Riding a Tennessee Walking Horse is an experience like no other, but keeping this breed’s weight in balance can be a challenge!
Stephen, a veteran of our armed forces, sustained injuries that often keep him in a wheel chair. His life has been full of horses, and he shares his wonderful story at the bottom of the Tennessee Walking Horse page. However, he needs your advice on his battle to keep his Walker’s weight balanced, so I’m taking the liberty to share his story with you here!
Stephen’s animal story: Walkers and Quarter Horses!
“I grew up riding Walkers, and loved them, and the smoothness of their gaits. My wife & I own mostly Quarters, from champion cutting and reining lineages, but we have one full Walker, and one that we were given that were told was a Walker/Arabian mix, though we have since realized that she is most likely all Arabian.
“Anyway, we have never had any issues keeping weight on our horses, except during the winter they might lose a little. We do not have much for pastures, so we keep a couple round bales of mix grass, and grain.
“But, our Walker is a constant battle with up & down weight. A friend, who has Walkers, said to add alfalfa pellets to our graining, and it has helped, but the issue is still there.
“He is only maybe 7-9 yrs old, & thinks he is my baby. Of course, so does ‘my’ 2 Quarters, and I think they are all my babies. But, even if the others are out running around the pasture, or following my wife through it, my walker stays with me, especially on the days when I am stuck in my wheel chair, which seems to be more & more. I am just not sure what to do about getting his weight maintained.
For those that have Walkers, can you please help? I have contacted both the breeders Assoc., & the Natural Walkers Assoc., and have not had any help, yet. Because of my spinal cord & brain injuries from the Army, these horses are some of my best friends, especially the Walker.
“And, I agree. I do wish people would educate themselves, before they swallow their feet, legs, etc. The foot issues were made illegal, beginning with the issues of nailing weight into place, as the nails helped increase weight, but also cause the horse pain, so they would lift higher. Any kind of mistreatment is not tolerated, and they look closely for it at every show, as my friends, who do still show their Walkers, have expressed to me, and others. But, that is the biggest problem with our nation, as a whole, is people believe what they are told, whether correct or not, rather than expend the energy to find the truth out for themselves.”
What a great story about his Walker, Quarter horses… and himself!
Love all the great information too. When I was a teenager I got the awesome experience of caring for and riding this breed of very cool horse for a summer. However, those few short months did not present any weight problems for us, but Stephen is faced with this challenge.
If you have advice that may help Stephen with keeping his horse’s weight in balance, please add your reply to his story.
An easy way to do this is to join the conversation: Tennessee Walking Horse, and your comment will also be at the bottom of the Tennessee Walking Horse page!
You can also share your stories about this horse or any other animal, simply sign up on Pet Talk, our Facebook app, to join in conversations!
Clarice Brough is a team member at Animal-World and has contributed many articles and write-ups.
Featured Image Credit: Unplash