There are a number of different breeds of horses just as there are with dogs and cats. One fine equine example is the Tennessee Walker. This sturdy breed has a unique four-beat running walk. They are so fine. There is no bouncing on his back as with the horses who walk, trot and canter. The gait of the Tennessee walking horse is a comfortable ride in all three of his gaits.
Someone who has ridden a quarter horse and a thoroughbred will immediately recognize the feeling of being on the back of this animal doing the running walk. It is ridden under Western or English tack. Its disposition is calm and it can be flashy in a show ring. It is versatile, being used for show, and also as a pleasure horse on the trail.
The breed was developed from Canadian and Narragansett Pacers being cross bred with Spanish Mustangs who were gaited. The Spanish Mustangs originated in Texas, and of course, Spain before that. A stud named Black Allan was the foundation sire, born in 1935.
In addition to being the perfect pleasure ride and being a show horse, this breed has been used in movies and on television. They are easy to train for a role because of temperament. On the old Lone Ranger series several generations of Tennessee Walkers played the role of the Lone Rangers noble steed.
Currently there are two kinds of show competitions held. One is flat shod, which has the equine shod with regular horseshoes. The other is called performance.
There are any number of devices fitted to the hooves and fetlock area of the performance entrants. The reason it is done is to make them raise each leg higher as they perform. The cover term for all these methods is soring. It can, and often does, inflict great pain on the horse. They use built up horseshoes or insert nails or chemicals to the front legs just above the fetlock.
It is now illegal, but continues to be allowed in some of the shows. This abusive practice was outlawed in 1970 when the Horse Protection Act was passed. Criminal charges have been lodged against some owners.
The equine lovers objection to soring is simply because it causes pain that can be severe. The entrants in a show have been observed laying down until being made to stand up to perform. There is bleeding and scarring in the area above the front hooves.
Race horses are sometimes deliberately slowed down in different cruel ways to keep them from the winners circle. That is why soring continues to be inflicted. It continues even though those who object have been attempting to discontinue it since the sixties.
Elvis owned a number of horses. His favorite was a golden palomino named Rising Sun. He also rode his Tennessee Walker named Bear frequently. He would sometimes show off his smooth gait for the fans who hung around to watch every move this beloved singer made.
It could be said that Bear was his second favorite horse. Bear was a rather stocky, well-built animal. It is a fact that no soring was ever inflicted on Bear. When not being ridden, he roamed the pastures of the Circle G Ranch. Elvis purchased this land when his herd grew too large to keep at Graceland.
Someone who has ridden a quarter horse and a thoroughbred will immediately recognize the feeling of being on the back of this animal doing the running walk. It is ridden under Western or English tack. Its disposition is calm and it can be flashy in a show ring. It is versatile, being used for show, and also as a pleasure horse on the trail.
The breed was developed from Canadian and Narragansett Pacers being cross bred with Spanish Mustangs who were gaited. The Spanish Mustangs originated in Texas, and of course, Spain before that. A stud named Black Allan was the foundation sire, born in 1935.
In addition to being the perfect pleasure ride and being a show horse, this breed has been used in movies and on television. They are easy to train for a role because of temperament. On the old Lone Ranger series several generations of Tennessee Walkers played the role of the Lone Rangers noble steed.
Currently there are two kinds of show competitions held. One is flat shod, which has the equine shod with regular horseshoes. The other is called performance.
There are any number of devices fitted to the hooves and fetlock area of the performance entrants. The reason it is done is to make them raise each leg higher as they perform. The cover term for all these methods is soring. It can, and often does, inflict great pain on the horse. They use built up horseshoes or insert nails or chemicals to the front legs just above the fetlock.
It is now illegal, but continues to be allowed in some of the shows. This abusive practice was outlawed in 1970 when the Horse Protection Act was passed. Criminal charges have been lodged against some owners.
The equine lovers objection to soring is simply because it causes pain that can be severe. The entrants in a show have been observed laying down until being made to stand up to perform. There is bleeding and scarring in the area above the front hooves.
Race horses are sometimes deliberately slowed down in different cruel ways to keep them from the winners circle. That is why soring continues to be inflicted. It continues even though those who object have been attempting to discontinue it since the sixties.
Elvis owned a number of horses. His favorite was a golden palomino named Rising Sun. He also rode his Tennessee Walker named Bear frequently. He would sometimes show off his smooth gait for the fans who hung around to watch every move this beloved singer made.
It could be said that Bear was his second favorite horse. Bear was a rather stocky, well-built animal. It is a fact that no soring was ever inflicted on Bear. When not being ridden, he roamed the pastures of the Circle G Ranch. Elvis purchased this land when his herd grew too large to keep at Graceland.
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