Helpful Buyer Information!
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Before Purchasing Your Rocky:

"Although many trainers are currently putting Rockies under saddle as two year olds, there are others who firmly believe in waiting until the horse is three or four years old. The reason for early training is primarily based on economics. Rocky Mountain Horses are still classified as a rare breed at this point in time, and demand is high for Rockies under saddle because there are so few of them. However, thank goodness for those breeders who believe it is better to delay under saddle training until their horse is more physically mature. They have a philosophy based on preserving the horse’s future riding integrity and physical development. If more people had the latter philosophy and more patience, perhaps more horses would keep working sound into their twenties."

- An excerpt from Rocky Mountain Horses written by Bonnie Hodge

 

About Gaiting

Even though Rockies are naturally gaited horses when you start them under saddle they need a few months of correct riding and cueing before the gait is locked in. Most Rockies when started under saddle will go in and out of gait and will perform either a pace, a stepping-pace, or a trot.

 

Why It's important to look at Papers

I have made quite a few trips to Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio to learn more about these horses and see the Rockies from the different bloodlines, which I feel has helped me tremendously in learning more about their gait and different temperaments. My goal at Easy Riding Rockies is to breed high quality Rocky Mountain Horses. I have taken a lot of time over the last ten years to produce my herd and have chosen mares that I believe best represent the breed characteristics. I think the quality of the mare is just as important, if not more, than the Stallion. The mares I have purchased are all from the old foundation bloodlines, they are all at least 38-56% Tobe. If you look at any of my horse's pedigrees you will notice that I have Tobe on both the sire's and the dam's bloodlines. We produce a small number of foals each year. All my mares are registered with the Rocky Mountain Horse Association and have the smooth gait and wonderful temperament that you should expect. Each mare that we own has been on the trails. I believe when a mare is ridden on trails a person gets to know that horse's temperament a lot better, which is very important especially when that baby's first four months of its life, is really influenced by the mare. Stallions have been individually picked to complement each mare.

ALSO WHEN LOOKING AT PAPERS it is important to look at the back side of the pedigree because it allows you to see how many people have owned the horse. It enables you to contact previous owners and find out the background and history of the horse. I recently purchased a horse that had, had five owners since 1991 and the last owner had only kept her for a year. I felt that this one year was not enough time to really know the horse. This is when I decided to contact the owner who had owned the horse for five years. After talking to the owner I received some valuable information that led my to realize this was indeed a very nice mare.

A Word of Caution
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It was recently brought to the attention of the RMHA that a West Coast equine publication had run a farm ad selling “Rockies of a Different Color.” The ad contained photos of spotted horses. The Association’s attorney handled the issue, but we felt a disclaimer to members and prospective Rocky owners was in order.

As the Rocky Mountain breed has grown in popularity, several other organizations have adopted the use of “mountain horse.” There is only one equine breed that can be identified as The Rocky Mountain Horse®. The Rocky Mountain Horse Association® has taken great care in setting the high standards for our breed. There are strict guidelines for the size, color, gait, and temperament to which other “mountain” registries do not necessarily adhere.

If you are considering becoming a new owner of a Rocky Mountain Horse®, we urge you to use extreme caution. Insist on a genuine Certificate of Registration from the Rocky Mountain Horse Association®. If there is doubt, feel free to contact the Association. Know the person with whom you are dealing. Just as with any large purchase, it’s Buyer Beware!

While we want everyone to be happy with their new Rocky Mountain Horse®, the Association cannot police every sale. We cannot hold papers while checks clear, nor can we guarantee the health of a horse. Unscrupulous horse traders emerge in every breed. The more rare the breed, the more they are attracted.

Remember:

- A spotted horse or one with excessive white above the knees and on the face is not a registered, certified-to-breed Rocky Mountain Horse®. - All “mountain” horses are not necessarily Rocky Mountain Horses®.

- If the seller tells you, “You can get Rocky Mountain papers on this horse,” question why he hasn’t already done it.

- Watch for deceiving ads or sellers that insinuate or tell you their horses are, “just as good as a Rocky Mountain Horse®

A link from the The Rocky Mountain Horse Association®