Phenotypic Characterization Through Identification of Gait and Coat Color Phenotype of the Mountain Pleasure Horse

Authors

• A. Irons, Mississippi State University
• J. Culwell, Mississippi State University
• M. C. Nicodemus, Mississippi State University
• M. Vandiver, Mississippi State University
• E. North, University of Mississippi Medical Center
• C. Cavinder, Mississippi State University
• L. Rios de Alvarez, Mississippi State University
• T. Williams, Unity Environmental University

ORCID

Nicodemus: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8646-994X; Cavinder: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9004-1986; Rios de Alvarez: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4211-7023

MSU Affiliation

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences; School of Human Sciences

Creation Date

2026-07-30

Abstract

Background: Phenotypic characterization of traits like gait and coat color is useful for minor breed identification and conservation. The Mountain Pleasure Horse (MPH) is a minor American breed as it is listed as threatened by the Livestock Conservancy. Objectives: The study objective was to utilize phenotypic characterization for identifying gait and coat color phenotype of the MPH. Methods: Gait was characterized utilizing frame-by-frame analysis to identify spatiotemporal variables of purebred horses (n = 6) performing the flat walk and saddle rack. Coat color was characterized using coat color assignments of purebred horses within the MPH Association database. Coat color was assessed in two stages: 1) living registered horses (n = 1,410) and 2) changes over time (1960-1980, n = 98; 1990-2010, n = 708). Results: Gait phenotype for both gaits included a 4-beat stepping rhythm alternating between bipedal and tripedal support. The saddle rack had a faster velocity achieved by increasing stride length and decreasing stride and stance durations (P < 0.05). Coat color phenotype of living MPHs included 11 coat color assignments. The most frequent assignment was chestnut (31.4%) followed by chocolate (16.9%) and palomino (16.4%). The most frequent assignments between the years of 1960 and 1980 were chestnut (26.5%) and palomino (26.5%), while in the years of 1990 through 2010, it was chestnut (30.2%) and chocolate (20.9%). Conclusion: These traits inform selective breeding as populations grow; however, observed coat color shifts must be considered to ensure responsible, genetically informed conservation and long-term population sustainability goals and management decisions.

Publication Date

6-20-2026

Publication Title

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science

Publisher

Elsevier

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Rights

© 2026 The Author(s)

Recommended Citation

Irons, A., Culwell, J., Nicodemus, M. C., Vandiver, M., North, E., Cavinder, C., Rios de Alvarez, L., & Williams, T. (2026). Phenotypic characterization through identification of gait and coat color phenotype of the mountain pleasure horse. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 165, 106066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2026.106066