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. < . 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