The 1964 horse show season is in full swing ! From coast to coast we are getting encouraging reports of increased interest in Walking Horses in the show ring . Walking Horse classes are being added to more shows by popular demand and as more and more people purchase top horses for showing we will continue to enjoy the distinction of having “ America ’ s most popular show horse .” In keeping with this continued increase in interest , we feel that it may be of value to again review the rules for judging the Tennessee Walking Horse as set forth by the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeder ' s and Exhibilors ' Association of America . Through the courtesy of this Association and Mr . H . Tom Fulton , Executive Secretary , we present the following as our “ Horse Business ” article for this month .
“ Fully realizing the necessity of creating specific regulations and standards for judges to judge Tennessee Walking Horses , the Committee on Judges and Judging has , after studied consideration , promulgated the following rules and regulations which have been presented to and approved by the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders ’ and Exhibitors ’ Association of America acting under the authority granted by unanimous vote of the membership :
Subject to the further action of this Committee , the following rules and regulations will be the official rules and regulations to be followed by judges in judging Tennessee Walking Horses .
Part I . General . Horses exhibited in this division must be registered with the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders ’ and Exhibitors ’ Association of America .
Judges must disqualify any horse having raw or bleeding sores around the coronet , pasterns or legs from either old or new scars or chain sores .
Judges must disqualify any horse equipped with bands or pads , rubber or leather or any other such devices around the pastern area .
Judges must disqualify any horse equipped with any other artificial appliance except an inconspicuously applied tail brace , switch or humane tail and any type of boot other than those listed below . Horses may be shown without boots .
( a ) Regulation Tennessee Walking Horse Quarter Boots or Regulation Saddle Horse Boots . The heel portion of either of these boots must not exeed 2 inches in height . The bell portion of either must not exceed 3V2 inches in height . The bell portion must be attached by a hinge with a maximum length of 1 inch and must not weigh more than 8 ounces . ( b ) Leather or unlined rubber bell boots may be used provided they do not weigh over 8 ounces .
The inside of all boots must be smooth and free from loose objects of any nature and must not have any sharp edges or points which touch or rub any part of the horses ’ s legs or feet . The lining of leather boots must be smooth , soft leather or felt .
While any standard Walking Horse bit may be used , severe bits are discouraged and bleeding of the mouth or muzzle must be penalized in the final judging .
Part II . Judging Procedure . All horses shall enter the ring at the flat walk shall go to the right and shall continue at the flat walk until the class is closed , after which the Judges shall -call for performance gaits in the following order , running walk , flat walk , and canter .
Horses shall be worked both ways of the ring , at least once around , at all required gaits and every horse chosen for a workout must be worked in any gait requested by the Judge both ways of the ring .
After the preliminary workout of each class the Judge shall individually instruct that one boot of each horse be removed for inspection . Grooms are allowed in the ring to assist in the removal of boots but must not touch a horse until the Judge individually requests that boots be removed .
In Championship Stakes horses must be stripped for conformation .
There shall be no changing of boots or changing of curbs or bridles after the exhibitor has entered the show ring , except in the event of breakage of equipment , which shall be allowed only one time per each exhibitor . Any exhibitor who violates such ruling and any horse being stopped for such adjustments , except with permission shall be disqualified . Minor adjustments to bridles or curbs which are momentarily made by an exhibitor ( without dismounting ) when horses are reversed in the ring shall be allowed .
Part III . Conformation . In general conformation the Tennessee Walking Horse should have an intelligent and neat head , well shaped and pointed ears , clear , alert eyes and a tapered muzzle . The neck should be long and graceful . The shoulders should be muscular and well slopping . The back should be short with good coupling at the loins . The chest should be deep in the girth , well ribbed , full in the flanks , and of good proportion and width in the chest . The croup is generally sloping . The hips should be well muscled and this development will usually extend well down toward the hocks . Legs should be flat and cordy . Bone should be dense and hard , and hoofs should be of ample size . The hair should be soft and silky with thin hide . Except as to walking ponies , which shall be 14.2 hands
22 VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse