The Spotted Mountain Horse Association is a division of the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association, with offices located in Lexington, Kentucky.  Membership in the Spotted Mountain Horse Association comes with a wide range of benefits for you and your family to enjoy.  Members receive a subscription to the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse News, which lists trail rides, shows, and other equine events located across the states throughout the year.  There is always an activity to participate in for you and your horse.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES
Youth members are offered a chance to participate in the youth program.  SMHA offers local and national horse shows with high point programs specifically catered to the youth.  The juvenile drill team performs at equine affairs locally and nationally and competes with the 4-H.  SMHA youth also hold fun shows and fundraisers throughout the year.

TRAIL RIDING

Throughout the year you will find weekend trail rides and cookouts for members.  SMHA offers a member trail riding club with participants receiving various awards based upon completed trail miles.

SHOW OPPORTUNITIES

If you are interested in showing your Spotted Mountain Horse, classes are included in the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse show program.  There are several different divisions including Western, Trail Obstacle, Country Trail Pleasure, Trail Pleasure, Classic Pleasure, Park Pleasure and Open Four Gait Pleasure.  Classes are offered for Novice, Juvenile, Amateur, and Professional riders.  Horses are not permitted to wear shoes heavier than a standard "keg" in all divisions.  The annual Kentucky Mountain Spotted International Grand Championships Horse Show is held in October at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

 

 

COAT PATTERNS

 

Tobiano (pronounced: tow be ya' no)

• The dark color usually covers one or both flanks.

• Generally, all four legs are white, at least below the hocks and knees.

• Pattern of white marking that commonly take the form of large splashes.  Generally, the spots are regular ad distinct as ovals or round patterns that extend down over the neck and chest and will travel across the spine extending downward between the ears and tail in a clearly marked pattern.

• The head is usually dark except for a facial marking pattern - blaze, strip, star, or snip.

• A tobiano may be either predominantly dark or white.  The tail is often two colors. The eyes are usually dark.

Overo:  (pronounced: oh vair' oh)

• The white originates on the underside (belly) of the horse and will rarely cross the back of the horse between its withers and its tail.

• Generally, at least one and often all four legs are dark.

• Generally, the white is irregular, and is rather scattered or splashy.

• Head markings are predominately white, often bald, apron, or bonnet-faced.

• An overo may be either predominantly dark or white.  The tail is usually one color.  The eyes are commonly blue.

Sabino:  (pronounced sa bean o)

• With color and markings similar to a roan, the sabino is genetically different.

• Usually markings will be on the belly and appear to extend outward from the belly as patches that are flecked and roaned, with ragged edges.  The legs often have white extending upward in peaks or points along the front or back of the leg bones; disconnected white leg markings are common.

• The face commonly has a lot of white.  The eyes of sabino are often blue and many have eyes that are partially blue and brown.

• Sabinos can be all or nearly pure white (appearing extensively roaned) though they will usually retain a small patch of pigmented skin.

Tovero:  (pronounced tow vair' oh)

• This horse will show characteristics of both overo and tobiano color patterns.

• Dark pigmentation around the ears, which may expand to cover the forehead and/or eyes.

• One or both eyes blue.

• Dark pigmentation around the mouth, which may extend up the sides of the face and form spots.

• Chest spot(s) in varying sizes.  These may also extend up the neck.

• Flank spots(s) ranging in sizes.  These are often accompanied by smaller spots that extend forward across the barrel, and up over the loin. 

• Spots, varying in size, at the base of the tail.