This year's hottest animal rights story concerns training abuse in the multi-million dollar Tennessee Walking Horse industry. Individual breeders, trainers and owners have confessed to "soring" horses (causing them pain) in order to exaggerate the horses' natural high-stepping gait to the show-stopping "big lick" prance. Fortunately, Lonnie Kuehn, a long-time trainer and rider, emphasizes humane flat-shod riding which does not rely on built-up padded shoes, irritating ankle chains euphemistically known as "action devices" or the horrendous and illegal "soring." Tennessee Walking Horses are multi-gaited animals which can be trained to excel in all paces from walking to cantering. Kuehn demonstrates how beginning-to-intermediate riders can get the most from a Walking Horse by examining the animal's conformation, checking its bitting, making sure it is properly shod with light 3/8" x 3/4" shoes, equipping it with proper tack (Western-style saddles and bridles will injure the horse) and ensuring the rider has proper hand and body positioning. While the video's production values are decidedly down-home (the gait list is written on a dry-erase board set up in the barn), it is loaded with important information for understanding the most beautiful and easy-riding of horses. Kuehn doesn't discuss controversies, yet the lovely, characteristic gaits shown here should dampen the appeal of the gross showmanship of the unnatural "big lick." Having this video to train humane new riders will be a "running walk" toward a new era. Strongly recommended for libraries in horse country. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Reagan)
Solving Gaiting Problems with Your Tennessee Walking Horse
(1997) 68 min. $28.50. All Gaits. PPR. Color cover. Vol. 13, Issue 4
Solving Gaiting Problems with Your Tennessee Walking Horse
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