The Rocky Mountain Horse Breed originated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky during the late 1800's. Documents about these horses were not kept at that time. People living in this region then would be most surprised to know that their all purpose work horses would become the foundation for a breed of horse in decades to follow. Due to the isolation of this mountainous region, existence of these horses was kept secret for many years to all but the inhabitants of this region.
During the late 1800s/ early 1900s, inhabitants of eastern Kentucky used "saddle horses" for all purposes, not just riding. Sure-footed and smooth gaited, Kentucky Saddle Horses were a perfect choice for postmen, doctors, and traveling preachers. Farmers used them for plowing small fields, herding cattle, traveling through steep and rugged trails, and driving the buggy to church on Sunday. Kids sneaked away bareback to favorite fishing holes. ("Saddle horses" are horses that perform a smooth riding gait and are preferred over trotting horses for riding in a saddle. They were sure footed, had great stamina, and kept the rider as comfortable as possible while in the saddle, thus they were called saddle horses. Trotting horses were used to pull wagons and loads.)
Horses were not a luxury in those days. The Kentucky Saddle Horses were a necessity to the people living in this rural mountainous countryside. Every horse earned its keep and had be extremely versatile. It was not a matter of having horses around to use every once in awhile; these horses were worked hard, all day and every day. At days end even these hearty, athletic horses were exhausted but they possessed enough stamina to continue on day after day.
While Kentucky Thoroughbred were owned by wealthy people and had special care, gaited saddle horses of eastern Kentucky were owned by farmers and received no special care. These horses withstood the cold, harsh winters of eastern Kentucky with minimal shelter and they were often fed "fodder", a kind of rough silage used for cows. Some had to exist on whatever sustenance they could find during winter months and ate the bark off trees when they were hungry, like the deer. Only horses that survived these extreme conditions lived to reproduce and so the Rocky of today is a very hardy horse and an "easy keeper". They prefer to live outdoors with a lean-to for cover over being kept in a barn stall. They do not require large quantities or high quality food and get along nicely on grass hay. Not to overfeed them is a challenge and many need to be kept in a mud lot with access to green pasture for limited amounts of time to keep them from overeating and foundering.
The Rocky Mountain Horse Association's (RMHA) rendition of the history of the breed states there was a gaited colt brought from the Rocky Mountain region of the United States to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in eastern Kentucky around 1890. He was referred to as "the Rocky Mountain Horse" by the local Kentucky people because of the area of the country from which he had come. He is the horse credited for the start of the Rocky Mountain Horse breed. Little is known about this foundation stallion, but oral history indicated he was chocolate-colored with flaxen mane and tail, and he possessed a superior gait. The stallion was bred to the local Appalachian saddle mares The herd was kept in a relatively small geographical area away from other types of horse and in time the basic characteristics of a strong genetic line was created that is passed onto offspring. This prized line of horses increased in numbers as years went by and are known today as Rocky Mountain Horses.
Sam Tuttle was the most prominent breeder of Rocky Mountain Horses for the first three quarters of the twentieth century. With the advent of better roads and means of travel, the population of gaited horses in the United States began to decline. The exception was the less developed area of the Appalachian Mountains. Gaited horses were still needed for travel where there were no roads, and therefore they were preserved in that area. Even through the hard times of the Depression and World War II years, Sam Tuttle kept a sizable herd of thirty to forty horses on his farm. Sam is considered as the man most responsible for the survival of the Rocky Mountain Horse. TOBE was the primary Rocky Mountain stallion used in Sam's breeding program. In the 1950s, many people were selling their stallions, and the horse population in general was rapidly declining due to tractors and farm machinery available. Even so, breeders remembered TOBE, and he was always in demand for stud service. People brought their mares to TOBE from several different states, and he was as famous in Estill County as MAN O' WAR was in Lexington, Kentucky.
Everyone who rode TOBE fell in love with him. TOBE's offspring were always in demand, and Sam never had any trouble selling all the Rocky Mountain Horses he could produce.
In the early 1960s, Sam Tuttle managed the trail riding concession at the Natural Bridge State Park in Powell County, Kentucky. He had as many as fifty horses there, including TOBE. This stallion was often seen tied to the hitching post alongside all the mares. He became quite well known in the ten or so years he was ridden there. Besides breeding, TOBE was used as a trail horse. He carried Sam, and sometimes the trail guides who worked for Sam, with sure-footed ease over mountainous terrain for many years. Although Sam would allow other people to ride TOBE occasionally, it was always a ride closely supervised. He loved to show off his beloved stallion, but also kept a close eye on him. Everyone who rode TOBE enjoyed his gentle temperament and comfortable gait. It amazed people to think the well-mannered horse they were riding was indeed a breeding stallion.
TOBE was used for breeding until July of his thirty-fourth year, and he passed on his gait, disposition, and other great qualities to his offspring. It has been said that TOBE's progeny followed in his "perfectly-timed" footsteps. TOBE fathered many fine horses before his death at the ripe old age of thirty-seven. One outstanding trait passed on to his get was longevity, as many of his offspring were still breeding into their late twenties and early thirties.
During the late 1800s/ early 1900s, inhabitants of eastern Kentucky used "saddle horses" for all purposes, not just riding. Sure-footed and smooth gaited, Kentucky Saddle Horses were a perfect choice for postmen, doctors, and traveling preachers. Farmers used them for plowing small fields, herding cattle, traveling through steep and rugged trails, and driving the buggy to church on Sunday. Kids sneaked away bareback to favorite fishing holes. ("Saddle horses" are horses that perform a smooth riding gait and are preferred over trotting horses for riding in a saddle. They were sure footed, had great stamina, and kept the rider as comfortable as possible while in the saddle, thus they were called saddle horses. Trotting horses were used to pull wagons and loads.) 
Horses were not a luxury in those days. The Kentucky Saddle Horses were a necessity to the people living in this rural mountainous countryside. Every horse earned its keep and had be extremely versatile. It was not a matter of having horses around to use every once in awhile; these horses were worked hard, all day and every day. At days end even these hearty, athletic horses were exhausted but they possessed enough stamina to continue on day after day. 
The Rocky Mountain Horse Association's (RMHA) rendition of the history of the breed states there was a gaited colt brought from the Rocky Mountain region of the United States to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in eastern Kentucky around 1890. He was referred to as "the Rocky Mountain Horse" by the local Kentucky people because of the area of the country from which he had come. He is the horse credited for the start of the Rocky Mountain Horse breed. Little is known about this foundation stallion, but oral history indicated he was chocolate-colored with flaxen mane and tail, and he possessed a superior gait. The stallion was bred to the local Appalachian saddle mares The herd was kept in a relatively small geographical area away from other types of horse and in time the basic characteristics of a strong genetic line was created that is passed onto offspring. This prized line of horses increased in numbers as years went by and are known today as Rocky Mountain Horses.
Sam Tuttle was the most prominent breeder of Rocky Mountain Horses for the first three quarters of the twentieth century. With the advent of better roads and means of travel, the population of gaited horses in the United States began to decline. The exception was the less developed area of the Appalachian Mountains. Gaited horses were still needed for travel where there were no roads, and therefore they were preserved in that area. Even through the hard times of the Depression and World War II years, Sam Tuttle kept a sizable herd of thirty to forty horses on his farm. Sam is considered as the man most responsible for the survival of the Rocky Mountain Horse. TOBE was the primary Rocky Mountain stallion used in Sam's breeding program. In the 1950s, many people were selling their stallions, and the horse population in general was rapidly declining due to tractors and farm machinery available. Even so, breeders remembered TOBE, and he was always in demand for stud service. People brought their mares to TOBE from several different states, and he was as famous in Estill County as MAN O' WAR was in Lexington, Kentucky. 
In the early 1960s, Sam Tuttle managed the trail riding concession at the Natural Bridge State Park in Powell County, Kentucky. He had as many as fifty horses there, including TOBE. This stallion was often seen tied to the hitching post alongside all the mares. He became quite well known in the ten or so years he was ridden there. Besides breeding, TOBE was used as a trail horse. He carried Sam, and sometimes the trail guides who worked for Sam, with sure-footed ease over mountainous terrain for many years. Although Sam would allow other people to ride TOBE occasionally, it was always a ride closely supervised. He loved to show off his beloved stallion, but also kept a close eye on him. Everyone who rode TOBE enjoyed his gentle temperament and comfortable gait. It amazed people to think the well-mannered horse they were riding was indeed a breeding stallion.
Making new friends.
The foal whisperer. 