Tennessee Walking Horse

Looking for a horse that is gentle and easy to handle?

You might want to consider the Tennessee Walking Horse.

This breed is known for its smooth gaits and delightful disposition.

In this blog post, we will provide you with everything you need to know about the Tennessee Walking Horse.

So whether you’re a horse enthusiast or just getting started in the world of horses, read on for all you need to know about the Tennessee Walking Horse!

Tennessee Walking Horse Breed Info

Here are some of the key things you need to know about the Tennessee Walking Horse:

Height (size) 14.3 – 17 hands high
Colors Many different coat colors and patterns are seen
Country of Origin United States of America (Tennessee)
Common Uses Showing, trail riding, endurance, pleasure riding

Tennessee Walking Horse Facts & Information (Breed Profile)

The Tennessee Walking Horse is a gaited breed that originated in the state of Tennessee in the latter half of the 19th century.

These horses are bred for their four-beat gait and are one of the most popular breeds in the United States today.

The Tennessee Walking Horse was developed to provide a smooth and safe ride for farmers who traveled over rough terrain, and although they were originally bred to do all types of farm work, TWHs are now primarily used as riding horses and perform equally well in the show ring and on the trail.

Because of its unique stride and gentle nature, the Tennessee Walking Horse is a popular choice for novice riders, older riders, and riders with back problems.

Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders Association was established in 1935, and in 1947 they closed the studbook for the breed.

The first Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration was held in 1939.

Tennessee Walking Horse Competitions

The two primary types of competition in Tennessee Walking Horse shows are known as “flat-shod” and “performance,” and they are differentiated from one another based on the desired level of leg action.

Flat-shod horses, which are those that wear conventional horseshoes, have movement that is less pronounced.

Performance horses are shod with built-up padding shoes, which, together with other weighted action devices, may be utilized to emphasize the breed’s high-footed gait.

At exhibitions that they sanction, the United States Equestrian Federation and several other breed organizations have instituted a ban on the use of stacks and action devices.

The “Big lick” or “padded shoes” and chains placed around the fetlocks, known as “action devices,” intended to make the horse step higher are also scrutinized.

Numerous lovers of the breed are opposed to the usage of these devices as well as other potentially hazardous practices that are still prevalent.

Controversies and the Practice of Soring

Soring refers to the practice of applying a chemical substance or inflicting a physical damage to the fetlock, pastern, or hoof region of a horse in order to induce discomfort in the animal and encourage it to elevate its feet higher during competition.

Attempting to relieve the pain in its legs, a sored horse lifts its front feet off the ground more quickly, creating a flashier gait.

The practice of soring is harsh to animals and provides its practitioners with an unfair competitive edge over other competitors.

The Horse Protection Act of 1970 (HPA) is a United States federal law, under which the practice of soring is a crime punishable by both civil and criminal penalties, including fines and jail time.

Violations of the law are discovered using a variety of techniques, including palpation, observation, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, which is used to identify substances on the legs of horses.

It is possible to evade detection by the first two approaches by using certain training methods and applying topical anesthetics.

The Horse Protection Act covers all breeds, even though violations of the law are most often seen in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry.

Despite this law, some horses continue to experience cruelty in the show ring.

Tennessee Walkers in Showbusiness

The breed has also appeared in films, television shows, and other live performances.

A Tennessee Walker sometimes appeared as The Lone Ranger’s horse, Silver.

Allen’s Gold Zephyr, a Tennessee Walker, played Trigger, Jr., the replacement for Roy Rogers’ famous original Trigger.

In the past, Tennessee Walking Horses and Arabians were used in the role of Traveler, the mascot for the University of Southern California Trojans. Today for that role they use Andalusian horses.

The Tennessee Walking Horse is, of course, the official Tennessee State Horse.

If you’re interested in learning more about this fascinating breed, keep reading!

Alternative Names

“Plantation Walking Horse”

Temperament/Personality

Gentle disposition

Physical Characteristics

The head is well-defined, with small ears and large eyes.

The neck is long as is the sloped shoulder.

When gaiting, the shorter top line in respect to the ventral midline permits a lengthy overstep.

The hip is long and sloped.

The body is robust, and the legs are long and clean.

It is allowed for the hind legs to be slightly cow-hocked or sickle-hocked.

Their canter is said to be rocking horse smooth and comfortable for the rider.

When moving at a flat walk, a horse may cover a distance of between 4 – 8 miles per hour (6.4 – 12.9 km/h).

However, when moving at a running walk, the same horse is capable of covering a distance of between 10 – 20 miles per hour (16 – 32 km/h).

During the running walk, the horse’s hind feet will step beyond the footprints of the front feet by a distance ranging from 6 – 18 inches (15 – 46 centimeters).

In the Tennessee Walking Horse breed, a horse with a bigger overstep is considered to be of higher quality.

Other lateral ambling gaits performed by certain breed members, including as the rack, stepping pace, fox trot, and single-foot, are permitted for pleasure riding but are penalized in the show ring.

Some Tennessee Walkers can also trot.

Colors

Many different coat colors and patterns are seen

Height (size)

14.3 – 17.0 hands high

Stallions

n/a

Mares

n/a

Weight

900 – 1200 lbs (400 – 545 kg)

Blood Type

Warm

Common Uses

Showing, trail riding, endurance, pleasure riding

Health

n/a

Popular Traits

Gaited breed very comfortable for riding

Feeding/Diet

n/a

Country of Origin

United States of America (Tennessee)

Ancestors

Narragansett Pacer, Canadian Pacer, Standardbred, Morgan, American Saddlebred, Thoroughbred