( 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