Tennessee Walking Horse
The "running walk" — the smoothest gait on Earth, and the breed at the center of the most shameful animal abuse scandal in equestrian history. Those nodding heads, those gliding gaits, that gentle temperament. Complete guide: the natural smooth gait, the SORING crisis (chemical burns + chains used to force the "Big Lick"), and the federal law designed to stop it.
📋 Breed Overview
⚠️ SORING — The Ongoing Animal Abuse Crisis
"Soring" is the deliberate infliction of pain on a horse's front legs to force an exaggerated, high-stepping gait called the "Big Lick." Methods include: applying caustic chemicals (mustard oil, diesel fuel, kerosene) to the pasterns, wrapping legs in plastic to "cook" the chemicals into the skin, and then placing heavy chains or "action devices" on the already-burned, painful legs. Every step the horse takes is agony — so it lifts its legs higher and faster to escape the pain. This has been ILLEGAL under the federal Horse Protection Act (1970) for over 50 years — yet it persists. The USDA inspects shows, but industry self-policing has failed repeatedly. If you buy a Tennessee Walking Horse, support only natural, flat-shod horses — NEVER the "Big Lick" industry.
🕺 The Natural Running Walk — No Soring Needed
The Tennessee Walker's running walk is a natural, inherited 4-beat gait — as smooth as a glide, reaching 10-20 mph with no bounce. It's present from birth and doesn't require any training or equipment to produce. A naturally gaited Tennessee Walker provides the smoothest ride of any breed — beloved by riders with back pain, older equestrians, and trail riders. The breed also performs the flat walk (4-beat, slower) and canter (3-beat, rocking-horse smooth).