Mountain Pleasure Horse facts for kids
Mountain Pleasure Horse.
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| Distinguishing features | Gaited, sturdy build, calm temperament |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Breed standards | |
| Mountain Pleasure Horse Association | Breed standards |
| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
The Mountain Pleasure Horse is a special type of horse that was first raised in the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky. These horses are known for their smooth, easy way of moving, called a gait.
Scientists have done genetic testing and found that Mountain Pleasure Horses are related to other famous breeds like the American Saddlebred and Tennessee Walking Horse. Some families have been breeding these horses for over 180 years!
In 1989, a group called the Mountain Pleasure Horse Association (MPHA) was started. Their main goal was to protect these unique horses and help more of them be born. They were the first group to use blood tests (and now DNA tests) to make sure a horse's parents were correctly identified.
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What Makes Mountain Pleasure Horses Special?
Mountain Pleasure Horses are medium-sized. They usually stand about 14.2 to 15.2 hands tall. This means they are not too big and not too small.
They have a strong body that helps them stay healthy for a long time. Their shoulders are set back, which lets them take long, reaching steps. Their strong back legs help them move easily on rough or steep land.
These horses often have a nice, arched neck and a kind look in their eyes. They are known for being gentle and smart, making them great family horses.
Their Smooth Gaits
The Mountain Pleasure Horse has a special way of moving called a four-beat lateral gait. This means their legs move in a specific order that makes their ride very smooth. It's like a fast, easy walk.
This smooth gait is called an ambling gait or racking gait. It has been passed down through many generations of careful breeding. Baby Mountain Pleasure Horses, called foals, can often do this special gait just hours after they are born!
Where Did Mountain Pleasure Horses Come From?
Mountain Pleasure Horses are descendants of smooth-gaited horses brought to America by early settlers. Small, tough Hobbies (gaited ponies from the British Isles) helped create the American Narragansett Pacer.
The Narragansett Pacer was bred in the New England Colonies in the 1600s. It was a fast horse for racing. It also had a smooth ambling gait, which was perfect for traveling between towns, especially on rough trails.
By the early 1800s, the Narragansett Pacer was mostly gone from New England. But some continued to live in the Appalachian Mountains. People there loved them for their smooth gaits, toughness, and sweet personalities. The last known Narragansett mare died in 1880.
Mountain Horses in Kentucky
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In Eastern Kentucky, these horses were simply called "saddle horses" or "mountain horses." They were very useful. They could work in the fields or carry a rider comfortably, depending on what was needed that day.
The mountains made it hard to travel, but mail and salesmen still got around. They relied on their "old-time mountain horses" for transportation. Even without formal records, families often knew their horses' history back to the early 1800s.
Breeders carefully chose the best stallions for their mares. These stallions were often named after the families who owned them, like "Coffey’s Major." People rarely forgot where their good horses came from.
From the early 1900s to the 1940s, breeders of the Tennessee Walking Horse often visited Eastern Kentucky. They looked for well-gaited mares to breed with their own stallions. These mares helped make the Walking Horse breed even better.
Some beautiful Palomino horses were also sold to a horse broker. He bought horses for famous cowboy Roy Rogers.
Genetic Connections to Other Breeds
A scientist named Ernest “Gus” Cothran, from the University of Kentucky, studied horse breeds using blood tests. His research showed that the Mountain Pleasure Horse is related to the Rocky Mountain Horse, American Saddlebred, and Tennessee Walking Horse.
Newer genetic testing methods have confirmed these findings. This shows how important the Mountain Pleasure Horse is to the history of other American gaited breeds.
The Mountain Pleasure Horse Association
In 1989, a group of Kentucky breeders decided to create a special club for these horses. They chose "Mountain Pleasure Horse" as the breed's official name.
On "Certification Days," people brought their old mountain horses to be checked by experts. The best horses were chosen as "foundation stock," meaning they would be the starting point for the new breed. Their family trees, called pedigrees, were written down.
Blood samples were sent to the University of Kentucky to prove which horses were related. This is how the Mountain Pleasure Horse became a recognized breed. The association stopped registering new stallions in 1991, with 100 registered. They stopped registering mares in 1992, with 400 mares.
On September 29, 1994, Brereton C. Jones, who was the Governor of Kentucky, made a special announcement. He said that the Mountain Pleasure Horse was an important breed. He noted that these horses were known for being gentle, smooth-gaited, hardworking, and sure-footed.
The Governor also mentioned that these horses had been bred for over 160 years. He said that University of Kentucky research showed they were the original horses for all other American gaited breeds. You can see a copy of this document on the Mountain Pleasure Horse Association's website.
Why Are Mountain Pleasure Horses Important?
Because of their special genetics and small numbers, the Equus Survival Trust has put the Mountain Pleasure Horse on its "watch list." This means their numbers are "critical," and they need protection to make sure the breed continues to thrive.
From 1994 to 2009, the MPHA only registered horses from its original group. But in March 2009, the MPHA board decided to open the books. This allowed some other "outstanding mountain stallions" to be registered. The goal was to help increase the number of breeding horses.
In 2014, the MPHA board looked at their records again. They realized that the new program had some problems.
So, in 2014, the MPHA board created two groups for registered horses: Purebreds and Appendix. Horses in the Appendix group can still join all MPHA events. But only horses from the original foundation stock are listed in the Purebred section.
By clearly separating these groups, the MPHA could get funding again from the Kentucky Horse Breeders Incentive Fund (KBIF). The MPHA announced a plan to give awards to Mountain Pleasure Horse breeders from 2015-2017.
Through this program, purebred Mountain Pleasure Horses can earn points. They do this by competing in special trail riding or obstacle courses in Kentucky and the United States.
