Rocky Mountain Horse Breed Guide: Characteristics, Health & Nutrition

The Rocky Mountain Horse is a gaited American horse breed known for their rare silver dapple colouring. Contrary to their name, this breed originated in the Appalachian Mountains from a founding stallion imported from the Western United States.

These horses can perform a distinct four-beat lateral gait called the single foot. Their smooth movement made them efficient for traversing the rough terrain of eastern Kentucky and contributes to their modern popularity as trail horses.

While Rocky Mountain Horses are considered hardy, they are also susceptible to genetic disorders arising from their small founding population and rare colouring. However, preservation efforts have led to growth in the breed’s population in recent years.

This breed profile will review the history, characteristics, health problems, and nutritional requirements of the Rocky Mountain Horse breed. Keep reading to learn more about feeding and caring for Rocky Mountain Horses.

Rocky Mountain Horse History

Rocky Mountain Horses are one of several gaited breeds with Kentucky roots. Throughout history, these easy-gaited horses served as versatile mounts, and their enduring traits continue to attract new fan to the breed .

Origin

Rocky Mountain horses share ancestry with the American Saddlebred, Tennessee Walking Horse, and Mountain Pleasure Horse. Some evidence suggests these breeds descend from the Narragansett Pacer, an extinct American breed with ambling gaits. ^[1]

The breed’s origin as a distinct type of gaited horse dates back to 1890, when a gaited stallion with a chocolate coat and flaxen mane and tail arrived in eastern Kentucky. Locals called the stallion the Rocky Mountain Horse in reference to his Western birthplace.

This stallion crossed with Appalachian saddle mares to produce a genetic line of prized horses with the Rocky Mountain name. While gaited horses declined in other parts of the United States with the advent of better roads, they remained popular in Appalachia.

Sam Tuttle was the most prominent breeder of Rocky Mountain Horses during the mid-twentieth century when he stood a stallion named Tobe. Known for his sure-footedness and gentle temperament, Tobe’s progeny solidified the breed standard of modern Rocky Mountain Horses.

Historic Use

Settlers in Appalachia used horses for plowing fields, working cattle, driving buggies, and riding. Horses were essential to everyday life, and most belonged to families of modest means who couldn’t provide special care for high-maintenance horse breeds.

Breeding programs focused on producing hardy horses that could survive the harsh winters in the Appalachian foothills with minimal shelter and limited food. Horses that lacked the constitution to survive these brutal conditions perished.

The ambling gait of the Rocky Mountain horse was smoother and more comfortable for riders spending long days in the saddle. Gaited horses also used less energy while traversing the region’s rocky terrain, allowing them to travel longer distances and require less feed. ^[2]

Rocky Mountain Horses are also beloved for their attractive temperament and appearance. After gaining recognition as an official breed in the late 20th century, these horses quickly spread from their Appalachian home to new owners worldwide.

Breed Registry

Founded in 1986 in the breed’s home state of Kentucky, the Rocky Mountain Horse Association (RMHA) is the official breed registry for Rocky Mountain Horses. The association owns the trademark for the Rocky Mountain Horse name, which only RMHA-registered horses can use.

The RMHA closed the books for foundation stock in 1989 to preserve the breed’s traits. Rocky Mountain Horses are among the few American breeds requiring inspections and certification of horses intended for breeding.

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Breed Characteristics

The RMHA evaluates horses based on a breed standard that defines the ideal Rocky Mountain Horse. These standards include conformation, gait, and temperament characteristics that distinguish these horses from related breeds.

Conformation

Rocky Mountain Horses stand between 14 and 16 hands tall. They have medium-sized bodies with broad chests and sloping shoulders. Their heads are well-proportioned and have a natural carriage on a gracefully arched neck.

Well-shaped ears and intelligent eyes give these horses an alert expression. Straight fore and hind legs with medium bone should be free of deformities. Feet are medium-sized and proportional to the body.

Colours

The RMHA accepts any solid coat colours in registered Rocky Mountain Horses, but silver dapple is preferable. These horses have dark brown bodies and flaxen manes and tails. The silver dapple gene is rare in most breeds but common in Rocky Mountain Horses. ^[3]

Excessive white markings on the face and any white leg markings above the knee and hock are unacceptable.

Temperament

A defining feature of the Rocky Mountain Horse is its friendly and willing temperament. Typical Rockies are brave, calm, easy-going, and intelligent. Many riders find that their cooperative personalities make training these horses enjoyable and straightforward.

Rocky Mountain Horses are less likely to spook than hotter breeds. Their even temperament make them a popular mount for beginner and timid riders that need safe horses. However, personalities can vary between individual horses.

Disciplines

Developed as the ultimate multipurpose horse, this versatile breed excels in several disciplines, but are commonly used for trail riding. The breed remains popular with trail riders thanks to their comfortable gaits, surefootedness, and bravery.

These horses can also find success in the competition arena. Competitive riders show Rocky Mountain Horses in both English and Western disciplines. Others use their Rockies to pull carriages in driving events.

Rocky Mountain Horse Health

Rockies are hardy horses bred to stay healthy and sound while working over challenging terrain.

Despite good breeding practices that have maintained genetic diversity from a small founding population, these horses have a high incidence of inherited eye disease.

MCOA in Rocky Mountain Horses

Multiple congenital ocular anomalies (MCOA) is the most common genetic disease reported in Rocky Mountain Horses. This eye condition is associated with ocular cysts, enlarged corneas, malformed irises, and other vision abnormalities. ^[4]

Researchers have identified that MCOA is linked to the PMEL gene, which is responsible for silver dapple colouring in the breed. Horses that inherit two copies of the PMEL gene have more severe abnormalities, including retinal detachment, dysfunctional pupils, cataracts, and myopia (near-sightedness). ^[5] Myopia can progressively worsen over the horse’s lifetime.

Heterozygous silver horses with one copy of the PMEL gene typically do not have significant ocular abnormalities. Instead, they develop benign fluid-filled cysts in the eye. ^[5] Chestnut horses can also inherit the silver dapple gene and develop MCOA, even though the gene mutation does not affect their coat colour. ^[3]

Genetic testing can determine if horses are carriers of the gene responsible for MCOA. Breeders should avoid mating two horses with the silver mutation to prevent producing offspring with severe MCOA. ^[5]

Health Problems

Rocky Mountain Horses can experience other vision problems, including limbal squamous cell carcinoma. Consult your veterinarian about any eye health concerns. ^[6]

This breed also has a small risk of Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM), a muscle disorder characterized by abnormal glycogen accumulation and episodes of tying up. ^[7] Genetic studies have identified the GYS1 gene responsible for PSSM Type 1 in Rocky Mountain Horses.

The GYS1 mutation is considered rare in Rocky Mountain Horses compared to other affected breeds. ^[13] However, keep in mind that Rocky Mountain Horses can still develop PSSM Type 2, even if they don’t have the GYS1 mutation.

These horses are also susceptible to equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) which is characterized by insulin resistance. This affects the horse’s ability to properly metabolize sugars and increases the risk of laminitis. Limiting hydrolyzable carbohydrates (starch and sugar) in the diet is key to managing EMS. ^[8]

Lameness is often more challenging for owners to detect in gaited horse breeds. These horses move with different biomechanics than non-gaited horses, and they tend to stress certain joints more. The repetitive movements of working in one gait can also increase injury risk. ^[9]

Care and Management

All horses need quality basic care to ensure their health and well-being. Your horse may also have unique needs based on their job and health history.

Work with your veterinarian and other practitioners to develop an annual schedule of wellness care including:

• Veterinary check-ups: Schedule routine veterinary check-ups to monitor your horse’s overall health and address any issues promptly. Regular lameness exams can also help identify minor problems before they become serious.
• Vaccinations: Follow a recommended vaccination schedule to protect your horse from common equine diseases. Consult with a veterinarian for guidance.
• Dental Care: Regular dental exams are crucial to ensure proper chewing and digestion of feed. Teeth floating helps to prevent common dental problems and improve your horse’s comfort.
• Parasite Control: Implement a deworming program to prevent internal and external parasites from compromising your horse’s health.
• Farrier Care: Schedule routine hoof care with a professional farrier to maintain hoof balance. Proper trimming is key to help preventing excess stress on lower limb structures and maintaining soundness.
• Regular Grooming: Daily grooming stimulates circulation in muscles while supporting skin and coat health. These friendly horses also enjoy grooming time as an opportunity to bond with their owners.

Your horse also needs appropriate turnout and housing. Most Rocky Mountain Horses do well living outside if they have suitable shelter. If your horse lives indoors, ensure they get adequate turnout time for free exercise.

However, unrestricted turnout on lush pasture grasses with high starch levels can contribute to metabolic disorders and laminitis. Follow good pasture management strategies to maintain safe grass for your horse and use a dry lot to limit grass intake in overweight horses. ^[11]

Nutrition Program

Good nutrition is important for the prevention and management of common health problems in Rocky Mountain Horses. Prioritize feeding a balanced forage-based diet that provides essential nutrients without causing excess weight gain.

Weight Maintenance

Rocky Mountain Horses are efficient in maintaining body condition on a forage-based diet. While being an easy keeper was advantageous for working horses in Appalachia, it now makes the breed prone to obesity when overfed.

Careful monitoring of sugar and starch intake is also essential for Rocky Mountain Horses to reduce the risk of laminitis.

Regularly assess your horse’s body condition to determine if your horse is at a healthy weight, and adjust their diet as needed.

Sample Diet

The following sample diet is intended for a 950 pound (430 kg) Rocky Mountain Horse with normal body condition at maintenance (not exercising).

Mad Barn’s Omneity® vitamin and mineral supplement is included in this feeding program to address common nutrient deficiencies often found in forage-only diets. Omneity® is formulated with high-quality ingredients for improved hoof quality, skin and coat health, metabolic function, and gut health.

Omneity® is made with 100% organic trace minerals and is entirely free of added grains, sugars, or starches. This makes it ideal for easy keeper breeds, such as Rocky Mountain Horses.

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Forage

Forage is the foundation of a Rocky Mountain Horse’s diet. Horses evolved to graze on roughage for up to 18 hours a day, and they rely on fibre as their primary energy source. A forage-based diet mimics their natural feeding behaviours and optimally supports their digestive health.

Horses are expected to consume about 2% of their body weight in forage daily. For an average 950 pound (430 kg) Rocky Mountain Horse, this is equal to 19 pounds (8.6 kg) of hay dry matter per day.

Mid-maturity, low-starch, low-sugar grass hay is best for weight management and supporting metabolic health. Hay with hydrolyzable carbohydrate (HC) content below 10% is ideal for horses prone to metabolic syndrome. HC is the combination of starch and sugars (ESC) that can stimulate insulin secretion, in contrast to NSC which includes components which do not impact insulin.

Exercising horses may need more calorie dense forage to meet their energy requirements. This can be achieved by supplementing with alfalfa hay or feeding a less mature grass hay. Feeding alfalfa hay may also help reduce the risk of gastric ulcers in exercising horses. ^[12] Note that horses with metabolic syndrome may become foot sore on alfalfa, according to anecdotal reports. For these horses, other high fibre energy sources such as beet pulp are a better option.

Providing your horse with free-choice forage helps to support their gut health, prevent gastric ulcers, and reduce stereotypic beavhiours. If your horse is over-conditioned, use a slow feeder to control forage intake and calorie consumption.

Feeding Recommendations

Diets containing large quantities of high-starch commercial grains increase the risk of digestive problems and metabolic disorders in horses. ^[8] If you are feeding grains, split the daily ration into multiple small meals to reduce the risk of digestive upset.

For working horses that require additional energy, feed fibre sources or fat supplements to supply extra calories. ^[10] Fat and fibre provide sustained, slow-release energy, and are better for your horse’s health.

Soaked alfalfa pellets are a convenient way to add calories and protein to the diet. This forage alternative is also an ideal supplement carrier for horses on forage-based diets.

Nutritionists also recommend adding 1 – 2 ounces of plain salt to your Rocky Mountain’s daily ration to ensure they meet their sodium requirement. Adding plain loose salt is more effective than providing your horse with a salt block or lick.

Nutritional Supplements

Feeding a well-balanced diet with adequate vitamins and minerals is key to the overall health of your Rocky Mountain Horse. Once your horse’s diet is balanced, you may want to add other supplements to support individual needs and performance goals.

• W-3 Oil is an omega-3 fatty acid supplement that provides cool energy while supporting joint health, skin and coat quality, and the normal regulation of inflammation. W-3 oil is enriched with high levels of DHA and natural vitamin E.
• MSM is a natural source of the trace mineral sulphur, which supports the normal homeostatic regulation of inflammatory responses. Rocky Mountain Horses that need extra joint support can benefit from MSM supplementation.
• Natural Vitamin E is an important antioxidant in the equine diet that supports muscle health and immune function. Exercising horses and those on hay-only diets need often need more Vitamin E in their diet.
• Performance XL: Electrolytes is an enhanced electrolyte supplement that is scientifically formulated to replace the electrolytes horses lose in sweat. Performance XL also includes other nutrients to support athletic performance and post-exercise care in competition horses. Note that electrolytes are given in addition to, not as a substitute for, the baseline daily salt requirement.

Looking for personalized guidance on your Rocky Mountain Horse’s diet? Submit their information online for a free nutrition consultation by one of our qualified equine nutritionists.