Tennessee Walking Horse Breed

From: Horse Breeds

Tennessee Walking Horse
This horse is known for three paces in particular... the flat foot walk, the running walk and the canter.

Height
14.2 to 17 HH.

Colour
Black, brown, bay or chestnut.

Conformation

Head is well defined with a big kind eye and alert ears
The neck is arched and head carried high
Shoulders are sloping with defined withers that lead onto a strong short back
The hindquarters are well muscled
The limbs are straight and strong with sound hooves

History
This horse was originally called a Tennessee Walker and was a mixture of Naragansett Pacer and the Canadian Pacer. The addition of the Confederate Pacer and Union Trotter to the breed in the 1800's led it to be renamed the Tennessee Pacer. The breed was then refined even more by the addition of Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Morgan and Saddlebred blood to end up with today's Tennessee Walking horse.

Uses

Under Saddle
Showing
In showing the hooves are allowed to grow unnaturally long and artificial aids such as Stacks and Chains are added to the horses hooves to help exaggerate their action
Harness
Trail Riding

Famous Fact
The Flat foot walk, Running walk and the canter are all inherited gaits unique to this breed in particular.

Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' And Exhibitors' Association
The association was set up in 1935 to protect the breed and encourage awareness and expansion of the breed today.