August 2025
WRITTEN BY Valerie de Vries
Mountain Pleasure Horse
Breed
The Mountain Pleasure Horse, also known as the Old Kentucky Saddler, is a native breed to Eastern Kentucky revered for its comfortable ride, surefootedness, and calm disposition. Medium-sized, standing between 14.2 and 16 hands, these horses feature a well-proportioned build with laid-back shoulders and powerful legs, designed for hill-climbing power and endurance across rugged Appalachian terrain. This strong physique, combined with their smooth, natural gait and versatility, has made them indispensable partners for everything from long-distance riding to equine-assisted therapy.
Smooth as a Cadillac
The Mountain Pleasure Horse is celebrated for its signature saddle rack gait, a smooth, rhythmic four-beat motion that feels like a gentle rocking chair. This natural gait, present from birth, ensures an exceptionally comfortable ride. Its long, graceful stride allows riders to cover great distances comfortably, earning the breed the nickname “the Cadillac of rides.”
The Mountain PLeasure
A pivotal genetic study in the early 1990s led by Dr. Gus Cothran revealed that Mountain Pleasure Horses hold a foundational role in North America’s gaited horse history. The direct ancestors of the Mountain Pleasure Horse were closely related to and foundational for the Rocky Mountain Horse and are likely ancestral to all modern North American gaited breeds including the American Saddlebred, Tennessee Walking Horse, and Missouri Fox Trotter. In 1994, Kentucky’s governor officially recognized the Mountain Pleasure Horse as the progenitor of American gaited horse breeds, underscoring its historic significance.
The Oldest Gaited Breed of North America
The Mountain Pleasure Horse's history is closely tied to the people of Eastern Kentucky and their survival in the rugged Appalachian Mountains. Likely descending from the now-extinct 17th-century Narragansett Pacer and influenced by gaited breeds like the Irish Hobby and Scottish Galloway, these horses adapted over centuries to thrive in mountainous terrain with sparse, poor-quality forage. They became essential working horses for farmers, teachers, doctors, mail carriers, and even Civil War soldiers due to their stamina, surefootedness, and willingness to work.
In the 1800s, these horses were bred for utility, resulting in a hardy landrace that required little food, stood relatively small to reduce upkeep, and excelled in the steep, rocky environment. This lineage of mountain horses became a source of local pride and remained largely unchanged for generations.
Legacy Rooted in Appalachian History
Surefooted, kind, reliable
As of 2024, there are about 2,500 living purebred Mountain Pleasure Horses, with breeding rates critically low. The community of breeders, mostly concentrated in Eastern Kentucky, remains passionate about saving the breed. The horses are frequently showcased at prominent equine events like the Kentucky Horse Park and Breyerfest, and a Mountain Pleasure Horse drill team performs nationwide.
Today, the breed is cherished especially for trail riding, excelling on technical Appalachian trails with exceptional surefootedness and endurance. Their versatility extends to competitive obstacle riding, endurance, cattle penning, barrel racing, dressage, and as beloved family mounts.
The Mountain Pleasure Horse Today
A much more detailed and in-depth history of the unique and powerful Mountain Pleasure Horse can be found in our coffee table book Fading Hoofprints, offering rich stories and stunning visuals that celebrate this remarkable breed’s heritage and continued legacy.
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