The Rocky Mountain Horse Association (RMHA) is a recognized breed association, incorporated in the state of Kentucky as a non-profit corporation, and formed for the explicit purpose of preserving, promoting, breeding, and developing the Rocky Mountain Horse®. The Rocky Mountain Horse® breed has been issued a Certification mark by the U.S. Patent Office and only those horses registered by the RMHA may use this name. This association has had continued growth from its formation in May of 1986 when Rea Swan of Lexington, Kentucky gathered a small group of breeders representing 33 horses into the thriving organization of today with over fourteen thousand registered horses worldwide.
The RMHA Headquarters Office is our primary source of information and it assists members with registration, certification, DNA processing, and offers merchandise for sale, such as demonstration videotapes and stallion directories.
The Rocky Mountain Horse Breed is highly controlled through selective breeding using registration, DNA testing, and a certification process. The Rocky Mountain Horse is one of the few American breeds that require certification before breeding to produce offspring eligible for registration. This concept is unique and serves the purpose of culling any undesired variables in foundation stock to achieves true breed uniformity. It is this certification requirement that allows the breed to be issued a certification mark by the U.S. Patent Office. Consequently, only a horse that is registered and has met RMHA breed standards can be known by the name "Rocky Mountain Horse®”.
(Most American breed associations allow the breeding of any registered horse, without prior certification requirements. Their requirements for registration of their horses is defined by one of two conditions; 1) heritage (the parent stock are fully registered, e.g. Arabian) or 2) by characteristics such as color or gait (the breed standards are met, e.g. Palomino, Paint). A certified Rocky Mountain Horse® meets both conditions.)
Prior certification is also required for any Rocky Mountain Horse over the age of three to compete in RMHA shows. The reason for this is because the goal of the RMHA is to select show ring champions according to which horse best meets or represents the standards of the breed.
To be certified, a Rocky Mountain Horse must be at least twenty-three months old and pass inspection by three official RMHA Examiners who examine: 1. Correct gait under saddle, with a graceful way of going. 2. Conformation and color must meet breed standards. 3. The horse must possess a good temperament. 4. Verification of parentage by an appropriate laboratory testing method 5. Stallions must have both testicles external 6. Horse must meet the minimum height requirement of 14.2 When certification is complete, the birth registration paperwork is duly amended to reflect certification status.
The desire to preserve the future of the Rocky Mountain Horse is the driving force of this Association and their spirit of commitment to this cause is as strong today as it was at it's inception in 1986.
Please visit the Associations website for more information using the link at the top of this page.
