RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR JUDGING AND EXHIBITING THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE
INTRODUCTION
The following rules and regulations for exhibiting Tennessee Walking Horses have been approved and adopted by all major associations having to do with
this breed . These rules were drawn up after much discussion with officials of the Walking Horse Trainers ’
Association , the American Horse Shows Association and the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders ’ Association . They represent the best thinking of all authorities of this breed today and are designed to enhance the Tennessee Walking Horse in the showring .
REGISTRATION
Horses exhibited in the Walking Horse division must be registered with the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders ’ Association of America , Lewisburg , Tennessee . Exception : Walking Ponies .
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 : flat walk , running walk , flat walk , and canter . NO HORSE SHALL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE RING AF TER THE JUDGE HAS CALLED FOR THE FIRST GAIT . Within the discretion of the management of a show , a period of not more than five minutes may be allowed during which horses shall be permitted to enter the ring . At the expiration of this period , gates
shall be closed and no other horses shall be permitted to enter . As the horses enter the ring , the Judge will observe their way of going in accordance with the specified Gaits ( see GAITS ), and EXCUSE horses
IMMEDIATELY which deviate from the standards . Horses shall be worked both ways of the ring , at least once around , at all required gaits . In a workout , the Judge is not required to request all gaits but all horses chosen for a workout must be worked both ways of the ring at any gait requested . Workouts shall be judged as a separate Class and horses will be placed consecutively in the workout . Workouts may be called for by the Judge for any place or places .
Boots WILL NOT be dropped or removed for inspection in the ring unless the Judge requests it on a specific horse or horses . At any show , an inspection must be conducted by the Show Veterinarian and the Show Steward ( or a representative of the show manager ) not more than ten ( 10 ) minutes before the Class enters the ring . Horses will be presented for inspection with the boots , which will be worn in the class , in place . The boots will be removed for inspection at the direction of the representative of the show manager . The Veterinarian shall inspect the pastern and coronet areas of the horse to determine if they meet the required standards . The Steward or other representative shall examine the boots to determine if they meet
the required standards ( see photo - BOOTS ). He shall also observe the height of the heels of the front hoofs and where , in his opinion , the height exceeds the required standards , measurements will be taken . In either case , the Steward will EXCUSE horses not meeting the standards .
Whenever possible , once horses have been checked they should be kept in a make-up ring or paddock area until the Class is called .
Grooms will not touch the legs or hoofs of a horse after inspection by the Veterinarian and Steward . The inspection of horses outside the ring does not relieve the JUDGE of the responsibility of disqualifying sore or bleeding horses during or at the conclusion of a Class .
In Championship Classes , horses must be stripped for conformation . Two grooms per horse are allowed . Grooms will not touch the horse or tack below the knees unless directed to do so by the Judge . 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 . An exhibitor is entitled to request suspension of judging for a period not to exceed a total of SEVEN MINUTES in aggregate , but NO MORE THAN 2 TIMES IN A CLASS , in order to repair the damage . The exhibitor must go to the center of the ring for any repairs or for replacement of a shoe . If the exhibitor pulls to the center of the ring it will constitute a