Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse: Breed Profile

Many horse breeds around the world have been developed specifically for their local environment. One such breed is the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse. These horses are closely related to the Tennessee Walking Horse and other gaited breeds originating in the southern United States. The Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse has a naturally smooth gait that delights riders who prefer an exceptionally even gentle ride.
Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse History and Origins
For over 200 years the people of the eastern Kentucky mountains have bred Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses for their uniquely smooth gait hardiness and calm demeanor. They are allpurpose horses equally capable of working in the fields or carrying a person over rugged terrain to town. 

Not much is known about the breeds specific origin. But the nowextinct Narragansett pacera surefooted horse breed that developed in the eastern U S. in the 18th centuryis a likely ancestor of the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse. Its also likely related to the Tennessee Walking Horse Rocky Mountain Horse and other gaited breeds.
Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses existed without much recognition until the 1980s when more people came to appreciate them for their smooth ride versatility and dependability. The Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association was formed in 1989 as a breed registry. 
Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Size
Size varies a great deal within the breed. Generally these horses stand between 11 hands 44 inches and 16 hands 64 inches. They must be at least 11 hands to be registered. The registry divides the horses into Class A 14 hands or above and Class B between 11 and 13 3 hands 1 The breeds average weight ranges from around 950 to 1200 pounds.
Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Breeding and Uses
Although they are called Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses they perform just as well when hitched to a cart or sleigh. They were bred to be a versatile horse for riding driving and general farm work. The rough terrain of the area in which they were developed required them to be particularly agile reliable alert and calm. And they deliver these traits in spades. Nowadays they are still used for work and are very popular for pleasure and trail riding.
Colors and Markings
The breed comes in all the typical solid equine colors and color combinations and in various beautiful patterns. These include palomino gray perlino cremello chestnut roan black champagne dun grullo brown and buckskin. The horses have flowing manes and tails that