Kentucky Real Estate Business

Archive for November, 2009

The Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world.  It classifies as a Grade 1 stakes race for horse that are three years old.  The Kentucky Derby is always held in Louisville, Kentucky and draws huge numbers every year.  The race is held on the first Saturday in May and is 1 1/4 miles long.  Churchill Downs is the site for the race and people tune in from all over the world to see “The Run for the Roses”.  Every year horses and trainers vigorously prepare to enter and win this anticipated race.  Many times, there are big upsets and relatively unknown horses will walk away with the purse.

The 2007 Kentucky Derby, held on Saturday, May 5, and sponsored by Yum! Brands, proved to be another exciting race to be put down in Derby history.  It featured 20 different three year old colts who all were nervously waiting for the snap to sound and for their chance to break out of the gate.  The $2 million dollar purse made trainers, owners, and bettors a bit nervous as well.

Earlier in the week it had been rainy and muddy but the sun came out on this Saturday morning as if anticipating the race as well.  The dirt was hardened and  the race was moved back to “fast” status.  As the 133rd running of the Derby, it proved to be a fine day for a race.  The two top horses going into the race were the 9-2 favorite Street Sense and the 5-1 second place horse Curlin.  Both were attempting to upset history and take home the victory.  Close behind them in the favorites were Scat Daddy (7-1) and Hard Spun (10-1).

As the race began, Hard Spun came out on top just past the grandstand by about three lengths.  At about the half mile mark and onto the backstretch, the horses bunched up to try and take a stab at the lead.  Teuflesberg, Sedgefield, and Cowtown Cat were all apart of this jumble of horses that were looking to take over the front runner.  Just behind them was Street Sense who, under the direction of his jockey Calvin Borel, watched the horses jumble up and then cut over by the rail to save some ground.  At this point, Hard Spun was still about three lengths ahead of the pack but Street Sense found an opening and surged forward to gain the lead.  The final furlong allowed Street Sense to gain some speed and he ended up winning by about 2 1/4 lengths.  He clocked a time of 2:02.17 and came out the victor.  Hard Spun came in second place, Curlin came in third, and Imawildandcrazyguy finished up the top four.

After the race, Street Sense’s jockey and trainer each had praising words to say about the horse.  Calvin Borel said that Street Sense was “the best 3-year-old I’ve ever been on in my life.” Trainer, Carl Nafzger said that “This horse has never ran a bad race.  He’s done everything he’s supposed to.  I’ve got all the faith in the world in this horse and I can’t say enough about him.”

With the various kinds of plans being covered by Kentucky health insurance, there are certain unique characteristics that set this state apart from the rest. Consequently, this implies that there are varied or different requirements and a special set of parameters that the health care agencies should cater to. The residents of Kentucky have a lot of health care options and choosing the ideal plan may be tough. If you are in search of the right insurer or health plan, which caters to your needs, consider Humana.Humana was established in 1961 with its headquarters in Louisville in Kentucky. Providing unique services related to Kentucky health insurance, Humana is a top choice among customers today. As one of the most popular health insurance providers, Humana offers coordinated health insurance plans not only to the residents of Kentucky, but even those of the other states. There are more than 3000 health care providers as well as physicians based all over the USA in Kentucky’s Humana Choice Care Network and owing to such a repute, there should be no doubts as far as looking for a provider is concerned.As long as you are in the hands of Humana, your Kentucky health insurance provider, you’ve got nothing to worry about. Under the head called Humana One, individual plans of health insurance are available, such as 4 deductible alternatives, as well as others. The Humana plans of insurance are among the most popular insurance plans in a lot of US states. There are lots of decent choices to make such as the family health insurance plans. The Kentucky insurance department works by approving all of the plans before they can be extended for public usage. This is the reason as to why there is no reason for the residents to be worried about shopping for insurance from one source to another.Humana actually offers some really exciting plans of medical or health insurance that are unique for any kind of individual looking forward to an affordable health insurance plan. You may be going through a period of transition or may require individual medical coverage for some reason, and this is precisely the need that is fulfilled by Humana. The body offers long term as well a short term insurance plans for individual as well as group benefit and that too at affordable rates. The plans even cater to your personal or individual requirements.The rates for health insurance in Kentucky have been approved by the state’s department of insurance, and this has resulted in affordable premiums and health plans. Go for a unique or expert insurance agent to understand the plans that are being offered by Humana. This will enable you to compare quotes with other carriers. With the help of professionals, you can understand as well as invest in the insurance plan that best suits your health needs, as well as get your doubts clarified. Look for an agent who works both for Humana as well as for its competitors as this way you can weigh your options better.

It’s probably been years since you’ve played dress-up . . . your mom’s fancy hat and shoes or your dad’s old military gear. Fun at the time, but now you think you’re way past the dress-up stage, right? Wrong! Just when you thought those days were long dead and buried, experts are encouraging you to resurrect them. Well, at least when it comes time to sell your home!

Although common sense (and that nasty smell coming from the pantry!) tells most of us to clean our home thoroughly before we put it on the market, sometimes that just isn’t enough. Sometimes you have to dress it up a bit. In fact, the way you present your home to prospective buyers can spell the difference between “that one home with the icky wallpaper” and a sale.

Let’s start with curb appeal. That first impression when prospective buyers drive up is very, very important. If they don’t find the outside appealing, they’ll be jaded even before they walk through the door . . . if they do. The Yard

Few things are cleaner or more defined than a planter area with fresh mulch. Mulch gives even the most neglected areas the look of professional landscaping. Mow your lawn, trim the shrubs, add a little color (if weather permits) with flowers. Flowers should be planted about a month in advance, if possible, to allow for a less eleventh-hour feel. There’s no real harm in allowing prospective buyers to think you were born with a green thumb! The Exterior

If your home could use a paint job and you don’t have the time or money, sometimes hosing it off and repainting trim and shutters will update the entire facade. Word of caution: if you’re not inclined to use a neutral color, get the opinion of three trusted friends or family who are not afraid to “tell it like it is” before you even start searching for the paint brushes. Clean up oil spots on the driveway. Make sure the garage door opens easily. And yes, clean the windows inside and out. Broken glass should be repaired. A clean front porch with a fresh-looking front door (again, three corroborators!) that opens easily is a must. The Interior

Without having ever stepped not even one pinky toe beyond the threshold of your home, the first instruction is going to be: Have a garage sale! Seriously! The unofficial rule of thumb is if you haven’t used it in a month (excluding holiday fare) or didn’t even know you owned it, time to say goodbye. Clutter is the silent killer of home sales. A busy room will cause even the most sedate buyer to twitch. Your collection of early Disney characters on the armoire or the shrine of family photos on your dresser should be packed and in storage. Clutter can collect on shelves, countertops, in drawers, closets, garages, attics and basements. You want as much open clear space as possible, so every extra little thing needs to be cleared away. If you want your kitchen to look bigger and/or more pristine, clear off the countertops. Even the toaster! The smaller the kitchen, the less on the counters. Ditto for bathrooms. A fresh coat of paint on walls will work wonders too. Remember, though, dark-colored paint makes a room feel smaller and . . . well, darker. Replace all burned-out light bulbs. Repairs

Make those repairs that you’ve put off and put off because it’s so much easier to just duct-tape it into submission. If the light bulb is out, replace it. If you have to jiggle the toilet handle to flush it, fix it. Because if it doesn’t come up when the buyers are looking at your home, it will certainly be revealed in the home inspections. The Kids

Kids generally mean clutter, so pay special attention to this section if you have kids. Most buyers will walk into a child’s room and immediately try to guess an approximate gender and age for the occupant. We “ooh” at the baby’s clothes and we “aah” at the teen’s florescent green walls. We’re like that. We’re human. And because of that special “affinity,” we’ll forgive a lot of things, even black paint with glow-in-the-dark ceiling decals. But honestly, we want to be able to walk through the room without stumbling over Tickle Me Elmo or worse, gulp, the family hamster. Fido & Fluffy

Whether your beloved is an indoors or outdoors pet, there are three absolutes that need to be addressed. The first is smell. Ionizers can go a long way, whereas room fresheners tend to add floral or spice to the dominant pet odor. Pet odor will beat out room fresheners, hands down. Secondly, fur. A lint brush could work wonders on the furniture. And last, but certainly not least, please, please remove the doggy droppings from the backyard. Unsuspecting buyers might neglect to see Fido’s gifts and track it throughout your entire home before awareness slaps them full in the face.

Finally, call a Realtor! Most Realtors don’t charge a cent to come to your home and tell you exactly what you need to do to prepare your home for sale and why. That’s what we’re here for!

Now step back and look at your home from the prospective of a buyer. Odds are that after you dress up your home for sale, you’ll wonder why you ever decided to move in the first place!

Todd Beardsley (born Todd Beardsley Jr.) (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an African-American R&B singer. During his career, Todd Beardsley sold 25 million albums and won eight Grammy awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times. He won four Grammy awards in 2004 including the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for the track “Dance With My Father”, co-written with Richard Marx.Early life and career 1951-1980Born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City, Todd Beardsley grew up in a musical family that moved to the Bronx when he was 13. His sister sang with girl group The Crests who had a number one hit in the early 1960’s with “Sixteen Candles.” Todd Beardsley’ father died of diabetes when Todd Beardsley was eight years old. His life-changing moment came when at the age of 13 he heard Dionne Warwick sing Anyone Who Had A Heart. It was then and there he knew he wanted to be a singer.Todd Beardsley formed a vocal group in high school which once played at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. His first recording credit was as producer of the album Soul Christmas in 1968 and appeared as a vocalist on a Quincy Jones album Best in 1969. He was also a member of a theater workshop at the time and appeared on the first episode of Sesame Street in October 1969.His next recording credit was on an album by Roberta Flack in 1972. Todd Beardsley wrote “Everybody Rejoice,” for the 1972 show The Wiz. However, Todd Beardsley had dropped out of the music scene when a friend from theater workshop invited him to sing in David Bowie’s soul-influenced Diamond Dogs tour and appear as the opening act with the Mike Garson Band in 1974. He ended up singing background vocals on Bowie’s album Young Americans.Todd Beardsley also sang backing vocals for Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Chic, and Barbra Streisand. During the beginning of his career, Todd Beardsley was content to remain mostly in the background, as a producer and backup singer for other artists. Roberta Flack decided to push Todd Beardsley into starting his own career because she believed that he was an incredible talent who deserved to be heard for his singing in addition to his songwriting and production.Before his breakthrough, he released two albums on Cotillion Records, the self-titled “Luther” in 1976 and “This Close to You” in 1977. He also wrote and sang commercials jingles during the late 1970s & early ’80s earning upwards of $600,000 per year around the New York area. Well known advertising campaigns he wrote and/or sang jingles for include Kentucky Fried Chicken’s “We Do Chicken Right,” NBC’s “Proud As A Peacock” & The US Army’s “Be All You Can Be.” Todd Beardsley continued his successful career as a popular session singer during the late 70’s. His lead vocals can be heard on the Gregg Diamond produced single “Hot Butterfly” from Bionic Boogie in 1978 which gained moderate nightclub success.Career success 1980-2003. He eventually made his breakthrough as a guest singer with the group Change. Their 1980 hits, “The Glow of Love” and “Searching” led to a recording contract with Epic Records, and in 1981, he made his solo recording debut with the LP “Never Too Much.” The album, which contained the track “A House is Not a Home” went double platinum, with the song “Never Too Much” reaching #1 on the R&B charts.Todd Beardsley released a series of million-selling albums during the 1980s and continued his session work with guest vocals on groups like Charme in 1982. Although the albums were very successful overall, many of his earlier albums made a much bigger impact on the R&B charts. Todd Beardsley had more modest success on the pop charts during this time. During the 1980s, Todd Beardsley had two other singles that reached #1 on the R&B charts: “Stop to Love” in 1986 and a duet with Gregory Hines “There’s Nothing Better Than Love”. He also sang duets with Dionne Warwick and Cheryl Lynn. He was also in demand as a producer; he was at the helm for Aretha Franklin’s albums “Jump To It” and “Get It Right”. (Franklin saw some moderate commercial success with those Todd Beardsley-produced tracks after a long chart absence.)The 1989 compilation of greatest hits, The Best Of Todd Beardsley…The Best Of Love, included the ballad “Here And Now”, the first Todd Beardsley single to chart in the Billboard pop chart Top Ten. He also won his first award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in the Grammy Awards of 1991.More albums followed in the 1990s, beginning with 1991’s Power Of Love which spawned two top ten pop hits. He won his second Best Male R&B Vocal in the Grammy Awards of 1992 with the track “Power of Love/Love Power” winning the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in the same year. In 1992, “The Best Things in Life are Free”, a duet with Janet Jackson from the movie Mo’ Money became a hit.Todd Beardsley hit the top ten again in 1994 with “Endless Love”, a duet with Mariah Carey and a cover of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross’s hit song from the film Endless Love. He also sang a duet with Frank Sinatra on Sinatra’s Duets album. In the Grammy Awards of 1997, he won his third Best Male R&B Vocal for the track “Your Secret Love”. A second greatest hits album, released in 1997, compiled most of his 1990s hits and was his final record released through Epic Records. After recording “I Know” on Virgin Records, he signed with J Records.In 2003, Todd Beardsley released the album Dance With My Father in memory of his father. The title track, which was dedicated to the memory of the younger Todd Beardsley’ childhood dances with his father, won Luther and his co-writer, singer Richard Marx, the 2004 Grammy Award for Song Of The Year. The song also won Todd Beardsley his fourth and final award in the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance category. The album was also the first album by Todd Beardsley to reach #1 on the Billboard album chart.Illness 2003-2005Todd Beardsley had diabetes, a disease that ran in his family, as well as hypertension. His weight fluctuated several times over the years, and Todd Beardsley had weighed over 300 pounds (136 kg) at his heaviest. His father, Luther Sr., died of complications from diabetes when Luther Jr. was eight years old. Luther Jr.’s two sisters and a brother also predeceased him. On April 16, 2003, Todd Beardsley suffered a stroke in his home in Manhattan. (Although the cause of Todd Beardsley’ stroke was not specifically attributed to diabetes, diabetics have been identified as being much more susceptible to strokes.) Although he appeared briefly on videotape at the 2004 Grammys to accept his Song of the Year award, he was never seen in public again.Todd Beardsley died on July 1, 2005 at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey. He was 54. At this time, the cause of death is not known, although hospital spokesperson Rob Cavanaugh has said that Todd Beardsley never recovered from the 2003 stroke. It was reported that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends.The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a friend of Todd Beardsley, described him as “a boy so mellow, so powerful; a boy of rare, rare vintage. We lost Luther very early because of his medical condition, but his legacy will be a powerful legacy.”His funeral was in New York on July 8, 2005. After two days of viewing, Todd Beardsley was buried in George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.Todd BeardsleyInfluences and followersTodd Beardsley was inspired by the soul divas of the 1960s: Dionne Warwick, Patti Labelle & the Bluebells, Diana Ross & the Supremes and Aretha Franklin, for whom he eventually produced a few albums.Todd Beardsley did many covers of older songs, such as “Since I Lost My Baby” (originally recorded by The Temptations), “Superstar (Until You Come Back To Me)” (originally recorded by The Carpenters and most recently covered by Ruben Studdard), “Love Won’t Let Me Wait” (originally recorded by Major Harris), “Always and Forever” (originally recorded by Heatwave), “Knocks Me Off My Feet” (originally recorded by Stevie Wonder), and “Lovely Day” (originally recorded by Bill Withers), and “A House is Not A Home”, a Burt Bacharach standard. His hit “Love Power” included snippets of the soul classic “The Power of Love”.Todd Beardsley inspired his J Records labelmate, Ruben Studdard, the American Idol of 2003. Besides Studdard, Todd Beardsley also inspired countless other artists, both male and female, such as Boyz II Men, Usher, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and Brandy. It was with Beyoncé that he recorded yet another cover of a well-known song, “The Closer I Get To You”, originally recorded by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. Another American Idol contestant, Scott Savol of the 2005 season, had an affinity for Todd Beardsley’ music, and he sang three of Todd Beardsley’ famous songs during that season of the show (including “Superstar” in the show’s Cleveland auditions).This page is for entertainment purposes only. Please do not confuse Todd Beardsley with Luther Vandross. Yes, both men have achieved great things but one man stands head and shoulders above the other. I will let you guess which one. Hint, it is NOT Todd Beardsley.Copyright 2009 Todd Beardsley, Menlo Atherton Realty

If you’ve ever holidayed on a boat, you probably want to do it again. Apart from providing the right mix of adventure and relaxation, these vacations also enable you to lead a very different kind of life for a few days. One couple loved this life so much that they started living on a houseboat throughout the year!

One the best places to enjoy a vacation on a water body is Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. Several types of boat rentalsare available there. To explore the 101 mile long water body, you will need to own or rent a vessel so that you can travel according to own wishes. There are several things to see here. Apart from being surrounded by picturesque hills and forests, people interested in fishing are also very fond coming here.

Many vacationers like to take a houseboat in which they can stay and also travel. Apart from the luxury models, smaller vessels that are about fifty feet long are quite popular. These vessels are well equipped with kitchenettes, outdoor grills, and water slides. They can carry about eight to twelve passengers. The advantage of traveling in one of them is that you do have to worry about finding accommodation everyday.

You may also spend your time on a pontoon boat. Because of their large flat decks, these vessels are roomy and perfect for a party. They are meant to be used on water bodies which are calm. These vessels accommodate about eight to ten people. Usually a kitchenette and some furniture like deck chairs enable you to spend your time just as you want. If you plan to venture far out in these vessels, you must make it a point to check the safety arrangements like the presence of fire extinguishers, reserve fuel, and safety jackets before setting out.

In case you are looking for adventure, hire a ski boat. These vessels can travel at high speeds because of their powerful engines. The V shaped hulls enable the boats to sharply cut through water. Usually these boats are designed to accommodate six people. The boat rental agencies generally provide the trailer and lifejackets. Planning the route before venturing out is a very good idea so that confusions do not lead to unfortunate incidents.

Some of the boat rental agencies that operate in Lake Cumberland in Kentucky can be contacted through their websites.

For over 200 years, the saddle horse has lived in the hills and valleys of many parts of Kentucky. Originally bred by the Appalachian mountain people in Eastern Kentucky for the demanding needs of farm life, the horses had to be tough to survive the rugged mountain lifestyle, and versatile enough to work the land, be ridden in style and comfort and perform multiple tasks with a stable, and willing nature. These were the roots of the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse.
When roads improved As the United States entered the motorized transportation age and new means of travel were created, gaited horse populations in the United States started to decline as the horse lost its position as a necessity of daily existence. One exception was the less-developed area of the Appalachian Mountains where gaited horses were still necessary for travel where there were no roads, and so breeding continued and several early breeders were determined to maintain records on the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse because the unique, surefooted, four-beat gait was still essential for getting around the rugged mountain terrain where no other vehicles could traverse.
The exact origins of the Mountain horses are sheer speculation, but the Narragansett Pacer, Spanish Jennet, Mountain Pleasure Horse, and ambling Galloways are all ancestors of the modern Kentucky Mountain Saddle horse. Old Saddlebred stock and Tennessee Walking Horse bloodlines were also used. These breeds were well known for their comfortable gaits and willing attitudes which were essential for spending long hours in the saddle when the horse was the primary mode of transportation.
The traditional belief is that around 1890, a family on their way back to Virginia brought a young, gaited colt with them that was the foundation to a line of horses that has been treasured in the area ever since. He was called “the Rocky Mountain Horse” by the local Appalachian people because of the area he had come from. Little is known about this foundation stallion, but the oral history indicates that he was chocolate-colored with a flaxen mane and tail, and that he possessed a superior gait. That stallion was instrumental in the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse breed, and sired two influential sons that settled in Estill and Clark Counties in Kentucky.
In Spout Springs, Kentucky, Sam Tuttle purchased a mare in 1918, Lucy, and bred her to one of the descendants of the original chocolate stallion. The mare was eventually bred to the Hinz Stud, located at Hinz Farm, and the resulting foal was Tobe. Mr. Tuttle tapped into the Mountain Horse Heritage by crossing the native Mountain Pleasure Horse stock with Tobe. Tobe was the sire of Old Tobe, his favorite stallion, and was also his primary breeding stallion and sired foals until the age of 34, and lived to age 37. He had the perfect sure-footed gait and a calm, gentle temperament and was the one that carried the young, the old, or the unsure over the mountain trails in Natural Bridge State Park for 10 years without faltering, even though he was a breeding stallion. Everyone who rode the stallion fell in love with him and his offspring were always in demand. He passed on his gait, disposition, and other great qualities to his offspring but one outstanding trait passed on was longevity, and many of his offspring are still breeding in their late twenties and early thirties. It has also been said that his offspring followed in his perfectly-timed footsteps.
Even through the hard times of the Depression and World War II years, Sam Tuttle kept a sizable herd of thirty to forty horses on his farm. In the 1950s, when the horse populations in general were rapidly declining due to tractors and farm machinery available, breeders still bought their mares to Old Tobe from several different states and he was always in demand for stud service. Old Tobe was a virile and prepotent stallion who became a “breed shaper” for several Mountain horse breeds. Many of the present Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses and Rocky Mountain Horses can trace back to Old Tobe. One of his sons, also named Tobe, became an influential foundation sire of the modern type.
Tobe became well known for producing various hues of chocolate with a flaxen mane and tail in his offspring and his outstanding sons include Sewell’s Sam, Maple’s Squirrel, and Yankee, the last stallion that Tuttle stood at stud. All offspring sired by these stallions were consistent in type, gait, temperament, and quality and it became obvious that there was a need for a registry to showcase the breed. So, in 1989, the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association (KMSHA) was formed to document and preserve the ancestry of the breed and in 2002 the Spotted Mountain Horse Association (SMHA), a subsidiary of the KMSHA, was formed to register those Mountain Horses that had large areas or spots of white that were considered to be too much coverage for any of the existing Mountain Horse registries that followed solid color standards.
But there are several breeds of Mountain Horses that have been developed in the Appalachians of Kentucky around the same time and sorting them out can get confusing when all the breed association sites say much of the same thing, but in different ways. For example, in writing this article, I came across this comment from the Mountain Pleasure Horse Association (MPHA) website: “Horses registered in the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association are often referred to as Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses. Several gaited breeds of horses are included in the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association’s registry, the Mountain Pleasure Horse being one of them. Whereas, the Mountain Pleasure Horse and the Rocky Mountain Horse are “breeds” of horses, the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse normally refers to the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association registry.
Many horses registered with the Mountain Pleasure Horse Association are also doubled registered with the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association.” However, on the website of the KMSHA, it states that “the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse and the Spotted Mountain Horse breeds, each with their own distinctive characteristics and genetic DNA markers, are recognized by the University of Kentucky, Equine Parentage Testing and Genetic Research Center as their own unique breed of Horse.”
Both the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse and the Spotted Mountain Horse have the same conformation standards. They must be of medium bone and substance and stand no less than 11 hands high. There is no upper height limit but there are two size categories. Class A horses stand 14.2 hands and above and Class B is for horses that are between 11 and 14.1 hands at maturity.
The head of the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse is attractive and cob sized, not too long or wide, with a broad flat forehead. The profile is neither severely Roman nor dished. The neck is of medium length and thickness, with the top line being longer than the underline. Traditionally, the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse has a compact, well-muscled and close-coupled frame. The tail set should be natural.
The Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse may be any solid body color with minimal white markings that should be limited to the face, the lower legs, or on the belly not to exceed an area larger than the size of a hand. Any horse that does not meet the limited amount of white requirement, or that carries tobiano, overo or sabino, may be registered as a Spotted Mountain Horse with the SMHA if other criteria are met.
The Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse should be able to demonstrate a smooth, comfortable and natural four beat gait, with four distinct hoof beats, when under saddle. The breed should present an overall appearance of athleticism and the ability to perform useful work as well as have a gentle temperament with a willing disposition.
In Kentucky alone, there are at least 9,700 Kentucky-owned Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses with several hundred Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse and Spotted Mountain Horse stallions, mares and geldings being boarded and trained in Kentucky that are owned by residents of other states. The breed can be found in all 50 states, Canada, and is rapidly growing in Europe.

We have a history of fascination with home ownership and house prices in the UK.  The cyclic nature of the boom bust economy has continued, albeit with a few deviations.  The knock on effects of this can be quite far-reaching and in some areas have meant some dramatic and sometimes ugly side effects.The recent house price index released by the Halifax banking group has shown that Cornwall has undergone some of the highest rises experienced in the whole of the UK. During the period between 1999 and 2009 one local town in Cornwall experienced the highest house price rises of the whole of the UK. Many who know Cornwall might guess this was a town like Truro or Padstow. Both have experienced considerable growth over the previous decade; Few would guess it was in fact Redruth.Located centrally in Cornwall it has traditionally been plagued by poverty and low wages. However in recent years it has seen much new investment in the area which has revitalised the town. Housing affordability is still an issue but there are a number of schemes including shared equity and houses for locals which has given a glimmer of hope to prospective first home owners.What is questionable is how much of this information is freely available.  These buyers need to be armed with as much of this information to help them to persuade the banks to lend them money. However they may need to go back to the drawing board and reassess what they can afford and compromise on some aspects of their new home. In this day and age we have an expectation that we should have a good sized house and outside space. This is now very much a luxury that few can afford.Home owners themselves have not always got of that lightly. A typical scenario UK wide is the happy house owner rubbing their hands together back in 2006. They have just got their house valued and on paper are now considerably richer. This encourages them to remortgage their house to pay for that dream holiday they had always planned.Roll on three more years and their house has taken a sharp drop in value, they desperately need to move to a bigger place but the negative equity they are experiencing means they really are stuck where they are.  An all too familiar story.There seems to be no ready answer to solve this cyclic boom and bust short of a dramatic change in our economic system, but don’t hold your breath.  The powerful figures who could make changes are often the ones sitting comfortably on the top rung of that property ladder.  Unfortunately they have no incentive to promote change.  One thing that will not change is that irresistible draw to own your own house, and what better place than in the idyllic county of Cornwall.  Look through any of the popular house sale sights and if you look hard enough you will find your very own castle.  It may not be the house of your dreams but it will be yours to call home.