Tennesse walker breed

[Bonkers]

Hmm i've heard of these breeds of horses haven't seen them before. Are they mostly just walking show horses??

Information about these breeds will be fab!

Thanks!!! :cool:

[Cool Rider]

There is some information here (http://www.ehow.com/how_9044_choose-tennessee-walker.html) about them

[kedwards]

No, they aren't just show horses. They are known for good dispositions, sure-footedness on uneven terrain, and very comfortable gaits which can make them excellent horses for long days on the trail.

[happy herman]

No, they aren't just show horses. They are known for good dispositions, sure-footedness on uneven terrain, and very comfortable gaits which can make them excellent horses for long days on the trail.

i had one that i hunted with some years ago. he was wonderful.

[Katie_85]

I spent/spend a lot of time training/riding Tennessee Walking, Spotted Saddle, and Racking Horses. Once you go gaited, you don't go back! :D

[spiffyscotty]

i used to ride a tennesse walker and i loved it. especially troting on him because you wouldnt have to post at all because it was so smooth.

[Katie_85]

That't not trotting hon, that's called flat walking or running walking. :)

[spiffyscotty]

oh sorry.. my mistake... :) i dont quite know all the terms for everything.. thanks for the correction

[Wally]

Katie 85, I am going to have to get over to the US and try some of these walking horses, if they can take my bulk! :o ;)

Are Paso Finos common over there too?

I used to ride a half bred racking horse, his Mum was an Arab and I can't remember what his dad was. I used to do endurance on him and by heck was he comfy, he only racked when he got excited a bit like an Icelandic can.

[Jumping Genius]

I know they are gaited horses and that they are beatiful. By the way Wally A person in my 4-H club owned a paso fino,but she got in an accident,broke her pelvis,and is scared to ride! so there should be paso finos here in the US!

[Katie_85]

Spiffy- No probs, just wanted you to knw what it was called. If you tell a Walking Horse person about trotting around on one they're liable to look at ya' funny! :D

Wally- They can take your bulk and then some! They're really well built and have quite sbstantial bone. Plus their movement keeps the rider asstill as can be on their backs. :) Pasos are quite common over here. Now let's talk about how common good Pasos are! :o A majority of the lot do nothing but trot. The ones that are truly naturally gaited, ie Peruvians go for quite a penny though. I rode an Arabian who racke when excited at one time too, shame we couldn't make him do it al the time though! I want to get over to your side and try a real Icey. We had one in for training, but he was an obstinate little hairly monster! :D

[Bonkers]

Katie: I would love to try riding the walker's aye!! I am picturing the ride when gaiting... its like their flat out running not trotting just kinda like fast walk and the rider just sits there n kinda like no movements. Am i correct to say that?

Wally: I've seen Icelandic's on TV once can't remember now.. it was ages ago. They don't like trot they pace is it? or something like the walker's they walk run kinda thing??

Right i must really look into these 2 breeds and when i get the chance i'm gonna try them out!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INTRODUCING GUYS!!! :D ;) :p

[dancing-horse]

I live in TN,in the area that is the center of the Tennesee Walking Horse. It's a very slender breed with very long legs and *unnatural* ways of walking and carrying themselves. I have alot of friends who are interested in the walking horses, but Im not really interested in them at all. Alot of the Tennesee Walking Horse competers, cover their horses in chains and knick-knacks of all sorts with massive shoes on their front feet to make theirselves tip back by alot. It's interesting to watch, but Im not a big fan of it.

[Katie_85]

Bonkers- Yeah, you're pretty close! :D

Dancing- I am quite familiar with TN, spent some great time up there with Walking Horses. Please do not perpetuate the idea that all TWH's have unatural movement; they don't. A barefoot or light shod walking horse has nothing unatural about him. And yes, SOME trainers cheat with their built-ups to win, but please again, don't give the impression that this is the norm.

[Montana]

Katie_85 (and others)

Really funny time for me to find this thread! I've just had the strangest ride on my Paint/Arabian cross. I've just been riding him in the arena, he was in a terrible mood, spooking at the dogs running around, although he never gets upset by them at all any other times. I think he was just hot and bothered.

Anyway, the whole time I was working with him, his pace felt extremely strange. It was between a walk and trot, faster than his usual western jog (and usually if he trots, instead of jogging I have to post, as it's a big, fast moving trot). However, it was kind of two-beat, but not quite, and absolutely no need for me to rise, really smooth. Covered the ground really fast. I wasn't thrilled with it, because I couldn't get him to settle, he was just plain excited, but I wonder now whether this might be some sort of gait? I've ridden my sister's gaited horse (TW x ), and it didn't feel quite like that, although I wasn't very good at cueing him, and didn't fully experience it, but still......

Any ideas? How does a pace like this feel? What foot pattern might it have been? Or did he just manage to smooth out his trot? Interesting... :p

[heather1982]

Ahh, I had been looking for an excuse to post a picture of my tennessee walker mare Gracie :p What the perfect opportunity. She is a great trail horse and a joy to ride. They are quite versatile mounts, and most can certainly be considered good weight carriers as they have nice substance to them. Here's one from this summer, she's getting a little tubby though as I haven't ridden her much:)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v39/savigeckolvr/horses2026.jpg
And here's one from her previous owner, they sent it to me when I was going to view her, it is good to give a good idea of her proportions.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v39/savigeckolvr/gracie3.jpg

[Katie_85]

It sounds like in his excitement he might have been breaking up his trot. Not really racking, because racking comes from a pace, but maybe giving you some sort of diagonal saddle gait. An it will probably feel different from your sister's horse because he is breaking up a trot instead of a pace. Some horses seem to do that when excited. Now, if you could jut get him to do it on cue......:D

[Katie_85]

heather- Nice looking mare! She looks like a Pusher horse, any idea on her bloodlines? :)

[heather1982]

Thanks, I really have no idea on her lines though as she isn't papered. She is very gentle, and a dream with her feet. Even lifts the hinds on command before I touch the leg:) I've read that the breed is supposed to pretty gentle overall.

[Katie_85]

Tennessee Walking Horses have been aptly dubbed "he Gentlemen of the Horse World". If I had to take a guess I would say she's got some Pusher somewhere in her background. Myabe some Generater too by the looks of her head. At any rate, she's a good looking horse! :)

[Bonkers]

Montana - Maybe your horse was paceing... I'm just guess need to see the gait when your horse does that so it'll b easier... Pacing is like when 2 of their legs on each side moves together eg. on the right side of the horse right fore and back fore moves to the front together, kinda like having hobbles on their legs.

I actually haven't tried the movement while riding i've only driven a pace racer. Those horses who pace and pull a cart along for the racers? Instead of trotters.

[lost]

this is the second horse you said looks like a pusher horse? where do you train ? how long have you been riding? you seem very educated?

[Katie_85]

Lost- Question number 1, yes, I think she looks like she might have a bit of Pusher in her. But a lot of them do.

2. Sadly, I don't anymore. But when I did, I had the oppertunity to ride, oh geeze, so many Walking Horses!! But in addition to that I have learned from some very good Walking Horse people from Illinois on down to Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida.

3. Riding, hmmm.. I really don't know, actually. I registered here in 2001, but I had been riding longer than that. As far as my being educated, well, no. Not really. Like I said, I have learned from some very very fine Walking Horse people. But I am by no means and expert!!! I wouldn't call myself a trainer by any stretch of the imagination. And I have never claimed to be one. But my undrstanding of training is that each time you get on a horse, you train it. and that I've done plenty of. Much more than just recreational riding.

Anymore questions?

[MadWoman]

I met my first TWH August Bank Holiday when he took part in a re-enactment with us. Gorgeous horse, very excitable but well-behaved and brave with it. Can't say I noticed any unusaul paces, but then again I wasn't aware he was a TWH until afterwards, so I wasn't looking for them.
He is the black borse in this photo: http://www.wallershorse.co.uk/pages/Battles%20-%20Cheriton_jpg.htm

[love4horses]

I have a Tennessee Walking Horse mare and I couldn't ask for a better horse. It is true that they will go through any terrain and with great ease at that. I trail ride my mare every evening, and we took her through a corn patch with really high grass and she did it as if she has always walked through it. They do definitely have great easy going personalities, and they are very affectionate, that is if you love them and "treat" them all the time. As much as I do, she doesn't have any bad habits. I can definitely protest on the unnatural walk, because my mare carries the running walk(not high stepping though... but really smooth) and she has never had any kind of chain, shoes straps and whatever they put on them. I Also live in Tennessee right in the heart of the horse country... Shelbyville Tennessee is not to far from where I live and that is where all the national TWH shows are. I don't think that I would ever own any other breed than a TWH because they are just so sweet and smooth.
Mystery, 3 yr old and weighs 1,150pounds... 16hh <My riding horse
http://images5.theimagehosting.com/MVC-002F.45.JPG (http://www.theimagehosting.com)
Rusty, 4 month old, walker
http://images5.theimagehosting.com/MVC-05.3.JPG (http://www.theimagehosting.com)
Baylee, 5 yr old, Racking Horse
http://images5.theimagehosting.com/MVC-009F.25.JPG (http://www.theimagehosting.com)

[smaggi]

I saw this thread and had to post a photo of our 2 TWH horses Fescue and Dancer. Fescue is chestnut, 16.1 H and has a lot of World Grand Champion in in background. He is from the Bum line of TWH. Dancer is registered as a TWH and a Spotted Saddle horse. He is 15.1H.

[Jessey]

OK I am being a bit dim here, me thinks :o I understand pacing, I have one that does that, I get what a 'gaited' horse is but what's a racking horse?

Ta

J x

[smaggi]

We used to have a TWH that racked. It's still a 4 beat gait, but it's like another gear up from a running walk. When my OH would rack Thor, I used to canter on my horse and did not keep up.

[Bonkers]

Ok i'm still confused with racking haha.. I know what pacing is cos i have seen harness racing both pacing and trotting and worked at one of the racing stables before and drove a trotter.

[Katie_85]

Racking is a broken up pace. Like a flat walk, only faster and without the head shake. (Or supposed to be without the head shake)