Buyer question
Is a Tennessee Walking Horse good for beginners?
Yes: our Animal Library rates the Tennessee Walking Horse 5 out of 5 for beginners (smooth and quiet).
Source: the Tennessee Walking Horse page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Tennessee Walking Horse in the Animal Library
The detail
A gaited horse bred on Tennessee plantations for a smooth, ground-covering running walk. Flat-shod Walkers are calm, comfortable trail horses; the padded show style is controversial because of soring abuse.
- Temperament
- Calm, gentle, willing
- Best fit
- Trail, older riders
- Trainability
- 4 out of 5 (Gentle and willing)
- Upkeep
- 2 out of 5 (Hardy, easy keeper)
- Energy
- 3 out of 5 (Smooth, steady pace)
What to weigh
Keeping a Walker gaited takes a rider who understands gait and a farrier who shoes for it. Buyers must also check for signs of past soring, which is illegal and leaves scars.