Interview with Vernon Stamper

Partial Transcript: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself; your full name, your birthplace, occupation, and your current position or involvement with horses?

Segment Synopsis: Stamper speaks about being raised with mountain horses. He also speaks about his father and grandfather using horses for transportation and to plow fields.

Keywords: gaited horses; horse auctioneer; horse training; horse versatility; Moutain Horses; palominos

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Partial Transcript: Can you explain some of those bloodlines or talk about them for the record?

Segment Synopsis: Stamper speaks about old bloodlines including Denmark and Squirrel horses that are not found anymore. He also speaks about different gaits that used to be found in gaited horses of the past.

Keywords: Fonzie Graham; gaited horses; horse bloodlines; horse temperament; horse training; horse versatility; Mountain Horses; Mt. Sterling, KY

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Partial Transcript: In terms of some of your first memories with horses.

Segment Synopsis: Stamper shares memories of going on trail rides and using a wagon or buggy. He also shares about training horses by putting them under harness and driving them or using them to plow.

Keywords: horse conformation; horse training; Mountain Horses; trail riding

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Partial Transcript: Can you take us through how you get the gait out of a young horse?

Segment Synopsis: Stamper speaks about how taking your time and riding slow is the most significant thing that will help train for the gait. He also speaks about conformation and the older generation’s techniques with training horses.

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

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Partial Transcript: Could you talk a little bit about that?

Segment Synopsis: Stamper speaks about the importance of teaching younger generations a trade in the horse industry.

Keywords: horse training; palominos

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Partial Transcript: When and how did you realize that you were part of Appalachia?

Segment Synopsis: Stamper speaks about growing up in Appalachia and being referred to as mountain people.

Keywords: Appalachia; horse culture

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Partial Transcript: Can we take a detour and talk a little bit about those Kentucky riding saddles and some Minihan saddles?

Segment Synopsis: Stamper speaks about different types of saddles such as Minihan saddles, the Bonnie Allen Saddle, sidesaddles, and John Salmons saddle. He also talks about selling an Askills Back saddle.

Keywords: gaited horses; Minihan saddle; Mountain Horses; Rocky Mountain Horse Association International Horse Show; sidesaddle riding; trail riding

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Partial Transcript: Could you share your memories about Fonzie Graham?

Segment Synopsis: Vernon shares memories of Fonzie Graham, R.T. Little, and Sam Tuttle. He mentions several horses named Silver, Choco Dock, Trigger, and Tobe.

Keywords: Fonzie Graham; Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse; Mt. Sterling, KY; R.T. Little; Sam Tuttle; Silver; Tobe

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Partial Transcript: Can you share with us a little bit of your first memories of the establishment of the association?

Segment Synopsis: Stamper speaks of how the Rocky Mountain Horse Association began. He mentions Jennifer Bush who wrote some of the bylaws of the association. He also speaks about the different types of mountain horses and the Mountain Pleasure Horse Association.

Keywords: gaited horses; horse shows; Kentucky Horse Park; Mountain Pleasure Horse Drill Team; Mountain Pleasure Horses; Rocky Mountain Horse Association; Rocky Mountain Horses; Tennesse Walking Horses; Tobe

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Partial Transcript: Can you remember some of the moments when you realized the importance of the mountain horse to your community?

Segment Synopsis: Stamper speaks about the importance of horses in the community and family life. He also shares a memory of mowing with horses.

Keywords: horse culture; horse training; Mountain Horses

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Partial Transcript: What would you recommend in terms of, if we were going to just write a little white paper from these oral histories on future directions/recommendations?

Segment Synopsis: Stamper speaks about how things need to go back to the basics in regard to mountain horses. He also speaks about the importance of hands-on experience when judging and training horses.

Keywords: horse show judging; horse training; Mountain Horses; Tennesse Walking Horses

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Partial Transcript: There's been a lot of talk about the disposition of the mountain horse and some say it's maybe not as easygoing as it's promoted.

Segment Synopsis: Stamper speaks about the differences in temperament with mountain horses.

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

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Partial Transcript: What are your thoughts on it?

Segment Synopsis: Stamper speaks about genetic problems horses can have due to human error. He also mentions that he still has the horses named Nighthawk and Fearless Bolt.

Keywords: ASD; breed characteristics; DSM; Fearless Bolt; horse breeding; Nighthawk; Rocky Mountain Horses

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Partial Transcript: What do you see as the future of the mountain horse breed and what are your thoughts on its growing international popularity?

Segment Synopsis: Stamper speaks about the need to promote the Rocky Mountain breed in the United States. He also speaks about the importance of horses to the country.

Keywords: Mountain Horses; trail riding

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