Amazing GAITS

[mininik]

I'm sure some of you might have already seen stuff like this but growing up in Arizona I've never gotten to see BIG LICK Tennessee Walkers. Talk about shock & awe! :new_shocked:

http://www.twhbea.com/gaitsvideo.htm

 

[stormo41]

hmmmmmmm looks unnatural to me.

 

[mininik]

Well, of course it isn't natural. But then, neither is a stalled horse or someone just sitting on a horse's back or asking for a sliding stop.

: I've heard all of the horrible abuse stories everyone passes around about the big moving horse industries but there's just as much crap going on in many other breeds. Of course that doesn't make it right but I don't believe all the horses that move big are abused just as I don't think all the rest are, either. *Just thought I'd touch on that before it becomes an issue.

 

[tigeresss]

Dear god those performance ones are absolutely discusting to look at. I would never ever want my horse to move like that I find it so revolting. The ones in the above category of "flat shod" are much nicer to look at and in my opinion are much more beautiful than the performance ones...Guh gross why would you ever want your horse to look like that(as in the performance ones)...Bleh.

I wouldn't even bring up the term natural it's a very wishy washy word to use in this day and age. Most things can be argued that they aren't natural so it's deffinetly a word better left on the shelf.

As far as "abuse" in the horse industry it's everywhere and in every dicipline. There's always going to be those bad apples who don't truely love their horses.

 

[stormo41]

*Just thought I'd touch on that before it becomes an issue.

i was not trying to start anything. It does not tickle my fancey. I don't know how they get those horses to do that, and i did not mean to say they were abused into doing it.

sorry if i offened anyone

-Storm

 

[mininik]

LOL! Oh, how I love a good difference in opinion.

: I can definitely see the other side of it, of course. The more naturally moving horses are pleasing to the eye but those crazy performance horses just demand my attention! :new_shocked: I'd just love to be able to ride one of those someday although I'm sure I won't ever own one.

 

[Minimor]

I am not a fan of weighted shoes; I've seen too many good moving Morgans have their trot scrambled by too much weight on their feet. A little bit of weight for "enhancement" is one thing but come on, when the horse is popping himself in the chin with his knees while the hocks trail out behind, and the two beat trot becomes some sort of a gait that resembles an egg beater, that's just all wrong.

Big lick TWH's--I thought that since all the hoopla about these horses being sored a few years back they didn't do big lick any more? But maybe they've just discovered they can do big lick without soring?? (I cannot watch the TWH videos on my old computer). I'm afraid I don't find much attractive about anything that requires such big shoes/pads/wedges to achieve, and if there are still horses being sored to get a big lick than you can have it for sure!

Sure, anything we do with horses is "unnatural" for the horse, but that in no way justifies some of the extremes people go to with their horses.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

No, not for me, not at all. It would also be illegal over here under Animal Welfare, so that ought to put up some red flags??

I have never heard the arena at Olympia silent before- but that is what a "performance" by these horse elicited. I heard the riders talking afterwards and they were very upset, they had never had a reception like this from a ring full of experienced horses owners. I felt sorry for them, it was the fault of the people that ran the show, there just is no place for animals like this in Europe. Now...I had never seen them in natural gait before- THAT would have been greeted with a much more favourable response as you can actually see the gaits- and we do not have gaited breeds- that would have been very interesting. I have no desire to cripple horse in order to get a strange looking action!! Tail set is illegal here too.

 

[runamuk]

I have seen them.......and I have ridden a TWH......not my kinda horse I don't like the look and I am not fond of them as a riding horse ........not my thing

That said I do love the extreme hackney's and saddlebreds.....I owned a gaited saddlebred and she was a dream to ride........I also love riding the peruvian paso's which are also gaited and have a whole different type of movement

:

There are abuses in all breeds.....so that has nothing to do with it for me....it is a personal preference in horses style

:

however if you've never seen the TWH it is pretty unbelievable

 

[Sonya]

Soring is still a problem with these horses, so I just don't like it period. Not everyone uses the soring method but many many still do and they've become so clever at "hiding" their training methods.

 

[mininik]

"however if you've never seen the TWH it is pretty unbelievable"

I guess I should have made that a bit more clear.

: Sure, I've seen the pictures but never video. Pictures don't even begin to capture what these horses can do flatshod OR otherwise...

 

[FairytailGlennMinis]

First off, I LOVE TWHs! They are my favorite breed I have ever had the priveledge of riding! I have also watched a lot of shows with the "Big Lick" horses and when you watch those poor horses eyes roll back and their tongues loll out with expertion after 5 minutes in the ring--well it sure changed my opinion of "if it was that bad it would be illegal". Then to watch those poor horses trying deperately to get the pressure off of their feet and rocking back and forth to the point of sitting on their rears...

I worked with a vet one summer about 9 years ago and heard his take on this as well...and his words wouldn't be allowed on this board. This is another case of taking something waaaay too far in my opinion. Do ALL BL TWH people purposely hurt their horses...no, but i think most do whether from ignorance or with intent. The all mighty blue ribbon is the goal...and bragging rights. It makes me flat out wick what I have seen down here in VA and NC. Then there are the plantation style walkers...now THAT is what was intended for this breed!\

-Amy

edited to add: I would love to see those BL stlye trainers and owners have to walk in shoes angled like that and with those weights AND see them gingered a time or two! Maybe THAT would change some perspectives!!!

 

[mistyrose]

You need to read the Equus article on this. A lot of people have move to a natural movement TWH because of the cruel thing done to get those big licks. If vets are at a TWH show, a lot of trainers and farms just pack up and leave because their horses have been chemically burned in the pasterns.

Some of the pictures of the gaits don't even look good. It is way over done!

 

[MeadowRidge Farm]

I have always had and was showing 5 gaited saddlebreds. I did try my hand at walkers, but just couldnt get the hang of really working there heads, for the PERFECT nod, walkers are one breed who alot of professional people look down upon, because of the way they were trained to show. Back in the late 60's or early 70's any walker entering the arena for showing had to be inspected by a vet, if anything was found to be out of place (like soring) the horses were eliminated and fines were put into place. Back then the big lick was achieved with soring, rollers, weights, and chains. It was HORRIBLE to watch some of these "professional" trainers and what they went thru to really get the horse to preform a exagerated running walk or any other gait. Most of the "professional" trainers now just use flat shod horses, with shoes and weights, and mabe a light roller when training them.I never cared for the walking horses or the training methods of them. I am so glad soring was outlawed, some of the big name walkers would bleed so bad! Here is a pic of our saddlebred , he only has very light weights on, and pads, and boots. He has the same action even if he is barefooted. He is a midwest champion.

 

[Sun Runner Stables]

Misty Rose took the words out of my mouth, I had just read that article and have read more about all the up-roar. It's truly disgusting. Really. You can't tell me that horse does that by itself.

I had a gal with Saddlebreds & TWH want to come board at my farm way back when we first started, I went to go visit her in her current location, and was horrified.

These horses can Not be turned out Ever, there shoes won't allow it, they "train" their tails by putting them in harness tied to their necks, when the are brought out to be ridden (yippie skippy, got to see that too) the horses are Chased, and screamed at with whips with bags or whatever on the ends to make them Terrified, when ever they walk into a ring.

I had met her after the whole soaring thing was going on and she confided in me that she didn't worry, a friend of a friend found a way to pass the inspectors, so they could still sore... :smileypuke:

I have ridden plently of Tennesse Walkers, and really enjoy them, we are auctually looking for one for my mother so she has something easy to ride and love on. Left alone, the breed is a wonderful, sweet, easy going horse, that's a pleasure for the entire family!

I think the Big Lick is horrible and nasty and unnatural, and am rather shocked that someone with such liberal natural views is even remotly intrested and defending them. (IMO, and Not trying to start a fight, but it was Really bugging me.)

 

[Marty]

removed my remarks for my own safety

 

[mininik]

http://tnwlkr43.tripod.com/pucraphemile.wmv

"I think the Big Lick is horrible and nasty and unnatural, and am rather shocked that someone with such liberal natural views is even remotly intrested and defending them. (IMO, and Not trying to start a fight, but it was Really bugging me.)"

First of all, I'm not defending anything here so please get off it. I am only appreciating a very different sort of talent that happens to be controversial in what seems to be a PETA versus anything relating to people having animals sort of way. Your opinion is that these performance horses are horrible and nasty (Fine, good for you!) but mine is neutral and I can see it both ways just as I don't believe all Halter Arabians are mentally tormented or all Western Pleasure Quarter Horses are drugged, etc., etc., etc.

 

[Sun Runner Stables]

Well, of course it isn't natural. But then, neither is a stalled horse or someone just sitting on a horse's back or asking for a sliding stop.

: I've heard all of the horrible abuse stories everyone passes around about the big moving horse industries but there's just as much crap going on in many other breeds. Of course that doesn't make it right but I don't believe all the horses that move big are abused just as I don't think all the rest are, either. *Just thought I'd touch on that before it becomes an issue.

Sorry, I must have mis-read somehow, it sure seemed like it, though you may have said that in attempting to avoid negavtive post comments? It's going to be a heated topic, but if you true intention was to simply share, I apologise.

Still, do some homework, you may be a bit more on the know and not so neutral as you say. And sigh, I am not On anything. Relax, I said that I am Not trying to start Anything, just trying to educate a bit I suppose.

http://tnwlkr43.tripod.com/pucraphemile.wmv

"I think the Big Lick is horrible and nasty and unnatural, and am rather shocked that someone with such liberal natural views is even remotly intrested and defending them. (IMO, and Not trying to start a fight, but it was Really bugging me.)"



First of all, I'm not defending anything here so please get off it. I am only appreciating a very different sort of talent that happens to be controversial in what seems to be a PETA versus anything relating to people having animals sort of way. Your opinion is that these performance horses are horrible and nasty (Fine, good for you!) but mine is neutral and I can see it both ways just as I don't believe all Halter Arabians are mentally tormented or all Western Pleasure Quarter Horses are drugged, etc., etc., etc.

Holy cow, but I just re-read, and Do take offense to being related to PETA. Yikes! No, Not a PETA animal murderer here, just an educated horse person...

:

 

[mininik]

I think it needs to be clear that I absolutely do NOT think it's "okay" to sore or otherwise abuse a horse in order to get the look of these performance horses. I am also not naive and know it happens. Even so, can anyone say for certain abuse happens to ALL of these "big lick" horses? I suppose unless there is proof of that it would ultimately depend upon an individual's idea of abuse (ie. padded shoes, etc.).

 

[Sun Runner Stables]

Yes, now That point I can completly agree with, despite my reservations about the breed! :saludando: