In the late 1980's, a group of well established Tennessee Walker breeders took a stand against the 'big lick way' of showing. They decided to break away from their upper class horse society and create a new breed that would have the high natural gate to rival the big lick, without the harsh training techniques. They first culled their herds, only using the greatest dams and sires to create the foundation for their new breed. They began by cross breeding to the Andalusian and Lipizzan for their large size, grace, and fluid movement, before breeding into quarter horses for their determination and western performance. Appaloosas and Paints were also added for coloration and to boost all-around dicipline skills. The resulting horses were bred to Saddlebreds, Fox Trotters, and then in to Tennessee Walkers again to keep the gaitedness and to increase the breed's height.
The breed was begining to be accepted by the public until people realized the horses didn't have as much of an athletic ability as the creators first promised. People began crossing the new Walkers with Thoroughbreds and Arabians to make up for this set back. After a few years, it was decided that the addition of the Thoroughbred and Arabian gave a positive outcome and bettered the breed, giving them a more athletic apperance and better endurance than before. At the end of developing the breed, the Tennessee Walker was added on yet again to remind us all where the breed first started.
Username: Chellerd
Barn Name: Borealis Equine
Show Name: The Red Circuit
Barn Name: Tarantula
Age: 4 years
Gender: Stallion
Discipline: Barrel Racing
Phenotype: Speckled Silver Dapple Black Minimal Overo
Genetic: EE/aa/Ss/Zz/Oo
Breeding Notes:
Will always produce black-based foals [ E ]
