1967-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1967 August Voice RS | Page 62
National Registry Formed
For “Half-Walkers”
In the minds of many Walking Horse enthusiasts, there
has long been a need for some means of recognizing the
many fine horses that have the blood and the inherent
qualities of the Tennessee Walking Horse but do not have
the “papers.” Other breeds have long since recognized this
need and many “half” registries including the Half-
Arabian have been flourishing for years.
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Recently a movement was undertaken to establish a
“Half-Walker” Registry and the program is now underway
to make this project a reality. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Dean
Thompson and Mrs. Nellie Frye of Mansfield, Ohio, long
time Tennessee Walking Horse enthusiasts, are the found
ers of a new corporation named the “National Half-
Walker Breeders Association of the United States, Inc.
Their thinking regarding a “half-Walker” registry has
been stimulated for several years by others who also accept
the need for some means of recognition for fine horses with
Tennessee Walking Horse blood and natural ability.
The job of setting up such a registry has not been easy.
There have been many obstacles to overcome and there
are many problems which still loom ahead that must be
solved before this registry becomes established. In talking
to Mr. Thompson, who admittedly is the workhorse of the
group and President of the corporation, we learned that
the goals of the Registry are relatively simple. He states
“Our primary purpose is to lend even more prestige to the
Tennessee Walking Horse breed by putting emphasis on
horses that have at least 50% Registered Tennessee Walk
ing Horse blood. Key factors involving the registering of
horses with this Association, however, have to do with
ability of the horse as well as blood. A horse, in order
to be registered, must be shown under saddle in front of
a recognized authority of Tennessee Walking Horses and
must show the natural ‘walking, headshaking gait* that
is the outstanding trait of this breed. If such a horse is
adjudged as having the necessary conformation and other
qualities, and is at least 50% Registered Tennessee Walk
ing Horse, then it may be registered by the Half-Walker
Association.”
Mr. Thompson further elaborated on the subject by
pointing out that they are currently in the process of out
lining the specifics for “judges” who will be deemed qual
ified to determine which horses are suitable for registra
tion. Another most important aspect of this program is
to get h