Information

Find history and general information about gaited mountain horses

What is the Rocky Mountain Gait?

Find explanations and photos of gait.

What is ASD?

Find out more about ASD, the eye condition affecting some Rocky Mountain Horses

Horse Color

Get answers to questions such as What color is my horse? and How can I predict the color of my foal? 

Horse Gestation Table

Use our gestation table to determine your mare's due date

About Gaited Mountain Horses                                     (Return to Top)

The History

Generations of Kentuckians have stories to tell about their smooth gaited, good dispositioned, hard working, sure-footed, reliable mountain horses.  They were work horses that willingly plowed the rugged foothills of the Appalachians and yet proudly carried their owners to town with their smooth, four beat gait that ate up the miles.  Fancy barns and stalls were not necessary.  Because of its cold blooded nature, it tolerated the winters with a minimum of shelter.

Three different registries have formed with the purpose of maintaining the characteristics of the mountain horse, increasing the number, and expanding the area which has knowledge of this fine horse.  The registries are:  the Rocky Mountain Horse Association, the Mountain Pleasure Horse Association, and the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association.   To get more information on these registries, visit our "Links" page.

The Gait

The breed's definition of this gait is "an evenly spaced, four beat lateral gait with moderate forward speed and extension, without exaggerated knee and hock action." 

The gait is natural.  It is bred into these horses and one of the joys of breeders of mountain horses is to see a young foal "hitting a lick" as it keeps up with its mother's long strides.

As a rider gets to know his or her mountain horse, they will find the horse can be ridden at varying speeds while maintaining the same smooth, comfortable gait.  And there's nothing quite like the "pick-a-pock-a" sound of a mountain horse gaiting down a blacktop road.

Versatility

The beauty of the mountain horse is the disposition and gait.  It is an easy keeper and a wonderful riding horse with a strong heart and endurance. Today, gaited mountain horses are being used as a pleasure horses, for trail, competitive or endurance riding, and for show.  These horses have a lot of natural endurance, they are sure-footed on rough ground and, because of their gait, they require a minimum of effort by both horse and rider so that together they can cover a greater distance with less tiring.

Gaited mountain horses are great for all types of riders.  They could be of special interest to seniors who want a reliable horse, people with neck and back injuries who want a smooth, gaited horse, and novice riders who want a gentle, dependable horse.

What is the Rocky Mountain Gait?                  (Return to Top)

Terminology

To understand gait, it is important to have an understanding of the terminology used describe gait.

• Beat:  How the horse’s hooves HIT the ground.

• Cadence:  The sequence in which a horse’s feet LEAVE the ground and HIT the ground.  This is primary in identifying gait.

• Diagonal:  Simultaneous forward movement of a rear leg and the opposite front leg. 

• Lateral:  Simultaneous forward movement of a rear leg and the front leg on the same side of the horse. 

• Footfall sequence:  The order in which the horse’s hooves hit the ground.  For purposes of our discussion, 4-beat gaits have the sequence of:  right hind, right front, left hind, left front.  The major difference between gaits is the cadence, not the sequence.

• Style Differences:  Variances in how horses execute the same gait (e.g.: head position, head movement, height of feet, extension/overstride, etc.)  Style differences account for why two horses can perform the same gait, but look different doing so.  Breeds have specific style preferences.  For example, Rocky Mountain horses should not have a head nod, overstride must be less than 18”, and lift in front may not be excessive.

Gait Continuum

Gait Descriptions

Trot

• 2 beat with moment of suspension between each beat

• Diagonal

• Watch:  Front and rear legs on opposite sides move in unison

• Hear:  Only two hoof beats (1...2)

• Feel:  Rider moves up and down in saddle

Foxtrot

• 4 beat

• Diagonal

• Watch:  Right front will land slightly before the left rear, then left front lands before the right rear.  The front foot leaves the ground just prior to the rear foot hitting the ground on the same side.  The rear foot is in the air longer than the front foot on the same side.

• Hear:  4 hoof beats, but diagonal pairs will be close together (1,…2,3…4)

• Feel:  Smoothness can vary, rider may feel some up and down movement in the saddle

Even (Rocky Mountain Gait)

• 4 beat

• Even / Square, but considered to be a lateral gait

• Watch:  Each foot leaves the ground independently.  The stride of each hoof is equal and the time in the air should be equal.  The rear hoof is one-half stride ahead of the front foot on the same side, so the rear will leave the ground before the front, and the front will land after the rear.

• Hear:  4 evenly timed hoof beats (1,2,3,4)

• Feel:  Rider’s pelvis rocks forward and back with little to no sway.  Rider’s shoulders and head do not move side to side or up and down

Stepping Pace

• 4 beat

• Lateral

• Watch:  Front and rear legs on the same side of the horse are in motion at the same time (although not quite in unison).  The rear foot sets down quicker than the front foot on the same side, so the front will land slightly after the rear.

• Hear:  4 hoof beats, but each lateral pair will be close together (1,2…3,4)

• Feel:  Smoothness can vary, but rider usually feels some sway from left to right

Pace

• 2 beat with moment of suspension between each beat

• Lateral

• Watch:  :  Front and rear legs on one side of the horse move in unison

• Hear:  2 hoof beats (1…2)

• Feel:  Rider movement in the saddle ranges from minimal to significant with sway from left to right.

What is ASD?                                                            (Return to Top)

ASD appears to be linked to the silver dapple gene which causes the unique chocolate color in the Rocky Mountain Horse.  To read an excellent explanation of the relationship between horse color and ASD go to http://www.triple-s-ranch.com/about_color.htm

Horse Color                                                               (Return to Top)

Another site with explanations of horse color is Animal Genetics. This site also offers an offspring coat color calculator.  By entering the color of the dam and the sire, you can learn the coat color possibilities for the offspring.  Go to  http://www.animalgenetics.us/Equine.htm

Horse Gestation Table                                              (Return to Top)

Simply scroll down to the date that your mare was exposed to the stallion, or click on the month to jump to that month in the table.

Due date is calculated based on gestation of 343 days.  You should average plus or minus 10 days for actual foaling window.

September     October     November     December

Date Exposed

Date Foal is Due