Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse

Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses are a unique breed that is often underrated.

It is a tough, versatile breed that can be used for many different purposes.

If you are looking for a horse that is strong, durable, and adaptable, then a Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse may be the perfect breed for you.

In this post, we will discuss everything you need to know about these horses.

Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Breed Info

Here are some of the key things you need to know about the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse:

Height (size) 11.0 – 16.0 hands high
Colors Wide variety of colors including palomino, gray, perlino, cremello, chestnut, roan, black, champagne, dun, grullo, brown, and buckskin. White markings are allowed as long as they don’t make up more than 36 square inches of the horse’s coat.
Country of Origin United States of America
Common Uses Pleasure and trail riding, driving

Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Facts & Information (Breed Profile)

Until it was domesticated in the 1980s, the Kentucky Mountain Horse was reportedly a breed of wild horses that had been in the hills and mountains of Kentucky for decades, or maybe even centuries.

People living in the highlands of eastern Kentucky have been breeding Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses for more than 200 years for their notably smooth movements, toughness, and gentle personality.

It is believed that mountain people initially bred these horses to use them for farm work and other aspects of life in the highlands.

These horses are related to Tennessee Walking Horses as well as other gaited breeds that were developed in the southern regions of the United States.

Before the 1980s, Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses were mostly unknown, but as the time went on, more and more people began to appreciate their smooth gaits, versatility, and dependability.

In 1989 the breed registry was formed under the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association.

The registry classifies the horses into Class A (14.0 hands high or taller) and Class B (between 11.0 and 13.3 hands high).

If you’re interested in learning more about this fascinating breed, keep reading!

Alternative Names

n/a

Temperament/Personality

Quiet, gentle, easy to train

Physical Characteristics

These very agile horses have long, flowing manes and tails that may be found in a variety of colors.

This results in a large number of different coat-mane-tail color combinations.

Its natural four-beat gait, sometimes known as an amble or a rack, is the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse’s most distinctive feature.

This is an extraordinarily calm and steady pace that the horse can maintain even while traveling through tough terrain.

The footfall pattern is identical to that of a normal walk.

There is always at least one hoof touching the ground.

As a consequence, the rider sits almost completely still while the horse carries them at speeds comparable to those of a typical canter.

Colors

Wide variety of colors including palomino, gray, perlino, cremello, chestnut, roan, black, champagne, dun, grullo, brown, and buckskin.

White markings are allowed as long as they don’t make up more than 36 square inches of the horse’s coat.

Height (size)

11.0 – 16.0 hands high

Stallions

n/a

Mares

n/a

Weight

950 – 1,200 lbs (450 – 540 kg)

Blood Type

Warm

Common Uses

Pleasure and trail riding, driving

Health

No known health issues

Popular Traits

Natural ambling four-beat gait

Feeding/Diet

n/a

Country of Origin

United States of America

Ancestors

Spanish colonial horses, Rocky Mountain Horse, Tennessee Walking Horse