Dogs are bred for looks and sports such as duck hunting. It is the same in the world of horses. Some are bred for speed and others for jumping. The Tennessee Walker is a horse bred for his fine four-beat running walk. The rider does not bounce on this equine because instead of the trot he has the running walk. All three of the tennessee walking horse gaits are smooth.
Someone who has ridden a quarter horse and a thoroughbred will immediately recognize the feeling of being on the back of this animal doing the running walk. It is ridden under Western or English tack. Its disposition is calm and it can be flashy in a show ring. It is versatile, being used for show, and also as a pleasure horse on the trail.
The breed was developed from Canadian and Narragansett Pacers being cross bred with Spanish Mustangs who were gaited. The Spanish Mustangs originated in Texas, and of course, Spain before that. A stud named Black Allan was the foundation sire, born in 1935.
In addition to being the perfect pleasure ride and being a show horse, this breed has been used in movies and on television. They are easy to train for a role because of temperament. On the old Lone Ranger series several generations of Tennessee Walkers played the role of the Lone Rangers noble steed.
These days two variations on shows for the Tennessee Walkers exist. One is named for the flat shod entrant who the farrier fits with traditional horseshoes. The other is called performance and the shoes are called padded or raised.
Those competing in the performance shows are fitted with various devices to cause them to raise their legs higher. This reprehensible practice is called soring. Built up horseshoes achieve this. Another way of achieving it is to deliberately cause pain by inserting nails into the leg just above the fetlock, which is the area right above the hoof.
It is now illegal, but continues to be allowed in some of the shows. This abusive practice was outlawed in 1970 when the Horse Protection Act was passed. Criminal charges have been lodged against some owners.
Objections have been made because the sometimes severe pain is outright animal abuse. Some entrants in shows have been seen lying on the ground until forced to get up and perform by the owners. Bleeding and scarring have been observed by veterinarians in charge of inspections.
Thoroughbred race horses have been harmed to prevent them from winning a race for big money. Similarly, the Tennessee Walkers are sored to increase their chances of winning show competitions. Veterinarians continue to conduct inspections at the performance shows, but the practice manages to continue.
The famed Elvis was a rider and owned many mounts in addition to his golden palomino named Rising Sun. He loved riding his black Tennessee Walker named Bear. Sometimes he would show off Bears smooth gait for his fans who gathered to observe every move the singer made.
By all accounts Bear was his second favorite mount. No soring was ever done to the stocky, well-built black horse. After riding was over, he was again free to roam the pastures at the Circle G Ranch. As Elvis kept buying horses, the herd became too big to stay at his mansion in Memphis.
Someone who has ridden a quarter horse and a thoroughbred will immediately recognize the feeling of being on the back of this animal doing the running walk. It is ridden under Western or English tack. Its disposition is calm and it can be flashy in a show ring. It is versatile, being used for show, and also as a pleasure horse on the trail.
The breed was developed from Canadian and Narragansett Pacers being cross bred with Spanish Mustangs who were gaited. The Spanish Mustangs originated in Texas, and of course, Spain before that. A stud named Black Allan was the foundation sire, born in 1935.
In addition to being the perfect pleasure ride and being a show horse, this breed has been used in movies and on television. They are easy to train for a role because of temperament. On the old Lone Ranger series several generations of Tennessee Walkers played the role of the Lone Rangers noble steed.
These days two variations on shows for the Tennessee Walkers exist. One is named for the flat shod entrant who the farrier fits with traditional horseshoes. The other is called performance and the shoes are called padded or raised.
Those competing in the performance shows are fitted with various devices to cause them to raise their legs higher. This reprehensible practice is called soring. Built up horseshoes achieve this. Another way of achieving it is to deliberately cause pain by inserting nails into the leg just above the fetlock, which is the area right above the hoof.
It is now illegal, but continues to be allowed in some of the shows. This abusive practice was outlawed in 1970 when the Horse Protection Act was passed. Criminal charges have been lodged against some owners.
Objections have been made because the sometimes severe pain is outright animal abuse. Some entrants in shows have been seen lying on the ground until forced to get up and perform by the owners. Bleeding and scarring have been observed by veterinarians in charge of inspections.
Thoroughbred race horses have been harmed to prevent them from winning a race for big money. Similarly, the Tennessee Walkers are sored to increase their chances of winning show competitions. Veterinarians continue to conduct inspections at the performance shows, but the practice manages to continue.
The famed Elvis was a rider and owned many mounts in addition to his golden palomino named Rising Sun. He loved riding his black Tennessee Walker named Bear. Sometimes he would show off Bears smooth gait for his fans who gathered to observe every move the singer made.
By all accounts Bear was his second favorite mount. No soring was ever done to the stocky, well-built black horse. After riding was over, he was again free to roam the pastures at the Circle G Ranch. As Elvis kept buying horses, the herd became too big to stay at his mansion in Memphis.
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