Rick, we live in a sick, sick world., unfortunately. But I guess behavior from earlier history doesn't completely disappear; Like feeding Christians to the Lions, or Bear-Baiting (Queen Elizabeth's favorite sport). Chickin fights, dog fights; To many there is no value placed on an animal's life
You're just being a curmudgeon. It's kinda regional. Like when I moved ti Wyoming, and everyone used the term, "bar ditch".
George, I recognize your passion, but please leave the name calling out of it and future posts? Thanks in advance Ray
I'm wondering if that word "bar ditch" means something like the ditch keeping the horse on track on the way home from the bar? How bout "Oh crap! strap"?
I'd like to bring up some points that may be contraversial. I do in NO way like what they do, think they look good, just like most if not all of you. But in my opinion, soring is one thing, and padding is another. First off, I use a 6 inch shank bit. Why? Because I like to ride with the lightness and ease. My horse does not pull and neither do I. If she should put light pressure on the bit, she comes on the bit, softly arched into my hands. A long shank can be used as something of pain, or be used correctly-just like the straight shanked bit in dressage. It's the rider, not the bit. I have see pads put on. It was for a month to teach a TWH some timing and muscle memory. And they did their job. A month. Then they came off. What surprised me what how they went on, there were maybe 6 nails into a pad, then everying was nailed onto the pad. The other thing that surprised me what that the angle of the horse's foot did not change. The third thing that surprised me was how much lighter those clogs were than I thought they'd be. Maybe they make heavier ones. The roller chains weight 6 ounces. I don't know how much that increases during practice. The things I know here are first hand. The rest-heavier weights-I know nothing about. How does that compare to horses pulling wagons? Jumping? Eventing over stone walls? Barrel racing, racing two year olds that are not really 2, but younger? Rolkur?? As much stress, or less? Soring and beating, shocking, and the rest is pure animal cruelty. People need to rot in jail for that. But what about people who practice humane methods and proper training? I'm not taking sides or praising Big Lick. It's just food for thought.
Did anyone see him clinch the nails after nailing on the double nail pad? Maybe on the second foot just before he ran the rasp over them but as to the guy claiming everything was time lapzed?? Well I am not so sure??
It wasn't about padding! Padding is thin cushioned material ordinarily used to soft impact..... at least that's what padding means here. I absolutely appreciate that lot call what they do padding and may be because it in some way validates or excuses putting great huge weighted lift stacks that force the horse into a position whereby it's forcing a pastern axis that is positively detrimental to the horse in that it puts excessive strain on joints and supportive structures. Couple that with bands and chains that cause irritation or to put it another way makes them sore and there's no difference at all in my opinion. Both are deliberate acts to force an unnatural movement because they make the horse uncomfortable and sore. I've never met a rider yet that doesn't say that. However I've put a lot of riders and drivers on to a reining machine and they pull it across the yard. However in the case of the video which is what you provided to see the overweight rider is sitting on the hind end of the horse hunched forward with reins held tight and with absolutely no give in his hands as the horse moves forward. So there's total resistance in the hands. He's blocking movement. The horse is compelled to lift it's feet because of those ridiculous stacked weights and a band that forces discomfort. It's virtually sitting back on it's haunches because of rider position and use of hands and that bit. The horse has no choice but to quickly lift it's feet off the ground because of discomfort and to sit right back under itself to relieve it's front end of all that nonsense! And so what did you conclude by that? So you couldn't see any difference at all????? Makes me wonder if you know what the angle should be and also why then that those whackos put on that package and all of a sudden the horse is forced into producing the most bizarre and unnatural gait. Personally speaking though I've never seen a TWH with stacked pads that isn't forced into an unnatural position immediately. With good harness and a wagon of appropriate weight and load and size to a harness horse.... no comparison! No comparison! Like comparing chalk and cheese! Ditto I can't help thinking you're asking the wrong question and are muddled in your thoughts. There's humane and inhumane. There's equitation and working with what a horse does naturally to get best potential for sport, leisure and pleasure. And then theres that rubbish with tennessee walking horses where they weight their feet and make them REALLY uncomfortable and force them to go round in a way that no horse ever does naturally. You think??? I'm thinking it's not even a crumb for comfort! Let's get real here and for a brief moment ignore the fact that the TSW's history was in the plantations where there was slavery and mass abuse and inhumane treatment of afro-caribbeans..... I get that a running walk or (when it's produced by an icelandic pony) a tolt, is a comfortable smooth gait for long distance. But using 4 inch stacks, weights and chains to produce that hideous spectacle hasn't got anything to do with the origins of the purpose of the breed. It's got everything to do with abuse and inhumane treatment.
They where breed for there smooth gait and comfort ..just so happen the people who liked that owned plantations.. saying they where breed to watch over slaves is kinda like saying they breed the German shepard to turn loose on the blacks in Birmingham alabama ...or saying the fire hose was made to spray those same African Americans in that same time..by the way it said just owning a twh would make Karen a racist or anyone for that matter...why would someone want such a thing as twh if its sole purpose was tied to slaves ...be kinda like owning a Kkk outfit..
You are too funny! They bred comfortable horses for the owner overseeing his PLANtation. He already had men who were in charge of slaves. So there were not bred to watch slaves.
Alot of African Americans claim their religion is Moslem. Moslems were the first ones to sell slaves to other countries. The plantations already had men looking over the slaves. The owner was not the designated slave watcher. I think that any person of any color can own any horse they want. Way back in the day there were even black plantation owners who had black slaves. TWH were bought by anyone who could afford one.
I'm confused..its been said more than one time the the twh ghastly ties to slaves ..and only dumb ass rednecks would be apart of the twh.. now I'm the one calling yall into question on useing the race card..I do not feel twh have zero to do with the sport or the breed ..but yall do ..so I ask the question...George say plain and simple they where breed to watch slaves and now Karen says they where not....my claims I will agree are as damn silly as saying twh ties to slavery..lol
Thomas is flabergasted at the heavy shoes they wear...I don't know but how much do they weigh..?? And at the discomfort to the joints ..I wonder how much injections do they have to give them compared to jumpers?? Does anyone know ?
Travis, I'll try to dig you up some history about it . George and I are pretty much saying the same thing, but my answer has a middle-man added.
Here ya go, Travis. The Tennessee Walker originated from the Narragansett Pacer and the Canadian Pacer in the late 18th century. Tennessee breeders were working toward a horse which could be ridden comfortably all day over the varied terrain of the large plantations. Confederate Pacer and Union Trotter blood was added during the Civil War, creating the sturdy Southern Plantation Horse (aka the Tennessee Pacer). Breeders later added Thoroughbred,Standardbred, Morgan, and American Saddlebred blood to refine and add stamina to their gaited horse. In 1885, Black Allen (later known as Allan F-1) was born. By the stallion Allendorf (from the Hambletonian family of Standardbreds) and out of aMorgan mare named Maggie Marshall, he became the foundation sire of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed. The breed became popular due to its smooth gaits and incredible stamina. It was common for farmers to hold match races with their Tennessee Walkers, which they also used for plowing fields. Even after the coming of the automobile, many Tennessee communities kept their Tennessee Walkers to manage the poor roads of the area. Tennessee Walking Horses began to gain a reputation as a showy animals, and breeders sought bloodlines to produce refined, intelligent, flashy horses. The registry was formed in 1935. As the stud book was closed in 1947, since that date every Tennessee Walker must have both parents registered to be eligible for registration