TEI DECEMBER 1963
IUING H ' l 8) RSE
( Va. Lamb Continued)
The Tennessee Walking Horse is anything but a new mount for pleasure riders; it traces its history back to the early days of the frontier.
The first settlers of Middle Tennessee, when they crossed the mountains from the Carolinas, needed a horse which was good not only for riding but for driving and general farm work.
By breeding their sturdy saddle horses with a stallion or mare of thoroughbred stock and with pacers, the first Walking Horses were derived— general, all purpose, three-gaited horses. It was from their natural walking gaits that they first got their name.
The first horse recognized as a walking horse is believed to be Bald Stockings, foaled in Kentucky in 1837.
Cross-Breeding Productive
More cross-breeding after the Civil War eventually produced the horse known today as the Tennessee Walking Horse, a pleasure and show horse still capable of hard work but seldom used for it.
Though it often has other gaits, it is noted for three— the flat-foot walk, the running walk and die canter.
The flat-foot walk is an even, flat stride producing virtually no pitch or roll, in which the forelegs step out in rhythm and the hind legs take long even strides, with the legs extended,( and the opposite hind leg oversteps the front leg.)
The running walk is similar, except at a faster pace.
The canter is a rhythmic gallop, foreleg and opposite hind leg striking, then the opposite pair, producing the rocking chair effect. In the walking gaits, the mount’ s head nods up and down in time with its stride.
The average Walking Horse weighs from 900 to 1,200 pounds, stands 15 to 16 hands high and may be roan, chestnut, black, gray or have white markings.
Though many Western horsemen knew of the breed, it faced a barrier in becoming popular in the West: It was trained for a different style of riding.
' Trained Eastern Style’
Generally, Eastern horses were trained English style with the rider using a flat saddle and direct reining, pulling the rein in the directon the rider wished to go. Western riders used the big Western saddle and cross reins running across the horse’ s neck to direct him.
But now that Westerners have found the horse can be ridden either way, Dunn says, the problem is vanishing.
Dunn, whose family has trained Walking Horses for five generations, came to Sacramento five years ago from Petersburg, Tenn., at the urging of breeders who felt the mount could become popular here if properly trained.
When Dunn first arrived, most of the Walkers were imported from the East, Now about half are foaled here. And, Dunn says, they are“ every bit as good as those in Tennessee.”
But whether Sacramentans ride or just watch the Tennessee Walking Horses, they finally have“ arrived” on the Coast.
Cuihberi, Georgia and the TWH
There are 67 registered Tennessee Walking Horses in Randolph County, Georgia of which Cuthbert is the county seat, says a letter from Mrs. Fred Shivers, secretary-treasurer of the Randolph Saddle Club. There are two training barns with a total of 26 stables and two trainers who came from Tennessee.
The Randolph Saddle Club, organized on Oct. 23, 1961, stages two shows each year and uses a Celebration size ring, with fine lighting equipment and a goodly number of seats built. Their show on Oct. 12 this fall had money purses totaling $ 800 and S. W. Beech, Jr., of Belfast, Tenn. judged the show.
( Note— This report by Mrs. Shi-
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