THE
TENNESSEE
WALKING
HORSE

" A HORSE FOR ALL REASONS "

The Tennessee Walking Horse is generally well-boned, deep chested and short-coupled giving an overall impression of balance with legs, neck, back and head in proportion to the size and shape of the body. Greater anglation of the hind legs, which is not seen in other breeds, is acceptable. They are often noted to be sickle hocked because they are designed to move well under themselves. Their head should have an intelligent look be well shaped, have alert eyes, a tapered muzzle and pointed ears that are clean looking and wide set. Their hooves are in proportion to the size of the horse, The mature horse may range in size from 14.2 to 16.2 hands high with some horses being slightly over or under.

The Walking Horse has no limitation as to color or markings. The myriad of coat colors include black, bay, roan, palomino, buckskin, dun, chestnut, sorrel, grey, overo and tobiano.

The Tennessee Walking Horse is a multi-gaited horse although it is noted for three exceptional gaits: the flat walk, the running walk (the predominant feature) and the high, smooth rocking-chair canter. Both 'Walking' gaits are a 1-2-3-4 beat with the horse's feet hitting the ground separately at regular intervals (left fore, right hind, right fore, and then left hind). The predominant running walk and unique rocking-chair canter are inherited and it is unlikely that these gaits can be taught to any other breed. In doing the running walk, most Walking Horses over-reach. That is to say, they over-stride and place the hind foot ahead of the print of the fore foot. A specific length of over-reach is not necessary to a good gait but some is desirable.. In the running walk, speeds of 6-9 mph (10-15 kmh) can be maintained over considerable distance. The running walk results in a smooth gliding motion allowing the horse to cover great distances with a minimum expenditure of energy.

The blood lines of the Tennessee Walking Horse represent most of the breeds and families of horses known to early America and Canada. Shortly after 1790 when Tennessee was permanently settled by immigrants, these individual bloodlines came to the central portion of Tennessee where the slow process of unification began. History discloses that "it is the purpose of which a horse is intended that begets a breed". And therefore, for the reason of utility, the Tennessee Walking Horse evolved. The people who carefully developed the breeding patterns which resulted in the Walking Horse were not trained geneticists but farmers endowed with determination, proficiency and patience. The Walking Horse bears the blood of four distinct breeds; the Thoroughbred, Standardbred, American Saddle Horse and the Morgan. With exception of the Thoroughbred, behind these distinct breeds is the influential blood of the Narragansett and Canadian Pacer. This horse was first used for riding, driving and farm work and has long been associated closely with man.

As stated in the 'Echo of Hoofbeats' Dr. Bob Womack claims that "there is quite an irony in the fact that pleasure Walking Horses are making an impact on Canadian horse stock, since it was from Canada that the breed received its major thrust. Without exception, authorities on Walking horses have attributed this horse's eventual development to the Canadian Pacer". The Tennessee Walking Horse is reputed for its gentle disposition and kindly manner and to this day continues to demonstrate itself as one of the most versatile horses anywhere. The disciplines it excels at include pleasure, endurance and trail riding; ranching; gymkana; English, Western and Plantation equitation; field dog trailing; driving; and side-saddle; thus truly distinguishing it as: