Interview with Dave Stefanic

Partial Transcript: We were just having a nice conversation on the Rocky Mountain Horse and when it started and I'd like you to just continue with some of the things that you were sharing with me.

Segment Synopsis: Stefanic speaks about how he first got involved with horses and how he came across mountain horses. He owns a farm called Classic Farm where you can breed, train, and sell mountain horses. He also mentions being a part of the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association for over 25 years.

Keywords: Classic Farm; horse breeding; horse conformation; Kentucky; Mountain Pleasure Horses; Moutain Saddle Horses; Rea Swan; Rocky Mountain Horses; Tennesee Walking Horses; Tobe

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Partial Transcript: It was Rea Swan and Wendell Johnson. I heard the story was is they together bought Blossom at a auction for 75 dollars.

Segment Synopsis: Stefanic tells a story about Blossom, Jay Lee’s Rocket, and Sunny. These were all horses that were instrumental in starting Classic Farm.

Keywords: Georgetown, KY; Rea Swan; Rocky Mountain Horses; Sam Clemmons; Wendell Johnson

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Partial Transcript: There was a certain bloodline that I was really pretty much impressed with and that was the Dock bloodline.

Segment Synopsis: Stefanic speaks about being at E.R. Davis's farm and attempting to buy Choco Dock. He then discusses Jaja who was a granddaughter of Dock.

Keywords: Choco Dock; Dock; horse breeding; horse conformation; Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses; Rocky Mountain Horses

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Partial Transcript: The following year we got ourselves a colt and he was a beautiful colt and we named him Joe Banjo.

Segment Synopsis: Stefanic mentions a colt named Joe Banjo that started his breeding of Rocky Mountain Horses.

Keywords: Dock; Joe Banjo; Rocky Mountain Horses

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Partial Transcript: Also met a guy by the name of Junior Robinson who started in 1989 at the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association.

Segment Synopsis: Stefanic speaks of why Junior Robinson started the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association. He then speaks of the origins of mountain horses.

Keywords: breed characteristics; horse certifications and registries; Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association; Rocky Mountain Horse Association

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Partial Transcript: I was on the Rocky Mountain board for a term. It was back in the mid 90's.

Segment Synopsis: Stefanic discusses his role in the Rocky Mountain Horse Association. He talks about how it pushed him to open up his registry to fix the issues and politics involved with the breed. He speaks about how he became involved with the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses.

Keywords: gaited horses; Rocky Mountain Horse Association; Rocky Mountain Horses

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Partial Transcript: So there was four people and we decided, it was right around 2000, that we would break away from the Rocky Mountains and start a show venue.

Segment Synopsis: Stefanic speaks about the United Mountain Horse Association. He also speaks about the purchase of the Kentucky Mountain Horse Association.

Keywords: gaited horses; horse temperament; Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association; Rocky Mountain Horse Association; United Mountain Horse Association

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Partial Transcript: Kentucky Mountain's philosophy was to keep it more open.

Segment Synopsis: Stefanic speaks about Kentucky Mountain's mission to keep the gene pool more open to avoid disease and other issues in mountain horses.

Keywords: breed characteristics; horse breeding; Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse; Rocky Mountain Horses

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Partial Transcript: We've heard that the even-tempered nature of the mountain horse might be a bit of a misnomer or misleading. What are your thoughts on that?

Segment Synopsis: Stefanic speaks about how breed characteristics like temperament, can fall back to breeding standards.

Keywords: breed characteristics; gaited horses; horse breeding; horse conformation; horse temperament; Mountain Horses

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Partial Transcript: Do you think that your relationship or your connection to horses has changed over the years and if so, how so?

Segment Synopsis: Stefanic speaks about breeding standards and his relationships with members in the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association.

Keywords: breed characteristics; gaited horses; horse certifications and registries; horse conformation; Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association

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Partial Transcript: What were some of these bigger mountain horse farms in eastern Kentucky?

Segment Synopsis: Stefanic speaks of some of the old breeders in Kentucky. He compares current gaits and conformation to those of the foundation horses.

Keywords: four-beat gait; horse breeding; Mountain Horses

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Partial Transcript: I'm wondering if you could share a couple stories of some of the old timers.

Segment Synopsis: Stefanic shares stories of some of the classic breeders and showmen of Rocky Mountain Horses. He tells a story about meeting Fonzie Graham.

Keywords: Fonzie Graham; horse breeding; Sam Clemmons

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Partial Transcript: We got to know this woman from central Kentucky and her name was Anna Fay Townsend.

Segment Synopsis: Stefanic tells stories about Anna Fay Townsend who is a horse trader from central Kentucky.

Keywords: Anna's Bluegrass; Choco Dock; horse breeding; horse trading

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