How to Choose a Tennessee Walker
The Tennessee walking horse is known for its gentle disposition and smooth gaits.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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Understand that, having a willing temperament, sturdy and powerful conformation, and tremendous versatility, the Tennessee walker (also known as the Tennessee walking horse) is a very popular horse among the gaited horses.
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Realize that, famous for their running walk, which can go as fast as 14 miles per hour, Tennessee walking horses are great for trail rides.
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Note that an adult Tennessee walker stands from 14.3 to 17 hands and weighs from 900 to 1,200 pounds.
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Understand that Tennessee walkers come in a variety of colors and patterns; black, sorrel and chestnut are the most common.
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Note that nodding its head to the rhythm of its steps is a classic trait of the Tennessee walker. It has small to medium-sized ears, a high-set neck with an arch, a broad chest, a long underline (area between front and hind legs) that allows for a long stride, muscled hindquarters, a long and sloping hip, and a short back.
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Use your Tennessee walkers for pleasure, trail and endurance riding.
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Understand that this breed has suffered from cruel and abusive shoeing and training tactics to make the horses achieve their high step. "Soring" is the application of stinging or burning agents to the back of the foot to encourage the horse to raise its feet up. "Pressure shoeing" is the technique of shoeing a horse almost to the bloodline so the shoe puts painful pressure on the sole.
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Get involved with animal rights activists and industry leaders who are working to achieve humane training practices for all walkers.
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Tips & Warnings
Contact the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeder's & Exhibitor's Association at P.O. Box 286-HR, Lewisburg, TN 37091, (800) 359-1574.
Contact the National Walking Horse Association at P.O. Box 249, Willow Spring, NC 27592.
Horses have unique personalities, just like people do. It is best to take some time to get to know an individual animal before purchasing it.
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Comments
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whattacowgirl
Jul 16, 2007
Hi I have a question? How should a 2yr old tennessee walking horse be shoed he's going outta the gait to a trot and he's clipping alot. His back is comming up and hitting the front. Im new to the gaited world. Ty vm Tina -
whattacowgirl
Jul 16, 2007
Hi I have a question? How should a 2yr old tennessee walking horse be shoed he's going outta the gait to a trot and he's clipping alot. His back is comming up and hitting the front. Im new to the gaited world. Ty vm Tina
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Nov 22, 2005
Pressure shoeing is NOT the band that goes across the foot. Pressure shoeing is the application of a shoe too close to the sensitive tissue on the hoof. Bands are simply there to help kep the shoe on and are left loose when the horse is being worked.
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Nov 22, 2005
Pressure shoeing has nothing at all to do with the bands! Shoe Bands help hold the shoe on. That is it and that is all. Pressure Shoeing is when you insert foreign objects into the sole of the hoof or trim the horse until almost pink (showing blood) and then applying the shoe so to have an animated gait. To say that the bands has anything to do with it is wrong.
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Nov 22, 2005
The colors of the Tennessee Walking Horse are usually black, bay or chestnut. (Sorrel is the same as chestnut and it not used as a color for walking horses). Also, these horses can go 40 mph - not 14 mph.
