show breed, and as such the Kentucky Mountain Saddle breed of horse has been accepted by breed registries and has specific standards that must be met. 