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The Tennessee
Walking Horse, a member of the light breeds of the equine family, is
no mystery horse, nor is there anything of magic or difficult to
understand about his makeup. It 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. The
result, over countless years, was the Tennessee Walking Horse - the
first breed of horse to bear a state name. For those who think the
Walking Horse is comparatively new on the equine scene, pages of
history reflect the strong influence this animal has had in the
building of this country and in the daily lives of our forefathers.
Mainly used for utility and riding stock, he 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. Being
used as a utility animal for all type of farm work, as well as
family transportation and recreation, the old plantation-type horse
was not trained for showing in those days -- its gait was naturally
inherited.
In 1885, a cross between a stallion called Allendorf, from the
Hambletonian family of trotters, and Maggie Marshall, a Morgan mare,
produced a black colt with a white blaze, off hind coronet and near
hind sock, Black Allan, foal of 1886. He was later to be chosen by
the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' Association as the foundation
sire of the Tennessee Walking Horse and designated as Allan F-1.
While the bloodlines of the Gray Johns, Copperbottoms, Slashers,
Hals, Brooks and Bullett families ran thick and produced a type
known as the Tennessee pacer prior to the arrival of Allan F-1 in
Middle Tennessee, it was a cross between Allan and the Tennessee
Pacer that produced today's Tennessee Walking Horse.
The Tennessee Walking Horse has impressed the nation with its
gentle disposition and its kindly manner, and continues to prove
itself as one of the most versatile horses in the land. This docile
temperament, together with its smooth easy gaits, has caused it to
be much in demand in all sections of the country. It serves nobly as
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