Mountain Horses
(in General)

    All Mountain Horses have the same basic characteristics; the head is handsome and is joined to a graceful neck that may be longer than might be expected.   This feature contributes significantly in the good overall balance.    The withers are not sharply defined, but the structure of the back and it's gentle ascent to the croup is comfortable.  The outline of the Mountain Horse is pleasingly rounded and the proportions uniformly good.  The limbs are well made and the hooves hard and nicely shaped.    The Mountain Horse is noted for its sure-footedness and easy way of going.    They tend to have a  cold-blooded nature and tolerate winters with a minimum of shelter.

    Today Mountain Horses are being used as a pleasure horse, for trail and competitive riding.        As show horses, the breed is rapidly gaining in popularity because of its beauty and unique way of moving in the ring.     The calm temperament of these horses makes them ideally suited for working around cattle and for 4-H projects.    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 to cover a greater distance with less tiring.     Each individual horse has its own speed and natural way of going, traveling 7- 20 miles per hour.    This is a naturally occurring gait present from birth that does not require any training aids or action devices (i.e. chains, soring or built up shoes).    This natural ambling four-beat gait (single foot or rack) that has four distinct hoof beats, which produce a cadence of equal rhythm, that you can count as the horse moves (just like a walk: left hind, left fore, right hind, right fore).    

    Mountain Horses are best known for their calm willing temperament, smooth four-beat gait, and  an easy keeper with endurance.    Providing the discerning rider with a horse of superior skill and beauty.    The Mountain Horse may be trained in any horse related activity and probably represents the most ideal horse for the family.

                                                Rocky Spur Acres                        E-mail:  rockyspuracres@msn.com
                                                 Muscatine, Iowa                                 Phone:  (563) 263 - 9017