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Friend, I enjoy talking about our mountain horses. I want to point out that the same genetic pool of horse from eastern Kentucky has been divided into 3 associations, Rocky Mountain, Kentucky Mt. Saddle, and Mountain Pleasure Horses. Actually, now there are even additional new associations. We raise Kentucky Mountain Saddle horses & Mountain Pleasure horses. All of our stock have had eye checks for ASD. One stallion, the chocolate, has minute cysts, which is not a progressive condition, and doesn’t impair vision. The rest of our horses are clear eyed. Our farm is directly on a busy highway, so our horses are accustomed to trucks and motorcycles. They are also used to dogs. Sometimes even the dog rides! My husband, Will, starts our young stock in the round pen. He then drives them in long lines until they understand the bit. The next step is the initial ride up the mountainside. It is about a 20 minute round trip. This is repeated some 10 days to strengthen the horse before starting distance riding. There is a 7 mile circuit through country roads, both asphalt & gravel, so the horse gets to see some mailboxes, cars, barking dogs etc. The horse is ridden this route solo, so he is accustomed to going out alone. The final stage is to trailer the horses 5 miles down the road to National Forest for some 10-15 mile rides. The horse steps over obstacles, walks through water, and over some bridges. I am often asked if our horses can jump. Of course they can, but we train them not to, as OUR MISSION IS TO PRODUCE SAFE, SOUND HORSES FOR FAMILY FUN & TRAIL RIDING. Our specialty is field trial mounts. When we sell a ‘finished gelding, the horse is expected to be easily caught, to stand for tacking & mounting, to move out, stop, turn, back, and load onto a trailer. The horse is cued to gait with a double kiss or click. Usually no leg aids are needed. Will trains our horses to be very light, a problem if we are selling to beginners but a delight to a seasoned rider. |
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| WOODWIND FARMS Breeders of Quality Gaited Mountain Horses Mountain Pleasure & Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses Trail Mounts, Stud Service, Training Joyce Doonan & Will Ferguson, Owners 276.228.7009 joy44@earthlink.net |
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