The breed performs three distinct gaits. The flat walk is a brisk, long-reaching walk that ranges from 4 to 8 mph. A nodding head motion, along with overstride, are unique features of the gait. The running walk is an extra-smooth gait like the flat walk except faster, at 10 to 20 mph, giving the rider a feeling of gliding through the air as if propelled by a powerful machine. The canter is performed in much the same way as other breeds, but with lots of spring and rhythm, giving an easy front end rise and fall referred to as a “rocking chair” canter.

The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) currently has 234,418 registered Walkers, and many of them hit the trails annually through TWHBEA’s trail programs. In 2023, riders logged 13,438 total hours in the distance program.

Hours in the Saddle

Via’s Sugarfoot, owned and ridden by Glory Redmond of Lowell, Ind., was the TWHBEA Trail Horse of the Year for 2023, logging 387.5 hours.

Sunday Morning Rain and owner Susan St. Amand have logged more than 3,000 hours on trails, more than any other Tennessee Walking Horse in TWHBEA’s program.

“We ride on the hundreds of miles of ATV public trails in the Northern Maine woods, and witness plenty of wildlife,” says St. Amand.

“The Tennessee Walking Horse has long been recognized as a superior trail mount because they are smart, strong, surefooted and smooth,” says Paige Liggett of TWHBEA. “The Tennessee Walking Horse was originally bred to be a utility horse capable of carrying a rider over the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee in comfort and style. This inherent ability translates perfectly to most any terrain or situation.”

From Trails to Mounted Archery

Lila Corey of Youngsville, N.C., owns three Tennessee Walking Horses that she uses for trail riding and mounted archery. Her 9-year-old mare, Patience; 9-year-old gelding, Lakota; and 18-year-old gelding, Aston, are all skilled on the trail as well as the archery track. They carry both her students and her granddaughter with ease and care.

“I trail ride for fun and relaxation,” says Corey. “Tennessee Walking Horses are very smooth, and that makes them easier to shoot off of when cantering. The hunt course, being like a trail ride with targets at a canter, is so much fun on a gaited horse.”

Kristin Munson from Sandia Park, N.M., grew up riding Tennessee Walking Horses.

“I can’t post worth a darn,” she laughs. “That’s a pretty necessary skill for most long-distance riders, unless they are lucky enough to ride gaited!”

Now, Munson rides Cruise Until Midnyte, aka “Cruze”, a 5-year-old gelding, on endurance rides. (The pair are featured on this month’s cover.)

“Tennessee Walking Horses are known for being level-headed, considerate of their riders, gentle, and comfortable for long periods of time,” she says. “Because they were bred for riding on extensive plantations in the south, especially Heritage Walkers [these have no or limited high-stepping breeding lines] are famous for traveling long miles without complaint and being a joy to ride.”

Since Cruze is young, Munson is competing in the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) limited-distance races, ranging from 25 to 35 miles. As he grows up, her goal is to complete the 100-mile Western States Trail Ride (also known as the Tevis Cup). She says that Arabians and Mustangs tend to win endurance rides, but she and Cruze enjoy the time together.

“I believe the AERC motto that ‘To Finish is to Win,’ and I wouldn’t want to spend 35, 50, or even 100 miles on any other breed!”

Mounted Orienteering

Pushers Phoenix Sun, affectionately called “Nacho,” is a 12-year-old Walking Horse gelding owned by Laurie Heffington of Winlock, Wash. She purchased Nacho sight unseen from British Columbia because she had been searching for years for a gaited horse.

A friend of hers got her into competitive mounted orienteering (CMO) a few years ago. In mounted orienteering, a team or individual uses a compass to find hidden objects—usually a paper plate with a letter on it—on a trail. The event is timed. Heffington has found Nacho to be the perfect partner.

“From what Nacho has shown, they have wonderful personality and grit,” says Heffington. “He can go and go. My husband calls him ‘The Bulldozer,’ because he will plow through anything I point him at, regardless if there’s a path. That is great when we’re searching around in the brush for a plate!”

Heffington and Nacho placed first in the Washington Chapter of CMO for the short course and second in the nation in 2022 and 2023.

Although Tennessee Walking Horses are known for their fast running walk, Heffington says that Nacho has no problem slowing down, and will even keep pace with her son’s 12-hand pony on the trail.

This article about the Tennessee Walking Horse breed appeared in the August 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Breed Spotlight: Tennessee Walking Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Originally called the Plantation Walking Horse, the breed later obtained the name of Tennessee Walking Horse after the state where it first originated. By the 1800s, the breed’s popularity had grown among farm owners throughout the South, who had discovered its vast talents. It wasn’t long before this horse became renowned for its willingness to work and easy-to-ride gait.

In 1935, the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) was formed to help record bloodlines and promote the breed as a pleasure riding and show horse. In 1954, the breed was recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture, and the TWHBEA as the official breed registry. Studbooks were closed in 1957, requiring all registered foals thereafter to parentage qualify.

Tennessee Walking Horse Gaits

Tennessee Walkers are born able to perform their special gaits: The flat-footed walk, the running walk and the canter are the breed’s three natural styles.

The flat-footed walk is similar to the regular walk in that each hoof hits the ground separately. The flat-footed walk is also a lot faster than a regular walk, in large part because of its longer strides. While traveling at this ground-covering gait, the Tennessee Walker’s head bobs up and down in rhythm with its steps.

The four-beat running walk is the breed’s most famous gait. As in the flat-footed walk, each hoof also hits the ground separately in a four-beat rhythm. This gait is faster than a trot and much smoother. Tennessee Walking Horses can travel anywhere from 10 to 20 miles per hour at the running walk.

The breed’s third gait is the canter. Unlike the canter in most other breeds, the Tennessee Walking Horse’s canter is more relaxed and has more spring and rhythm, giving the rider the sensation of sitting in a rocking chair.

Versatility in Different Disciplines

Tennessee Walking Horses were originally bred to be ridden long distances around Southern plantations. Today, the breed has adapted to several different disciplines that call upon its inherent talents.

Trail riding is probably the most popular activity for Tennessee Walking Horses. They are able to provide their riders with long, comfortable days in the saddle. The breed’s tractable temperament also makes them good choices for the trail. They are often seen participating in endurance riding and competitive trail events, as well.

Showing has always been an important job for the Tennessee Walking Horse, and the breed excels in a number of competitive disciplines.

In 1998, the National Walking Horse Association (NWHA) was formed with the goal of providing a safe and fair showing environment for the Tennessee Walking Horse. At the NWHA National Show, classes are offered in dressage (both traditional and western), trail obstacle, plantation, pleasure, equitation, costume, leadline, pole bending, barrel racing, reining, and stock seat equitation, in addition to traditional Tennessee Walking Horse classes such as racking and park.

Tennessee Walkers also do well at open shows competing with other breeds, especially at gaited competitions.

With its smooth gait and easy-going temperament, the Tennessee Walking Horse has won the hearts of many equestrians over the years. This all-American breed has been with us since the dawn of our nation, and will no doubt continue to be a mainstay in the horse world in the decades to come.

Tennessee Walking Horse Characteristics and Fast Facts Height: 14.3 to 17 hands Color: All horse colors, pinto and roan patterns Overall Appearance: Straight facial profile with small ears; a long, sloping shoulder and hip; short back; short, strong coupling. Bottom line is longer than the topline. Associations: ◆ Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association ◆ National Walking Horse Association

Key Takeaway

With its smooth gait and easy-going temperament, the Tennessee Walking Horse has won the hearts of many equestrians over the years. This all-American breed has been with us since the dawn of our nation, and will no doubt continue to be a mainstay in the horse world in the decades to come.

This article appeared in the November 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Breed Profile: Tennessee Walking Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.