Interview with Robin Little

Partial Transcript: Can we please start off by you telling us a little bit about yourself; your name, where you're from, and anything else that you wanted to add.

Segment Synopsis: Little speaks about how she was born and raised in Kentucky and how she is a third generation breeder of Mountain Pleasure Horses. Her line of mountain horses comes from the direct bloodline of Goldfinger who was their foundation stallion. Robin then speaks about her early memories with horses. She shares a story about her grandpa named R.T. Little and how she would go to the barn to see his horse called Little Silver with him.

Keywords: Goldfinger; Little's Silver; Mountain Pleasure Horses

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Partial Transcript: When did you realize that you were part of the Appalachian region or do you not identify as Appalachian?

Segment Synopsis: Little speaks about when and how she realized she was from eastern Kentucky.

Keywords: Appalachia

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Partial Transcript: When did you start to understand what the mountain horse was?

Segment Synopsis: Little speaks about how Mountain Pleasure Horses were the only horses she'd ever been around because those where the horses her family always owned. Robin also discusses her grandpa's country store and how he traded horses and mules. She details how he had the best access to mountain horses because the people who would come to the store would bring their horses. In addition, she discusses the role that horses played in the lives of her family and the community.

Keywords: horse trading; Mountain Pleasure Horse Association; Mountain Pleasure Horses; trail riding

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Partial Transcript: What are some of the educational activities that you all do at the horse park?

Segment Synopsis: Little discusses her involvement with the educational activities that are held at the Kentucky Horse Park which include the Breeds Barn Show and BreyerFest. She then goes on to discuss Mountain Pleasure Horse temperament, various educational and therapeutic animal programs, and her continued involvement with community activities, event demonstrations, and horse drill team work.

Keywords: Breeds Barn Show; Breyer Horses; BreyerFest; horse breeding; horse temperament; Kentucky Horse Park; Mountain Pleasure Horses; MPHA Drill Team; therapy animals

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Partial Transcript: So would you say that the horses bring people together?

Segment Synopsis: Little concludes that the horse community and the horses themselves are very family oriented and community-driven. She mentions that because of her involvement with 4-H, that she has worked with kids who were emotionally unstable and with physical disabilities. These horses have turned those kids' lives around by providing them with opportunities to overcome their challenges and gain self-confidence. She also comments on the Mountain Pleasure Drill Team that she has been involved with throughout the years, and the ways that she and her colleagues set up and train for trail obstacle courses.

Keywords: horse culture; Mountain Pleasure Horse Association; Mountain Pleasure Horses; therapeutic riding; trail obstacle; trail riding

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Partial Transcript: You also said that you raise the horses on your farm? Do you witness every single birth that they have?

Segment Synopsis: Little speaks about her and her husband's horse breeding program. This program includes a foaling stall that has cameras that are linked to a mobile app that her husband developed. She also briefly explains that horses that have a registered name will usually be three names long and they will also have a barn name. Robin then tells a story about one birth that stands out in her memory.

Keywords: Mountain Pleasure Horses; Rockin' R Farm

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Partial Transcript: As you know, some say that the Rocky Mountain Horse is just a color? What are your thoughts on that?

Segment Synopsis: Robin speaks about how the Rocky Mountain Horses are more than just a color. Robin mentions that DNA studies show that the Rocky Mountain Horses are the oldest gaited breed and the color did not come until Tobe. Robin speaks about how Rocky Mountain Horses were just mountain horses up until Tobe then they became more about the color. Robin then speaks about how people learn the most from difficult horses. Robin mentions that horses have very distinct personalities, so you need to watch for that when breeding. Robin also speaks about the different bloodlines and how they have different traits. Robin mentions that there is good and bad in all bloodlines and that you need to be careful what you are breeding for. She advises that you need to find a balance between bloodlines and behaviors of horses. Robin then speaks about how they are not actually that expensive to get because they are just trail horses. Robin speaks about the gait of the Mountain Pleasure Horses and how they were not bred to have a high gait but rather a smooth gait. Robin speaks about how she does not care to train a Mountain Pleasure Horse to have a high gait. Robin mentions that she lets them do their thing as long as they are not too fast or too rough.

Keywords: breed characteristics; gaited horses; Goldfinger; horse temperament; Moutain Pleasure Horses; Palominos; Rocky Mountain Horses; smooth gaited horses; Tobe

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Partial Transcript: Are there any stories about either horsemen or horsewomen that you would like to share that you've been a part of?

Segment Synopsis: Robin speaks about how her grandfather is the best horseman she knew. Robin mentions that the best horsemen, including her father and grandfather, kept their stories and skills to themselves as an essential business move. However, those secrets would often die out and not get passed on. Robin speaks about how her grandfather did not even show her his training tricks and methods. Robin mentions that her grandfather and her father learned by doing, not by being taught by anyone. Robin then speaks about how tolerant and people-oriented mountain horses had to be to do the jobs they were bred for. Robin explains why mountain horses are the best breed you can have. Robin mentions that she considers mountain horses a part of her family, especially any horse that is part of the Goldfinger bloodline.

Keywords: horse behavior; horse temperament; horse training; Mountain Pleasure Horses

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Partial Transcript: The future of the mountain horse, you don't see a booming anytime soon but you hope for it to stay kind of level at least?

Segment Synopsis: Robin speaks about where she sees the future of the mountain horses going. Robin mentions that some of the other mountain horse breeds might boom but the Mountain Pleasure Horse will not. Robin also speaks about how she does not want it to because she wants people to use good breeding practices. Robin speaks about how there is no inbreeding going on so they are not in any genetic trouble. She expands on this by saying how she wants them to maintain their numbers in order to keep that good bloodline and breeding that they have. Robin then explains what selective breeding is and its importance. Robin speaks about how educating people about eastern Kentucky and the horses are also important. Robin mentions that the horses were worth everything to the farmers and essential to the people because the horses were how they maintained a way of living back in the old days.

Keywords: horse breeding; Mountain Pleasure Horses

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Partial Transcript: Are there any other stories or information you would like to share for the record?

Segment Synopsis: Robin speaks about the Mountain Pleasure Horse Association website and how it contains all the interviews and KET documents on there. Robin mentions that some of these stories can be romanticized and a lot of these stories could be lost between generations. Robin also mentions that the older breeders are on there and their information is more credited then some other stories out there. She also mentions that there are some really interesting facts and DNA on there.

Keywords: Mountain Pleasure Horse Association; Mountain Pleasure Horses

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