Mountain Pleasure

The Mountain Pleasure, sometimes called the Old Kentucky Saddler, comes out of Appalachia, where a horse had to be an easy keeper and sure-footed across miles of steep ground or it was no use to anyone. It represents the old Appalachian gaited type, and it is thought to sit behind the American Saddlebred and the Tennessee Walking Horse.

Gaited means it has natural gaits beyond the walk, trot and canter. The Mountain Pleasure has a four-beat gait whose rhythm barely changes whether the horse is moving fast or slow, and the movement stays level. Very little of it reaches the rider's seat, which is why people take these long distances and why they suit anyone who needs a smooth ride.

They stand 14.2 to 16 hands and weigh 900 to 1,100 pounds. Most solid colors occur, but the one people picture is a deep golden palomino.

They are calm, willing, easy to train and fond of people. Families ride them, and they turn up in trail riding, obstacle competitions, drill teams and barrel racing.

The Mountain Pleasure Horse Association formed in 1989.