The Tennessee Walking Horse
SAFETY TIPS for You and Your Horse
(compiled from personal experiences and many "talks" and clinics with HSA MASTER CLINICIAN, Donna West.)

  • Always wear your helmet when sitting on your horse.  An arm or leg will mend, but your brain will not mend!
  • If your horse is edgy or spooky, let him move forward at a walk, directing WHERE he moves is the most important
    aspect to remember.
  • When you are about to end your ride, turn your horse around and head back for a short distance.  When you get to
    the barn, just sit on your horse for a few minutes.  This helps avoid barn sour horses and develops patience.
  • Always wait until everyone is mounted before you begin your ride.  This is a practice that could avoid injuries as
    horses are "herd-bound" and "need" to stay together.
  • Check your tack before mounting.  The girth should be snug, the bit should sit properly in his mouth (a wrinkle or two
    at the corners), and nothing flopping or worn out.
  • Ride up to those "horse eating" obstacles!  If your horse has to face or touch whatever scares him, shying will become
    less of a problem and may be eliminated.
  • Always lead with a halter and lead rope.  If your horse spooks, you could be injured without leading him with the proper
    equipment.  Lead him from his side walking him at your shoulder; never lead from the front nor do you stand in front of
    your horse.
  • Keep the protein levels at 10% or 12% in prepared horse feeds.  Most horses are not exercised enough to warrant the
    higher levels of protein and your docile horse can become hard to control and could become dangerous.  Of course,
    lactating mares or other circumstances may require higher levels of protein.  Always feed plenty of roughage;  good
    grass hay is essential to a healthy horse.
  • Take off the halter in the stall or pasture.  Many horses have broken their necks or have broken a leg hanging their
    halters on the strangest things.  The horse's struggle to get free can kill him.
  • Tie your horse with adequate rope length.  Use a "quick release" knot to tie him.
SAFETY TIPS from Miss Gracie
Devrick Pleasure Gaits Farm
The Tennessee Walking Horse is a horse
famous for:

  • smooth gaits and a gentle loving
    disposition

  • used for show, pleasure, and trail riding

  • has a head nod in rhythm with their
    steps.  Also, some Walkers clack their
    teeth in rhythm to their steps.

  • a variety of colors and patterns and can
    sometimes be double registered as a
    spotted saddle horse.

  • their running walk can cover more than
    10 miles per hour

  • suffering from cruel showing and
    training practices to achieve a higher
    and higher step.  Therefore, we are
    members of NWHA and encourage all
    Walking Horse enthusiasts to become
    members and support the National
    Walking Horse Association.
www.NWHA.com