Tennessee Walking Horses | Gaited Horse Breeds | www.AllHorses.us

A well bred and trained Tennessee Walking Horse does not trot under saddle.

Instead, this breed has at least three speeds at which it can "walk" ... a very smooth four-beat gait with no bounce. You'll hear the terms flat walk, dog walk, and running walk. At these gaits, a TWH can "walk" at the speed other breeds jog, trot or even canter, with very little effort required of the rider.

The TWH is likely the most well known breed of gaited horse. The running walk is noted for a long reaching stride (hind hoof extends past hoofprint from corresponding front hoof, called "overstride") and head nodding in rhythm with the gait.

Walking Horses are born with the gait, but some require additional training to pick up and stay in gait under saddle. Some will trot while at liberty (out in the field) but many will not, the strong tendency to gait instead is inherent in numerous individuals and bloodlines.

Sometimes in the news due to "soring", an unethical and illegal practice of causing the horse pain in order to exaggerate the gait for the show ring, the TWH is the second most popular breed of horse in America, behind the Quarter Horse, but is still very often misunderstood.

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