Rocky Mountain Horse
good-natured, calm, people-oriented
Origin
Kentucky (USA)
Withers height
142–160 cm
Trail ridingLeisureTrail
Traits & strengths
- ✦the single-foot is smooth and comfortable over hours
- ✦striking colouring: chocolate body with a pale flaxen mane (silver gene)
- ✦notably good-natured and easy to handle
- ✦sure-footed in hilly country
Breed-typical predispositions
MCOA (multiple congenital ocular anomalies)
Disease →linked to the silver gene (PMEL17): heterozygous animals usually show only cysts, homozygous ones clear malformations. The colour the breed is known for carries the risk — clarify the genotype before mating
Narrow genetic base
the small founder population makes inbreeding management the central breeding topic
Latest findings
Silver gene and MCOA (PMEL17)
2008/2010The ocular anomalies are closely linked to the silver variant; homozygous silver animals are clearly affected, heterozygous ones usually show only iris cysts. Matings of two silver carriers can be deliberately avoided.
Source · Andersson et al. — PMEL17/MCOA