TEI DECEMBER 1963
IUING H ' l 8 ) RSE
( Va . Lamb Continued )
The Tennessee Walking Horse is anything but a new mount for pleasure riders ; it traces its history back to the early days of the frontier .
The first settlers of Middle Tennessee , when they crossed the mountains from the Carolinas , needed a horse which was good not only for riding but for driving and general farm work .
By breeding their sturdy saddle horses with a stallion or mare of thoroughbred stock and with pacers , the first Walking Horses were derived — general , all purpose , three-gaited horses . It was from their natural walking gaits that they first got their name .
The first horse recognized as a walking horse is believed to be Bald Stockings , foaled in Kentucky in 1837 .
Cross-Breeding Productive
More cross-breeding after the Civil War eventually produced the horse known today as the Tennessee Walking Horse , a pleasure and show horse still capable of hard work but seldom used for it .
Though it often has other gaits , it is noted for three — the flat-foot walk , the running walk and die canter .
The flat-foot walk is an even , flat stride producing virtually no pitch or roll , in which the forelegs step out in rhythm and the hind legs take long even strides , with the legs extended , ( and the opposite hind leg oversteps the front leg .)
The running walk is similar , except at a faster pace .
The canter is a rhythmic gallop , foreleg and opposite hind leg striking , then the opposite pair , producing the rocking chair effect . In the walking gaits , the mount ’ s head nods up and down in time with its stride .
The average Walking Horse weighs from 900 to 1,200 pounds , stands 15 to 16 hands high and may be roan , chestnut , black , gray or have white markings .
Though many Western horsemen knew of the breed , it faced a barrier in becoming popular in the West : It was trained for a different style of riding .
' Trained Eastern Style ’
Generally , Eastern horses were trained English style with the rider using a flat saddle and direct reining , pulling the rein in the directon the rider wished to go . Western riders used the big Western saddle and cross reins running across the horse ’ s neck to direct him .
But now that Westerners have found the horse can be ridden either way , Dunn says , the problem is vanishing .
Dunn , whose family has trained Walking Horses for five generations , came to Sacramento five years ago from Petersburg , Tenn ., at the urging of breeders who felt the mount could become popular here if properly trained .
When Dunn first arrived , most of the Walkers were imported from the East , Now about half are foaled here . And , Dunn says , they are “ every bit as good as those in Tennessee .”
But whether Sacramentans ride or just watch the Tennessee Walking Horses , they finally have “ arrived ” on the Coast .
Cuihberi , Georgia and the TWH
There are 67 registered Tennessee Walking Horses in Randolph County , Georgia of which Cuthbert is the county seat , says a letter from Mrs . Fred Shivers , secretary-treasurer of the Randolph Saddle Club . There are two training barns with a total of 26 stables and two trainers who came from Tennessee .
The Randolph Saddle Club , organized on Oct . 23 , 1961 , stages two shows each year and uses a Celebration size ring , with fine lighting equipment and a goodly number of seats built . Their show on Oct . 12 this fall had money purses totaling $ 800 and S . W . Beech , Jr ., of Belfast , Tenn . judged the show .
( Note — This report by Mrs . Shi-
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