Another independent register of mountain horses is issued by the MPHA - Mountain Pleasure Horse Association. The association explains that the main goal is to preserve the bloodlines of the Mountain Pleasure Horse, then to increment the population of these horses. Many horses are registered under the Rocky Mountain Horse Association AND the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association. According to MPHA, “their breed already existed 100 years before the Rocky Mountain Horse and the differences are: genetic make up, color and size. History has it that in the mid 1900’s Sam Tuttle crossed the native Mountain Pleasure stock with “Tobe”, a stallion carrying an unusual chocolate color. The “tobe bloodline” is the genetic base of the Rocky Mountain horse, but less than 17% of the foundation horses of the Mountain Pleasure Horse Association carry a trace of the “Tobe bloodline”.
The chocolate color is not a criteria for quality or a preference in the MHPA and our horses tend to be a bit larger (taller), longer bodied and able to cover more ground with their gait than the horse descending from the Tobe/Tuttle bloodlines”.
The Mountain Pleasure Horse Association, the MPHA is an association founded to take care of the registry of many types of Mountain Horses, as well as the Rocky Mountain Horse and Mountain Pleasure Horse “breeds”.
The registration books are closed at MPHA, meaning that only offspring of a registered stallion and a registered mare can be submitted for registration. The certificate of registration requires a rigorous procedure: videotape of the gait, blood type test from the University of Kentucky and that the examiners must be members of the MPHA Board of Directors. Any body color is acceptable.
The Mountain Pleasure Horse traits are a naturally smooth four beat lateral gait, present in foals from birth. It is an easy riding gait, carrying the rider comfortably and with minimum effort from the horse. It is a four times gait, meaning that each leg moves at a different moment. On solid ground, four evenly spaced beats can be heard. The hoof support can be: triple, lateral pair, triple, diagonal pair, triple, lateral pair, triple and diagonal pair. This is the regular sequence for a complete cycle of the gait. Lateral time must be superior, compared to diagonal time. However, excess of lateral time is a defect, since the gait will be close to a pace, a disqualifying gait, not comfortable for riders and unbalancing for the horse. Speed is moderate and may vary, but not the rhythm. Unlike other four beat lateral gaited breeds, exaggerated knee and hock action is not typical in the Mountain Pleasure Horse. These horses have good disposition, good trainability and a wonderful temperament, suitable for riding by people of any age.
The main conformation traits are established by the Breed Standard: medium size horse, 14.2 hands high for registry; a fine head, in proportion to the body, straight profile, bold eyes and well shaped ears; an arched neck, of medium length, well set in a wide and deep chest; body and limbs with medium sized bones; feet in proportion to the body; fore and hind legs without serious defects. Shoulder angle is specified at about 45 degrees, but this measurement is not correct. The forearm would most probably break. This angle is not less than 50 degrees. In fact, the average angles found in four beat gaited horses vary from 52 to 56 degrees. The other reason is that the pastern angle must be equal, or almost equal, to the shoulder angle, to keep the forequarter in balance. A 45 degree angle on pasterns would break the fetlocks and tendons.
The show gaits are the Mountain Walk and the Mountain Pleasure Gait. The first one is a flat walk. The second one is a medium speed four beat lateral gait: smooth, balanced, lightly collected, regular, harmonious and elegant. The horse must demonstrate good behavior and easy response to equitation commands.
Smoothness and naturalness of the gait are the most important parameters for evaluation. If there is any sign that an artificial device was used or the lateral four beat gait is lost, the horse shall be disqualified. Excessive speed is not related to naturalness and shall be penalized. The same is applied to excessive knee action. Reference is the height of the hooves, not allowed to break above the knees. The shoes must be plain keg ones, width less than ¾ an inch, and thickness less than 3/8 of an inch. All these rules aim to preserve the natural four beat lateral gait.
The importance given to the gait is so strong that in all saddle classes the gait receives 50% of the total evaluation. Conformation and style account for 25%. Attitude, disposition and backing account for 25%.
