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Patty Beaty, owner of Four Beat Farms in Loudon, TN says:
"I love Horses—Always have—Always will!!! "
A growing number of baby boomers are buying gaited horses for trail riding, yet a few others are also breeding, training, and showing them along with their kids! What an inspiration their stories are to us, and how encouraging to hear how these successful horsewomen are aging gracefully and beautifully, and who are also following their dreams!
Patty Beaty is one of these women who followed her dreams, and now owns a very successful Rocky Mountain/Kentucky Mountain Horse breeding, training, and show facility in the beautiful East Tennessee valley.
What is even more wonderful is Patty is just like most of us -- she started small and gradually built her farm into one of the best Mountain Horse breeding businesses in the industry.
Patty and Bobby are both senior examiners for the RMHA and KMSHA associations. Patty and her daughter, Lauren, also own one of the most beautiful and sought after Kentucky Mountain Stallions in the eastern United States, named Just Kentucky. Watching Lauren ride Just Kentucky is like watching a dance or a ballet... both working together as one... graceful and smooth.
A typical day for the Beaty family:
As the sun rises over the serene lake of Fort Loudon, and as the birds begin their morning songs, Patty, her husband Bobby, and their 18 year old daughter, Lauren, wake up to feed their 10+ horses living on their 35 acre farm. Bluebirds fly from fence post to fence post, as the sun catches the vivid blue of their wings.
Chocolate colored horses with vanilla manes and tails whinny in the morning mist and come running to the gate for their feed. The premier stallion, Just Kentucky, is in his stall, his white forelock and ultra long mane drape over his beautiful dark eyes and face like a veil. Lauren runs her hands through his thick mane and tells him how beautiful he is, and how much she loves him. He is her boy... her pride and joy. The connection between them is strong. It is obvious that Patty and Lauren truly love their horses...all of them. It shows in the health and good temperaments of their animals.
Patty tells how she first became interested in horses,
"I can remember growing up in the city and dreaming of riding a horse and owning one of those magnificent animals that I would see in photos or along country roads when traveling with my parents. That curiosity never left me as I grew up. I had the opportunity to utilize some land that a friend had, and my daughter, Lauren, made the comment that she would love to own and ride a horse. That was all it took."
Blessed with a supportive husband, who also enjoys showing and trail riding, Patty decided to purchase two paint horses from a local horse trader.
"When my husband, Bobby, said O.K., I jumped at the opportunity. Lauren and I bought 2 young paint horses from a local horse trader. Mistake number one of many I’ve make when owning and buying horses."
We all know how it is to get "had" by horse traders. But thankfully, a bad situation later turned out good for Patty and Lauren when they met a fine old southern gentleman who truly cared about horses and people. Thankfully, there are still people like him in the world.
Patty continues, " After those two youngsters [the paint horses] got the best of us, we happened upon an older gentleman who made a major difference in our lives. Arthur Borden of Borden Stables in Knoxville, TN allowed us into his boarding facility and began to show us how to care, respect and ride a horse.
I always say, “Lauren caught on quickly, and I’m still working on the riding part. She took up with the Saddlebred breed and enjoyed showing them for a short while. My husband, Bobby, and I then bought a couple of Tennessee Walkers to trail ride on. Things were pretty good until…………..I happened upon these stunning chocolate/flax mane and tail gaited horses in an article and was mesmerized with their striking beauty! Once I got past drooling at the pictures, I read about the wonderful disposition, fabulous gait, and natural ability these animals have to perform both in the show ring and on the trails. I couldn’t get them off my mind. I love the Saddlebred Horse but felt they were too high strung and were limited to their abilities to be a versatile horse for our family. I hated the fact that they had to be confined and kept in a stall to be shown. As a Tennessee Native I couldn’t help but love the Walking Horse. However, I knew I would never be able to be involved in their show circuits. I could not make myself support an organization, breeders, or show program who sat back and allowed inhumane abuse to such a loving animal. If I spent money with them, I felt I was involved. Yet, these gorgeous Mountain Horses were the one for me. We could show them in a natural keg shoe, trail ride them, stall them, turn them out and they loved the attention and time with their owners. Could there be a more perfect situation??? In my opinion—absolutely not!
I began my search and finally bought my first Mountain Horse. He was a large chocolate flax mane and tail gelding that was 2 years old and double registered with the Rocky Mountain and Kentucky Mountain Horse Associations. The last thing I wanted was another young horse, but he seemed so gentle for his age. Was I ever correct! Eight years later I still own that same gentle gelding whom we now call “The Fore Father of Four Beat Farms.” He reminds me everyday why I first fell in love with the beauty and disposition of this amazing breed. I still trail ride him some and he gives riding lessons to young children and novice adults. I found myself a 13.3 hand Palomino Gelding that is easier to get on and off for my trail horse. The older I get, the more I like these smaller mountain horses. "
"Four Beat Farms then evolved from that first chocolate gelding into a small, growing family owned farm with beautiful Mountain Horses of all colors running the pastures and giving pleasure to their owners each time we set foot outside our home. We now have a breeding stallion, a couple of select brood mares, babies and show and trail horses at our farm. We still trail ride all our under saddle horses and have been extremely successful in the show ring the past three years. Our first year showing our gelding “The Stone Cutter” won the 2004 KMSHA Classic Pleasure Grand Championship at the World Show. In 2005 and 2006 our filly “The Redneck Woman” won the high point awards in the KMSHA show circuit with 24 Blue Ribbons to include the Open 3YO Breeders Futurity Grand Championship at the International Show in 2006. Our Breeding Stallion “Just Kentucky” won four International Titles at the 2006 show to include the Amateur Grand Championship with Lauren riding. She has trail rode this stallion for years, but because of her age could not show him till this year. Lauren and Just Kentucky have a mutual love for each other and when they ride it’s like Poetry in Motion. I’ve never known a more beautiful, loving, gentle animal. Four Beat Farms has carefully selected our horses and are breeding some of the finest Mountain Horses in the industry. We strive for an all purpose horse that is not only beautiful to look at but also athletic and intelligent with a wonderful gait. We are hands on with our horses everyday no matter what their age, and strive to raise “People Horses for Horse People.” We sell a small amount of horses each year and try to match our horses to the right owners to ensure their future happiness. Our family mourns and frets when a horse leaves our farm. We dearly love them all. However, when we talk with the new owners it makes us feel great to know we have allowed someone else to experience the special love we were blessed to receive from our gently raised friends while they were here with us.
Enjoy Looking at our site and let us know if we can help you find the horse of your dreams!
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