This week, owners, riders and enthusiasts of the Tennessee Walking Horse are centered in Murfreesboro, Tenn. for the National Walking Horse Association (NWHA) National Championship. The show runs through Oct. 1 at the Miller Coliseum.
At this week’s show, Walking Horses will compete in a wide array of classes showcasing the naturally-gaited breed’s versatility. Horses and riders compete in English (saddle seat) pleasure, western pleasure, trail, speed events, driving, equitation and dressage.
To learn more about the NWHA National Show, visit NWHA.com
This is great. Soring is all too commonly the only thing people think of when they think of Tennessee Walking Horses and the NWHA is doing a fantastic job of ending that stigma. I would love to show my Walker here some day.
GOOD FOR THE NWHA! THE TWHBEA NEEDS TO LEARN A THING OR 2 FROM THEM!!! EVEN THO IM AN AVID ARAB OWNER, I DO HAVE INTEREST IN OTHER BREEDS, AND LIKE TO READ AND LEARN ABOUT THEM AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS. TO ME, THE SORING AND BIG LICK WOULD STOP IF THE TWHBEA AND THE JUDGES WOULD STOP AWARDING THE ONES WITH THE HIGHEST STEP. IF THE LOWER NATURAL GAITED HORSES WERE THE ONES WINNING, NO ONE WOULD HAVE ANY REASON TO SORE. PLUS THE PADS ARE STUPID. WHO WOULD WANT TO WALK AROUND IN PLATFORMS ALL DAY? SO DO AWAY WITH THE PADS, THE CHAINS AND THE BIG LICK WINNERS, AND IT WILL STOP THE CRUEL SORING!! KUDOS TO YOU NWHA FOR CARING MORE ABOUT THE BREED AND THE NATURAL GAIT, AND THE TREATMENT OF THE WALKING HORSES!!!
The photo almost looks like sidesaddle. I think gaited horses would look great with sidesaddle riders.
The article is interesting. Too bad it does not cover what NWHA did during this show; they decided they did not like the rulings of the DQP, so they fired him and nullified the tickets he had written. It would have been better to have conducted hearings and have a hearing panel determine who was right and who was wrong.
Nancy