Need information on a TWH?

8. January 2009 edit

  • Can a TWH horse gait without having weighted shoes, and can the TW be naturally gaited without you having to know how to put them in a gait?


  • I used to show on the national walking horse circuit and yes walkers can be naturally gaited. Most of the ones that win are naturally gaited and do not need the heavy shoes to perform. The heavy shoes are simply to enhance the gait not give the gait. If the horse does not have the gait it simply never can do it correctly. It would kind of be like asking a non gaited horse to rack instead of trot. My walker would gait naturally out in the pasture when he was turned out :)


  • if i new what a TWH is i may be able to help


  • weighted shoes are not necessary. they are naturally gaited, but if you are not sure how to get them to gait have someone show you or explain it to you if possible while you are riding the horse. if you are used to non-gaited horses, gaited horses tend to move out pretty fast it seems like they tuck up underneath you and are about to dart out from under you, but their gaits are just naturally faster. you will know when they are gaiting, a slow gait is like that of a jog on a quarter horse, a rack is faster and almost kinda like swaying back and forth and had a lot of shoulder action. beware of a pace, it's kinda rough. sometimes a pacey horse can be "checked-up" as in trying to get them a bit collected with rein/seat/leg aids and they will rack. these horses do not need weighted shoes, huge bits, tie downs, etc.


  • Yes on both counts. However if you get one you will probably have to learn how to check them up as most tend to get pacey if allowed to without being checked up. Checking up involves simply telling the horse to slow down into the next slower gait with the reins, and when the horse shifts gaits then the horse is sped back up with the legs, while pressure is still applied to the bit to keep the horse from switching gaits.

    I do not have TWH but two of my Fox Trotters come from double registered MFT/TWH's and have the running walk and rack of the TWH (they can also fox trot too). As far as weighted shoes I never use them unless a horse needs to learn to pick their feet up enough not to trip. Then I will put toe weights (they are about twice the weight of regular shoes) on for two weeks and let them run around the field. Then I pull them off and ride them. I NEVER use the huge 5 pound weights to create the 'Big Lick' walkers like the TWH show once wanted.

    For me using toe weights is a safety issue since a horse that does not lift its feet up quite enough can trip and injure both the rider and the horse. But again the only time I use it is when the horse does not lift its feet enough so that it stumbles a lot.


  • Well a Tenessee Walking horse or racking horse is born that way, either they gait or dont, I personally do not believe ion outting weights and pads etc on to help with theyre gait..It is hard on the horse and makes a fake gait in my opinion. You can take a horse that paces put pads and weights and it gaits, that is not real but mechanical, when looking to buy a walking horse you must watch it and ride it either flat shod or barefoot that is the only way you can see theyre real gait, my


  • Yes you can get a TW to gait with out using weight shoes. Most TW are naturally gaited. You will be able to tell when they are in their gate cause it will be so smooth you can drink a cup of coffee in the saddle and never spill a drop. I just went riding the other day and rode a friends horse that I have never rode before and when I got on him I went out around the feild to tell her that I was leaving and I ask her if he was a TW because he had such a smooth gait and I was right he was. So you will know







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