( Continued from page 30) complicated? Yes, indeed— it would have to be bred into them... it really is something to see a colt just hours old executing a perfect fourbeat gait, shaking his head off as he goes down the fence line after his Ma.
Now, if these colts " hit the ground” going a true running walk— we can quickly see that there is absolutely no difference between the show horse and the pleasure or working horse, except for one thing: the direction the owner wishes to take his horse. I’ m not saying every Walking Horse is a top cutting horse or a champion show horse. Like everything else, there was only one Man O’ War, one Midnight Sun, only one Babe Ruth: but each individual had to have someone in his league to compete with in order to prove to the world that he was IT. Same goes here: there are lots of horses and lots of jobs for horses to do... just depends on what way the owner wants to go with his horse and HE, not the horse, will offer the opportunity for that particular animal.
Here at Walker’ s Tennessee Walkers, we maintain a small band of mares- good bred mares. Our breeding program is very simple and is aimed toward one idea: " Breed the very best Walking Horse possible and get a 100 per cent colt crop on the ground each Spring.” The cornerstones for this program are two good stallions: Diamond Red, a Merry Boy horse; and Midnight Kid, a big black horse by Midnight Sun. Last, but all-important, top brood mares, all having one common denominator, which we call " Mare Power”!! We have laid our foundation with a carefully selected band of mares and good stallions to serve them with one single purpose in mind: Produce Quality!
We like the Walking Horse for pleasure and for work... someone else buys a colt for showing. So, if you like a touch of glamour, you can step off down that fork in the trail for some excitement and competition. When time permits, I enjoy showing these colts in the breeding classes. Also, I like going about my ranch work in the most comfortable way possible. Our horses wear western tack; we’ ve used them for just about anything you’ d use a ranch horse for. They take to working cattle like ducks take to water.( They have a potential in this field that hasn’ t even been tapped.) Last Winter a 350-pound steer got bogged down in the creek and died. Wet, rain, mud. Problem: How to get him out? No truck could get down in there. Solution: Saddle up one of the Walkin’ Horses and go drag him out. Ugly, messy job. But it was done with no fuss or bother
.. just part of the horse’ s work. Like pulling a car out of the ditch, going on a trail ride, bringing an orphan calf out of the field, working cattle in the broiling sun, or getting all " duded” up for a horse show... all in a day’ s work... not too important.
The important point is: The Walking Horse BREED can do. All they need is direction, opportunity, diversification, trail horses, stock horses, pleasure horses. The Walking Horse will come into its own again. It filled the bill once before in history, and just around the corner is another ' ■job opportunity”— Pleasure Horse Supreme! The Walking Horse was bred for
docile disposition and comfort under saddle. He was no accident. Those Plantation Owners originally developed him out of sheer necessity— his easy gaits, his perfect manners and disposition have " walked” him into the hearts of people throughout the world, no matter what their business.
For instance, I visited a woman
in Los Angeles who was a prominent breeder and exhibitor of another breed of light horse. I noticed a horse standing off in a corral, all by itself... didn’ t look like anything she’ d been showing me during our tour of her barns. I inquired as to " what’ s that horse, out there?” " Oh,” she said, with a dismissing wave of her hand, " that’ s just my old riding horse.” Being of a persistent nature and also smelling a story, I walked over to the horse. " What’ s his breeding?” She laughed, " Well, if you must know— he’ s a Tennessee Walker. I do a lot of riding with friends and I keep him for that.” We both enjoyed a good laugh and she went on to tell me that she had been riding, about five years before, with two people who ride Walkers. She said that the Walking Horses almost rode her and the other members of the party to death trying to keep up. No one could stay with them without going at an uncomfortable pace. She admitted that the Tennessee Walking Horse slogan, " Ride one today and you’ ll own one tomorrow,” fit her case like a glove— only without as much time elapsed. During that ride, she asked one of the Walking Horse owners to let her ride his gelding and, before she got off the horse, she bought him! This is what I’ m getting at: If this horse( or any breed) is restricted to the show ring only, the General Public will not associate the animal with their way of life. I want to say, right here and now, " I love the show horses”— they certainly have their place. I also appreciate the effort and time spent by the owner, trainer and horse to present the picture of sheer beauty in action. Their grace, power and the perfection in executing their specialties in truly thrilling... but I also love their Country Cousins.
Versatility is the life-blood of most breeds. If any associations, breeders, trainers or exhibitors get behind only ONE facet of their breed’ s qualifications, it will close the people’ s minds to everything else that the breed is capable of doing. And if you close the mind you also close the pock etbook! A " show horse only” representation of ANY breed will soon " show” itself right out the gate into oblivion.
A prime example of this unfortunate happening is another terrific light horse breed. Like the Tennessee Walker, they too were bred for use under saddle. Time passed and they were seen more and more, not as a pleasure horse or a trail horse or doing ranch and farm chores, but in the Show Ring. Their Breed Association, trainers, owners, etc., did not plan ahead and try to interest the Pleasure Horse Buying Public in the breed’ s VERSATILITY! The breed became a very popular show horse. That was fine, IF the Breed Promotion programs wouldhave AL SO presented a diversified horse.
It seems such a great waste... that’ s my idea and reason for pressing home the thought that Walking Horses are used for all kinds of jobs, not just for Show. They’ re gaining great publicity in this field because they ARE great show horses... they are also great DOING horses( they were doin’ ' fore they were showin’). Any breed of horse is the right horse if the owner is pleased.
February, 1966 33