Tennessee Walking Horse

A unique breed was created over one hundred years ago in teneessee.  It was called the Tennessee Walking Horse.  Early settlers to the region came from the Carolinas, Virginia and other nearby states, bringing with them Morgans, Standardbreds, Canadian, Narrangansett Pacers and Thoroughbreds.  When all the horse families were combined, the Tennessee Walker was developed, along with some distinctive qualities of their own.

As the name suggests, the most obvious characteristic of the Tennessee Walking horse is their walk.  They have a swift walk, that is almost like running.  It is not possible to teach a horse to walk like a Tennessee Walking Horse- they must be born with that trait.  The walk is a four beat gait, with a bobbing head and a gliding motion, and their ears swing with each step!  Some Walkers will even snap their teeth in time to their walk.  Tennessee Walking HOrses travel at speeds between 6 and 12 miles an hour, and they can sustain the gait for long distances without problem or fatigue.

Tennessee Walkers also have two other gaits, called teh flat foot walk- which is a slow and even gate, and the canter- which is actually a refined gallop with an added rolling motion.  The canter is graceful and rhythmic and sometimes referred to as teh rocking chair gait.  Regardless of the type of gait the Tennessee Walker is performing, the rider will have a comfortable ride.

Tennessee Walkers were developed primarily for riding, farm work and driving.  Plantation owners also used this breed to carry them miles over fields to inspect their crops.

Tennessee walkers are affectionate, intelligent and gentle.  They come in brown, bay, black, roan and chestnut colors.