Rea Swan Rocky Mountain Horse Collection, 1986-2016 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

By Neil Kasiak, Sarah Hill

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Collection Overview

Title: Rea Swan Rocky Mountain Horse Collection, 1986-2016

Predominant Dates:1986-2005

Extent: 6.15 Cubic Feet

Date Acquired: 09/13/2011. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Horse breeds, Rocky Mountain horse

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Rea Swan Rocky Mountain Horse Collection contains a variety of newspaper clippings, correspondence, and organizational papers and publications from the Rocky Mountain Horse Association, a non-profit group that Swan and her husband, David started in 1986.The collection is not the association's complete or official papers, rather they are the material culmination of the Swans' early personal and professional efforts to establish an official registry and keep a dwindling, and treasured, equine population from the brink of elimination.

The RMHA was created in the hopes of establishing the breed characteristics and registry for an Appalachian equine breed that was descended from a sire that appeared in Kentucky in the late 1800s. Sam Tuttle of Spout Springs Kentucky (Estill County) is credited with maintaining the desired characteristics while breeding his RMH stock during the 1960-70s. The Rocky Mountain Horse was established and recognized as a distinct Appalachian equine breed because of the efforts of the Swans, the RMHA, and other like minded horse enthusiasts who fell in love with the soft tempered and versatile breed of horse;Tuttle's efforts were not forgotten. The collection includes the association's by-laws and constitutions (both were adjusted as the association grew), organizational and some personal correspondence, the early RMHA minutes and committee reports, various publications from the RMHA and other related equine groups, as well as some financials materials from the group's early years.

Collection Historical Note

The RMHA is a non-profit association that was created by Rea and David Swan in the hopes of establishing the "Rocky Mountain Horse" as a certifiable equine breed. The name Rocky Mountain Horse is a bit of a misnomer since it actually refers to a type of horse that was historically preferred, bred, and maintained in the foothills of Appalachia and Kentucky. The modern Rocky Mountain Horse descends from a stallion named Old Tobe (or Tobe), which Sam Tuttle of Spout Springs Kentucky owned and bred in the mid-20th Century. As the oral tradition goes, Old Tobe was the offspring of a sire that Tuttle's uncle had received in trade from a family that was trying to make their way back to Virginia after they went bust "out west" in the 1890s. The versatile descendants of the foundation sire had a four beat gait and it could "pull plows in the small fields, work cattle, be ridden bareback by four children...[and] they even performed well hitched to the buggy [on] Sunday morning to go to church." Tuttle continued to breed his stock for these traits and luckily, for the sake of the breed, his efforts did not go unnoticed. In 1981, Rae Swan began to understand that her future dreams included the preservation of a breed of horse that was nearly crossbred out of existence and, for the most part, forgotten by those who lived outside of eastern Kentucky.

From 1981 to 1985 Swan began reaching out to the surrounding areas' breeders and owners to confirm breed characteristics and survey the remaining "pure" Rocky Mountain Horses. After roughly 100,000 miles of car travel in Kentucky and Ohio, Swan had discovered that the breed was definitely on the brink of elimination. She was shocked and concerned by the fact that only 60 or so "pure" and less than 100 "mostly" Rocky Mountain Horses were identified. In May 1986, the Swans and approximately 37 other people (who accounted for 66 horses) organized the first Rocky Mountain Horse Association meeting. Their first task was to establish the breed characteristics, which include a size of 14.2-16 hands, an even temperament, a smooth four beat gait, and the preferred, but not exclusive, chocolate body and flaxen mane and tail. Their next, and perhaps most important, task was to create a registry that would ensure the breed would live on beyond the lives of the foundation stock that Swan had identified. As Swan and others began to stabilize and grow the breed's populations it became apparent that the Rocky Mountain Horse was "not a "new" breed but rather the continuation of an old one." By 1992, the RMHA registry grew exponentially from its original 45 registered horses to an astonishing 1,300. After nearly 10 years of painstaking effort Swan accurately concluded that "this horse, so close to being lost at one time is now on a steady and healthy road to successful growth and preservation." (2011-008-b.5-f.9)

The RSRMHC traces the early years of the organization, and to a lesser extent, the early 2000s, when the association underwent a variety of changes in size and reach. Overall, the collection can be understood best as the life's work of the Swans. The RMHA overcame many internal and external challenges during its early years; however, due to the Swans' diligence and the resulting association's reach and popularity, a breed of Appalachian horse that was once considered to be on the brink of collapse is now preserved and popular in not only the U.S. but also the international equine community.

Subject/Index Terms

Horse breeds
Rocky Mountain horse

Administrative Information

Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

Accruals: 2 cubic feet were added October 18, 2019.

Acquisition Source: Rea Swan

Acquisition Method: gift

Finding Aid Revision History:

New materials were accreted in 2019 and finding aid was updated January 2020.

Audio/visual materials were accreted in 2019 and finding aid was updated May 2023.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Administrative],
[Series 2: Artwork],
[Series 3: Certifications],
[Series 4: Correspondence],
[Series 5: Financials],
[Series 6: Forms],
[Series 7: Genetics],
[Series 8: International],
[Series 9: Legal Issues],
[Series 10: Lists],
[Series 11: RMHA Minutes],
[Series 12: Miscellaneous Notes],
[Series 13: Newsletters],
[Series 14: Organizational],
[Series 15: Photos],
[Series 16: Publications],
[Series 17: Research],
[Series 18: Shows],
[Series 19: Trails],
[Series 20: Oversized Materials],
[Series 21: Audio/Visual Materials],
[All]

Series 4: Correspondence

The Correspondence Series covers a variety of topics and groups. The series provides an excellent snapshot of the challenges that Swan faced while getting the RMHA off the ground, as well as the methods that the association adopted to overcome such adversities. From vendors to members the series provides insight into RMHA internal functions and their relationships with public groups, as well as other equine organizations. Many of the folder titles correspond with the original folder titles that the Swans had in place before processing the collection.

Box 2

Barcode: 31234014048654

Folder 4: Administrative: Contents include the relevant (and general) administrative correspondence that was processed. Swan is the primary recipient, where as the originators include vendors, lawyers, and other equine groups (magazine editor correspondence is found in Box 2 Folder 3). The three folders that follow in the series are also administrative in nature, however, they were distinct enough to separate and arrange in separate folders (see Box 2 Folders 2-3 for remaining Administrative Correspondence).
Folder 5: Administrative, 17 Dec 2003 - 12 Jan 2004: Contains a late 2003 to early 2004 email conversation between RMHA board members. The primary topic concerns a campaign that focused on attaining an "extended contract for the operation of [the] RMHA headquarters." The conversation also details the internal negotiations that surrounded a "Grade Mare/Foundation Gelding issue," which disputed the closing of the registration books.
Folder 6: Administrative, Magazines: Includes all the related magazine editor/publisher correspondence that was processed. Topic include magazine solicitations and follow-ups, as well as copies of RMHA follow-ups on published articles and ads.
Folder 7: "Blow Up" Letters, 1991-92: The Swans and other RMHA members had a heated confrontation during a mid summer membership/board meeting in 1991. While processing the RSRMHC a folder titled "blow-up" letters was discovered, with its contents being the fall out and resulting correspondence that came from these tense moments of the dispute. The apparent disagreement was founded in accusations that the Swans were strong arming the association in ways that were in direct contrast to the association's goals and future. Contents include all the related correspondence from the incident, as well as all the other related letters that were found within the "blow-up "letters folder.
Folder 8: Breeding/Sales and Registrations/Transfers: Contents include all the related correspondence about breeding/sales, and/or registrations and transfers.
Folder 9: Breed Information (Ahrens - Goldtooth)
Folder 10: Breed Information (Harper - Nicholls)
Folder 11: Breed Information (O'Neil - Zynn)
Folder 12: Chris Samwells - Melendez Films, London, England
Folder 13: Dr. Phillip Sponenberg Conversation: Dr. Sponenberg was (unofficially) charged with determining the validity of the RMH as a rare and definable land race species of equine. The email conversation found within underscores the hotly debated topic, as well as other RMHA internal conversations about numerous subjects, such as RMH gait, dependability and genetics. Dr. Sponenberg appears in numerous other contexts within the correspondence series, all of which relate to either genetics confirmations of the breed or other genetics related topics.
Folder 14: Emails
Folder 15: Equine Museum of Japan: Contents include all the related correspondence between Swan and the organizers of the Equine Museum of Japan; the museum wanted to develop an exhibits about different and unique horse breeds from all over the world.
Folder 16: Examiner Handouts: Contains a variety of diagrams, drawings, examiner handouts and an accompanying letter from Tim [Vivian?]. The letter references Swan and the RMHA using the materials during an upcoming event; presumably, a registration session.
Folder 17: Grandview Ranch: The Grandview Ranch was owned by Frank, Sandee and Crystal Roberts of Olather, Colorado. The set of correspondence traces the ongoing professional and personal relationship the Swans (primarily Rea) maintained with the Roberts' (primarily Sandee). Interestingly, the Roberts' stationary changes from specifying that Grandview is a miniature horse ranch in June 1990, to the ranch being focused on Rocky Mountain Horses by December 1990. Based on the letters, Rea Swan and Sandee Roberts maintained a correspondence that produced a healthy comradery that helped both parties overcome challenges that they faced as members and owners of Rocky Mountain Horses.
Folder 18: Legal: The Legal Correspondence found within traces the RMHA's various disputes over copyright infringements, as well as the constitutional and by-law revisions the group made in order to align their association with the state and federal legal codes that regulate non-profit organizations.
Folder 19: Letters to Members: Contents include all of the "General Letters to Members" that were processed. The available President's Annual Report to Members are also included when possible. The letters highlight, both negative and positive, events within the organization. The letters are not necessarily newsletters, however, they do present relevant information in a newsletter type fashion. See the Newsletters Series for actual RMHA newsletters.
Folder 20: Ballot Initiative Letters to Members, 1988, 1993: Contains relevant letters to members that focus on the 1988 and 1993 board member elections. Includes ballot sheets and other election related documents.

Box 3

Barcode: 31234014048647

Folder 1: Letter to Members, 2001: Contains all the relevant correspondence about the 2001 RMHA embezzlement case. In May 2001, the RMHA discovered that their acting Treasurer had misappropriated over $100,000 in RMHA funds for personal use during the previous 15 months. The collection of letters and email conversations give a thorough overview of both the case and the resulting judgment against Davis and his wife. The Davises did not face prosecution, however, Tom voluntarily resigned his position and signed legal documents confirming that he would in fact repay all missing funds plus interest.
Folder 2: Membership: Contains all the relevant letters to RMHA board and Rea Swan. Topics include general registration questions and funds submissions, as well as other letters from membership.
Folder 3: Membership (Ahrens - Lucente)
Folder 4: Membership (Maki - Yocum)
Folder 5: Undated: Contents include all the undated correspondence that was processed.
Folder 6: Personal Letters (Cards)
Folder 7: Personal Letters
Folder 8: Personal Letters (Layton, Prewitt, Weber): Contents include letters from a file that was labeled "personal letters". The correspondence was between the Swans and Al Prewitt, Dan and Karen Weber, and Gordon Layton. Apparently, their were professional disagreements between the Swans and the other involved parties. The letters detail a cordial, but nonetheless, confrontational discussion over the future direction of the RMHA, which was in its infancy at the time the letters were written.
Folder 9: Publications
Folder 10: RMH Gait Discussion, 2001: Contents include all the email and written correspondence about a 2001 dispute over the RMHA's approach to certifying a horse, in particular evaluating their natural gait, which must be a four beat to be recognized. The conversation was spurred by Linda Bolling, of the Coon Branch Farm. Apparently, a young Bolling horse was injured and left with permanent problems which resulted from being saddled to early. With the testimony of their veterinarian, the Bollings were willing to challenge the RMHA Board's approach to testing gait and saddling young horses. The conversations that follow show a genuine concern for the potentially harmful RMHA methods for breaking and saddling their