ABOUT THE BREED
The Tennessee Walking Horse is a relatively recent name for a type of horse that has been used commonly in the Southeastern United States since the late 1800s. The breed combines the bloodlines of the Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Morgan, and American Saddlebred. It was originally developed as a farm animal and became an integral part of daily life in the rural South.
The Walker’s most important distinction from other breeds is its four-beat gait–with the head nodding and the rear legs striding. This fluid motion enables it to perform the Flat Walk and the Running Walk infamous to the Walking Horse. During the Flat Walk or Running Walk, the rider remains virtually motionless while seated and the horse covers considerable ground in a smooth, bounce-free manner.
The term “Pleasure” is used to denote those horses which are flat-shod and movement like their ancestors did across the fields and roads of the old Southern Plantations. Pleasure Walking Horses are noted for their hardiness and calm, accepting disposition.
The modern Walking Horses of today are no longer found only in the South, but are found everywhere that a smooth, steady gait and an easy disposition can be appreciated.
The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders & Exhibitors Association offers a variety of programs for registered Tennessee Walkers. Click here to go to the TWHBEA Program page for additional information: http://www.twhbea.com/association/Programs.php