THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE

The History:

This member of the light breeds of the equine family is no mystery horse, nor is there anything magic or difficulty in understanding about his makeup.  In the beginning came the Narragansett and Candian Pacer.  The war between the States occasioned the crossbreeding of the Condfederate Pacers and Union Trotters; thus the Southern Plantation Walking Horse or Tennessee Pacer came into being.  Next came the blood of the Thouroughbred, Standardbred, Morgan and American Saddlebred.  All were fused into one animal in the middle Tennessee bluegrass region.  The result, over countless years, was the "world's greatest show, pleasure and trail horse," - the first breed of horse to bear the state name - The Tennessee Walking Horse.

For those who think the Walking Horse is comparatively new on the equine scene, pages of history reflect the strong influence this animal has had in the building of this great land and in the daily lives of our forefathers.  Mainly used for utility and riding stock, he gained wide popularity for this ease of gait and ability to stride faultlessly over hills and through the valleys of the rocky middle Tennessee terrain.  Being used as a utility animal for all types of farm work, as well as family transportation and recreation, the old Plantation type horse was not trained for showing in those days.   This natural gait was most often inherited from his breeding.

In 1885, a cross between a stallion called Allendorf from the Hamiltonian family of trotters, and Maggie Marshall, a Morgan mare, resulted a black colt with a white blaze, off hind coroner and near hind sock, Black Allan, foal of 1886.  He was later to be chosen by the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' Association as the foundation sire of the Tennessee Walking Horse and designated as Allan F-1.  It was a cross between Allan and the Tennessee Pacer that produced today's Tennessee Walking Horse.

The Tennessee Walking Horse has impressed the nation with its gentle disposition and its kindly manner, and continues to prove itself as one of the most versatile horses in the land.

This docile temperament, together with its smooth and easy gaits, has caused it to be much in demand in all sections of the country.  It serves nobly as an English or Western pleasure mount and has taken the young, the aged, the timid, as well as the experienced riders along pleasant paths and trails.

More information at www.twhbea.com    or www.crtwh.ca