Rocky Mountain Horse_Breed Profile

hind legs and hooves are slightly angled to enhance and support that gait.
Breeding and Uses
The Rocky Mountain horse is highly versatile and its uses today reflect that versatility. This breed is highly preferred as a pleasure horse thanks to its comfortable gait and excellent temperament. Its also a great choice for trail riding and its surefooted hardy nature makes it well suited for tackling even the most demanding uneven trails. Because the horses gait allows it to cover great distances without tiring many riders seek out this breed for competitive trail or endurance riding.
These horses are also becoming increasingly popular in the show ring. They have an impressive way of moving and their beauty captures attention. Theyre often ridden saddleseat and excel in dressage and eventing.
The Rocky Mountain Horse is docile and well mannered enough to be a good kids horse. These horses are also often used as cattle horses since theyre level minded and their gait allows a rider to comfortably spend hours in the saddle.
Colors and Markings
Rocky Mountain Horses should have a solid colored coat the breed is often characterized by a chocolate coat color and a flaxen mane and tail. Black bay palomino and chestnut colors are also common. The Rocky Mountain Horse Association will not register horses that have white above the knee or hock. Horses also cant have excess white on their faces such as a bald face marking to be accepted into the registry.
Unique Characteristics of the Rocky Mountain Horse
The Rocky Mountain Horses natural ambling gait the single foot is a four  beat gait. This gait replaces the trot but because the horse follows a four beat footfall pattern it always has one foot on the ground to create a smooth ride with minimal movement. The horse can conserve energy during the single foot allowing it to travel great distances at this gait without tiring.
There are about 20000 of these horses in the country today and youll find about half of them in Kentucky.
Diet and Nutrition
Rocky Mountain horses require a healthy balance of carbohydrates proteins fats minerals vitamins and water in their diet. They can sustain on fresh grass hay rolled oats and other grains such as barley and bran. Treats such as carrots and apples can be given in moderation.
Common Health and Behavior Problems
Rocky Mountain horses are typically highly trainable gentle and eager to please. But they are prone to certain health issues including hyperkalemic periodic paralysis polysaccharide storage myopathy