Our Story
Kentucky's native gaited Mountain Horses have become favorites throughout the United States and beyond for their beauty, athleticism, and smooth four-beat gait. American Gaited, Rocky Mountain, Kentucky Mountain, and Mountain Pleasure horses have a distinct personality with a calm and willing temperament that makes them some of the most trainable and pleasurable gaited horses.Mountain Horses were originally bred in the Appalachian area for centuries by dedicated horsemen who appreciated the Mountain Horse’s natural gait, kind temperament, willingness and hardiness. Gentle Mountain Horses were the foundation of the American gaited breeds known today as the American Saddlebred and the Tennessee Walking Horses. Mountain Horses are prized today for their unique abilities on the trail, in cross country, obstacle and show competitions. Their versatility is limitless and their uses expand as the numbers of people owning them increases.
United Mountain Horse, Inc was formed in September 2000 by members of the existing breed associations who were interested in having an organization especially dedicated to unifying all Mountain Horses. UMH serves to support and educate all Mountain Horse breeders, exhibitors, trainers, and horse enthusiasts and to promote Mountain Horses to new gaited horse owners each year. United Mountain Horse, Inc promotes events where registered Mountain Horses can all be showcased together.
UMH now operates or sanctions the vast majority of all Mountain Horse shows, with both national and regional sanctioned High Point circuits across the country. The UMH Regional program, established in 2002, serves 14 Regions with Representatives across the United States working to educate the public and promote American Gaited, Rocky Mountain, Kentucky Mountain and Mountain Pleasure Horses. UMH provides educational training videos, publications, clinics, trail rides, shows, and breed demonstrations for the enjoyment of the associate members. UMH has recently established the Breeders Cup program as another way to promote registered Mountain Horses.
The American Gaited Mountain Horse LLC®, was formed as a unifying service for the Mountain Horse breeds. AGMH promotes the preservation of the varied bloodlines and similar traits of American Gaited, Rocky Mountain, Kentucky Mountain, and Mountain Pleasure Horses. The American Gaited Mountain Horse LLC ® certificate of lineage documents the heritage and ancestry parentage, breed origins and registration numbers, show and trail accomplishments, and the achieved Merit Awards for each horse registered on one certificate. It provides the most complete record of any Mountain Horse’s blood lines, registrations, and accomplishments available today.
AGM® is headquartered with UMH in Winchester, KY on the grounds of the "new" Kentucky Equestrian Center. The Center is a short drive from Lexington, KY, Kentucky Horse Park, Pilot Knob, Natural Bridge State Park and the breathtaking Red River Gorge in the Daniel Boone National Park.
