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Articles on the gaits and training of the Pleasure Walking Horse There has been much discussion in recent years, on the evolution of the Tennessee Walking Horse with regards to gait, training methods, what is sound and what is natural. If only every trainer, owner, breeder and rider out there didn't have a different opinion of what a Walker should move like, or what they, personally, like to see things would be much simpler. I want to get back to the fundamentals of what a horse can do "himself", without artifice, as a willing athlete. You improve a breed by evaluating the athletic abilities of your breeding stock. Not by how low their pain tolerance is.As discussed in the FOSH video, "Poetry In Motion", there are many walkers out there doing many different gaits, and if you're happy with your horse it doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks. However, the direction the breed as a whole is moving toward should be of great concern to all of us who love it for what it was intended to be. The unnatural direction of the performance horse (big lick) breeders, who are responsible for such a huge percentage of all the new foals each year, has a direct and significant impact on how the breed is evolving, what is seen in the vast majority of show rings and what is available to pleasure-horse buying public. It is a matter of poor image, as well as the value of the breed in general being reduced as OUR breed becomes less and less a pleasure horse that should concern us all.The "old school" would have us not only use stacks on our horses, but chains on their feet and 10 in shanks on bits with curb chains, along with a multitude of other "fixes". So we must throw the "old school" right out the window. So where do we find the answers we seek? Together we must explore and discuss issues of importance to this breed with an open mind, always keeping in our sights, and hearts, the naturally gaited, truly walking horse. We must look back to the origins and how the foundation horses were bred to move as well as their purpose. We must all work together toward bringing this breed back from the edge: because it’s really there, my friends.Anita Howe, owner/trainer
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We've Moved!!!Howe They Walk Farm has relocated to the east side of Kansas City ... new place, same great horses! Our new location is: 9969 D Highway, Napoleon, MO 64074phone 816*230*6247 mobile is still 816*686*7748
Thanks for stopping by.
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