Origin
United States
History
The Tennessee Walking Horse evolved in the state of Tennessee in the mid-19th century, after the first pioneers had crossed the Appalachian Mountains to establish outposts in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri.
The settlers aimed to create a horse of endurance and stamina, which would be able to carry its owner for long hours while he was overseeing work on the land. Great speed was not the requirement for such work, but the horses could travel long distances when necessary.
The Tennessee Walking Horse is a composite breed that evolved from the old Narragansett Pacer, with additional input from the Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Morgan, American Saddlebred, and the Spanish horses descended from those brought to the Americas in the 16th century.
In 1885 a cross between a stallion called Allandorf, from the Hambletonian family of trotters, and Maggie Marshall, a Morgan mare, resulted in a black colt with a white blaze, off hind coronet, and near hind sock: Allan F-1, foal of 1886. This horse was later chosen by the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeder´s Association as the foundation sire of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed. While the bloodlines of the Gray Johns, Copperbottoms, Slashers, Hals, Brooks, and Bullet families ran thick and produced a type known as the Tennessee Pacer prior to the arrival of Allan F-1 in Middle Tennessee, it was the cross between Allan and the Tennessee Pacer that produced the modern Walker. Subsequently, refinement and quality were provided largely by a Saddlebred stallion named Giovanni.
The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders Association was formed in 1935 at Lewisburg, Tennessee, and the breed was officially recognized by the US Department of Agriculture in 1947.
The Tennessee Walker´s reputation has been earned on its three gaits, which give great pleasure in the saddle, giving the rider a sensation of gliding, without shock: the flat walk, the running walk, which is the predominant feature, and the rolling "rocking-chair" canter, a smooth, collected movement in which the head nods in a distinctive fashion.
Description
- Head:
fairly large, plain - Conformation:
excellent conformation is now apparent throughout the breed. Selective breeding has added the polishing touches while continuing to maintain the muscular vigor, size and structural soundness required in today´s Tennessee Walking Horse. - Average height:
15 to 16 h.h. - Colours:
pinto coat patterns occur within the Tennessee Walker breed, in addition to the more frequent shades of black and chestnut - Temperament:
calm, docile and very intelligent - Today:
the Tennessee Walking Horse is primarily a show and pleasure horse. It also has a reputation as the most reassuring of horses for the novice or nervous rider.
