Walking On Volume 6, Issue 9, September 2019 | Page 10

Member Bulletin
Estes Acres Provides an Introduction
to the Tennessee Walking Horse
This past summer Witt Baptist Church in Morris-
town, Tennessee, sponsored a series of life skill classes
for the youth. Topics included ceramics, water safety,
cooking, and automotive care.  We ended the season
with a horsemanship class.  The class was open for
those interested from age 8 to 88.  The class was held
at Estes Acres and covered various topics including the
influence of horses in world history, the different tack
and tools we use, and traditions of the horse world. 
Horse safety, handling, and communications were
demonstrated by Ken Estes with Elaine Estes’ mare
Irresistible Satin.  We focused on the Tennessee Walk-
ing Horse and the gaits were demonstrated by Jose’s
Cash Doctor ridden by Trea Hazelwood, and Heart
of Serenity ridden by Emily Tuttle. We demonstrated
the flat walk and running walk, then compared these
gaits to the racking horse Hazel Dot Com, ridden by
10 • Walking On
Kayla Wilcox and Briley Jane Rouse. Dr. Issac Russell
provided a natural horsemanship routine set to music
with his previous International Trail Pleasure Racking
Horse winner Encore’s Crown Prince.  Alton Cureton
discussed proper hoof care and talked about the dif-
ference between horses and mules.  Participants took
a hay ride before lunch and after lunch all the partici-
pants rode the horses.  We had thirty six participants
and the oldest rider, who happens to be a first cousin
to trainer Bob McQuerry, was in her 70s.  We would
like to thank all who came and helped as side walkers
and instructors.  Special thanks to Sam and Karen Bid-
dle, Lauren Nicholson, Hunter Rouse and Kathy Rouse
for their help, and Pastor Doug Brown for his vision,
prayers and encouragement.
–Ken Estes