The Tennessee Walking Horse is a member of the light breeds of the equine family. The TWH is a composite breed that evolved from the Narragansett Pacer, Canadian, Morgan, Standardbred, Thoroughbred and American Saddlebred. These bloods were fused into one animal in the middle Tennessee bluegrass region resulting in one of the greatest pleasure, show and trail riding horses.
Tennessee Walking Horses are not new on the equine scene. History shows the strong influence this animal had in the building of this country and in the daily lives of our forefathers. Used for utility and riding stock, the TWH gained wide popularity for this ease of gait and ability to stride faultlessly over hills and through the valleys of the rocky middle Tennessee terrain. Early stock were utility animals for farm work as well as family transportation and recreation. The old plantation-type horse was not trained for show - its gait is naturally inherited.
The Tennessee Walking Horse has impressed the nation with its gentle disposition and its kidly manner, and continues to prove itself as one of the most versatile horses in the land. This docile temeprament, together with its smooth gaits, has caused it to be much in demand inall sections of the country. The Tennessee Walking Horse does well as an English or Western pleasure mount, and is now in all parts of the country. Their popularity has grown and can now be found in several foreign countries. The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' Association was established in 1935 and has registered over 300,000 horses.
