I often consider how lucky I am to write the Breed of the Month article for Equestrian Network Magazine . I've ridden many breeds over the years, I research each breed I write about, and I'm generally familiar with most breeds.

The Rocky Mountain Horse, however, presented a new challenge. "You have to ride one to really understand how special they are," fans of the breed told me repeatedly.

So I did. And after an hour and a half trail ride atop the delightful Sundown, I'm a convert.

It's true what they say about Rocky Mountain horses. You could ride for miles and never get sore, partly because their rhythm prevents the rider from ever bouncing. I found the feeling precisely matched that childhood pleasure of riding a wooden rocking horse.

A client writes: Hi Darla, Pictured is MMR'S Galaxy, a RMHA registered Rocky Mountain Horse. In March, 2006 he and I enjoyed trail riding in the mountains near Palm Springs, California. Galaxy is sweet, a great trail horse and wants to please. I can't think of a better horse to ride than a Rocky Mountain Horse from Mountain Magic Ranch. Linda Clarke, President, West Coast Rocky Mountain Horse Club (a RMHA Affiliate club)

Established characteristics of the breed describe the gait as follows:

"The horse must have a natural ambling four-beat gait (single foot or rack) with no evidence of pacing. When the horse moves, you can count four distinct hoof beats which produce a cadence of equal rhythm, just like a walk: left hind, left fore, right hind, right fore. 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)."

A common boast about the Rocky Mountain Horse claims that a rider could hold a full glass of champagne in one hand, ride 25 miles, and still have a full glass.



Patricia Huemoller, Director of Operations at Mountain Magic Ranch, typifies the Rocky Mountain Horse owner. She's completely smitten with the breed. During our conversation, she stressed these characteristics:

• The ultimate pleasure horse for trail riding.
  
• A gait more specific than a Freisan's.
  
• Personality similar to a Golden Retriever's, loving and affectionate; The breed is best known for gentleness and as an easy keeper.
  
• Well-proportioned, built similar to an old-time Morgan.
  
• Very intelligent.

Rocky Mountain Horse stallion and mare

One-hundred percent of people who buy a Rocky keep the horse. Finding an older Rocky to buy is virtually impossible.

This mirrors my experience riding Sundown and meeting Cold Hard Truth and Chinook. Rocky Mountain Horses seem to belong on a different plain from other breeds. Known for rarely, if ever, bucking, they seem to take the world in stride - a beautiful, gait, rocking,
carefree stride.

The only aspect of the Rocky Mountain Horse as unusual and spectacular as the breed itself, is the breeding program at Mountain Magic Ranch. On 7,500 acres of rich, natural Rocky Mountain grasses acres, under the big Montana sky, everything happens naturally for the herd of more than 200 horses.


"Every phase of our horse breeding program focuses on maintaining our herd as naturally as is humanly possible," said owner Dick Hartmann.

"We have no stalls to maintain our horses. The Rocky Mountain is known as a horse that is 'born broke', making training smooth and simple. The ranch's horse trainers work and exclusively train using Natural Horsemanship gentling techniques rooted in the celebrated Parelli methods."

Hartmann tells an interesting story about natural breeding. The first year of operations, the ranch owned 50 mares and only a few stallions. Using artificial insemination and hand methods, 35 of the mares became pregnant. Meanwhile, the stress of these unnatural methods caused the stallions to lose hundreds of pounds in just two weeks.

The next year, Hartmann allowed natural breeding. Forty-nine of the 50 mares foaled, and the stallions stayed healthy, sound and calm. All breeding now takes place naturally.

Of course, natural breeding involves many risks.

"Dust In The Wind was born through a barbed wire fence," said Hartmann. "Because his entire chest was ripped open, the vet said he should be put down, but he was nursed back to health and has sired winning get all over the Rocky Mountain region of the country.

"Today he is our signature stallion with a beautiful deep chocolate coat and a white mane and tail. He is everything a Rocky Mountain stallion should be: even-tempered, naturally gaited, and a palate of beauty. Standing 15.3 hands, he is a horse anybody can ride."
Magic Mountain's signature stallion Dust In The Wind boasts a beautiful deep chocolate coat and a white mane and tail. The breeder believes Dusty is everything a Rocky Mountain stallion should be: even tempered, naturally gaited, and a palate of beauty. Standing 15.3 hands, he is a horse anybody can ride.


Dust in the Wind's height falls right into the middle of the range for these medium-sized horses. The breed standard calls for "14-2 to 16 hands, a

wide chest sloping 45 degrees on the shoulder with bold eyes and well-shaped ears."

Rocky Mountain horses come in every color and hue, but are always solid colored. Facial markings are acceptable so long as they are not excessive. There may not be any white above the knee or hock. They tend to be exceptionally beautiful.

But of course, they are indeed an exceptional breed.

To learn more about the Rocky Mountain Horse and Mountain Magic Ranch, please visit the website at: www.gaitedmtnhorses.com.


Sources: Rita Alaya, Judy Anticouni, Patricia Huemoller, Mountain Magic Ranch video and website www.gaitedmtnhorses.com, the Rocky Mountain Horse Association website www.rmhorse.com, and Rocky Mountain horses Cold Hard Truth, Chinook, and Son of Sundown.

Special gratitude is extended to Judy Anticouni and Rita Alaya for generously allowing me to ride Sundown with them on a trail ride. Ms. Anticouni rides for pleasure and trains with Ms. Alaya who specializes in training young horses using natural horsemanship techniques.


About the Author: M. Y. Mim is a free-lance journalist based in Santa Barbara, Ca. She may be reached at mymim3@cox.net, or through her agent R. Almqvist, 805-705-5349. The author wishes to thank Mr. Almqvist for his assistance in making this article possible.