All Mountain Horse Associations disqualified the spotted pattern and white marks above the hock and knee, as well as excessive white marks on the head. This exclusion disappointed many people, especially new breeders. For many people there is not a nicer color than the spotted one. Based on the rules, many good horses were not approved for registration. Therefore, most horse breeders registered under the KMSHA – Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association, decided to form the SMHA – Spotted Mountain Hose Association, as a subsidiary of the KMSHA, to register the legendary horses of the Appalachians. However, the SMHA register accepts the breeding of a spotted parent to a uniform colored mountain horse. In fact, the only difference between the horses registered in both associations is the color. Conformation and gait are the same described for the Kentucky Mountain Saddle horse.
The register is opened to stallions, mares and geldings from other registers, spotted and naturally four beat lateral gaited. However, in order to preserve the Mountain Horse blood strong in its offspring, at least one parent must be registered as a Mountain Horse. All horses are required to have DNA analysis to prove parentage. Foals receive a temporary certificate of registration, even those solid colored, from the crossing of one or two SMHA registered parents, which is a mistake, since the spotted pattern will be inherited only if one of the parents presents the pattern. Qualified foals from the crossing of unregistered SMHA parents may get a temporary certificate of registration too. The definitive certificate is given to all foals after an approved evaluation under saddle before the age of four, by official examiners from KMSHA or SMHA. The register is a kind of “license to breed”, since stallions and mares can’t reproduce registered offspring without the Certificate of Registration.
At the shows any artificial alteration of the natural four beat lateral gait disqualifies the horse from the show ring. The shoes allowed are only the basic ones: light weight and uniform on all hooves. Mistreatment is also a strong reason for disqualification.
The Spotted Mountain Horse is a medium size gaited horse. However, it can be registered as a Class B if height is between 11 and 13.3 hands. Above this limit, horses are registered as Class A. There is no maximum height limit, which is smart, since height is a parameter of high heredity, and the selection should apply pressure to define the actual medium size horses. The market space for small horses is already taken by the pony breeds. Other overall requirements for registry are the natural four beat lateral gait under saddle, docile temperament, good disposition and a nice and well balanced conformation, without any serious defects. The ideal conformation is characterized by a medium size head, proportional, straight profile, broad, flat forehead, ears well set; a neck of medium length, refined, compact body, not tied into the body too low in the chest; strong bone and muscle structure, low wither, short back, a medium to long rounded croup; the correct proportion between forequarter and hindquarter; limbs should be straight, with proper angulations, specially in the shoulder, pastern and legs, without presenting any defects that affect the horse’s usefulness.
