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Cynthia A. Nielsen
Member
Username: Wolfydoc
Post Number: 60
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Aug 26, 2005 - 9:31 pm: |   |
Hi DrO,
Do you know of any TWH breeders who breed more of the versatility/working/trail type rather than the show type? I am looking to buy a yearling (or younger) who is NOT camped out, sickle-hocked, extremely narrow-chested and A-framed, etc. Rather one that is more "square", who is sure-footed and doesn't feel like you are riding a horse with no bones in his legs (do you know what I mean? So "loosey-goosey" they almost look drunk if you put them on a rock-strewn trail). I searched all the sites I could find in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming and when I look at the pics of their youngsters I see nothing but the description above. Even those breeders claiming to breed for the mountain trail or ranch work. Any referrals would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Cindy |
Ann
Member
Username: Dres
Post Number: 587
Registered: 10-2000
| | Posted on Friday, Aug 26, 2005 - 9:57 pm: | |
look for a spotted TWH . . don't know of any sites currently, but do know that there ARE breeders of this type horse...
good luck...
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with SPOTS.. |
Sherri L. Hueser
Member
Username: Tangoh
Post Number: 568
Registered: 3-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 30, 2005 - 9:36 am: | |
I hear ya Cynthia. I too prefer a stockier build.
Try www.laurindalestables.com. They are TWH breeders in Alberta Canada but they consign horses from all over N. America and I think you'll find every type of build on their sales page. They are very honest people and will only consign quality walking horses. Laurie has many contacts too in the States and could probably help you with your search for the horse you're looking for.
Ann, I'm curious why you suggest a spotted TWH.
Cynthia, if you've been looking at young walkers, they all probably look pretty immature yet, but by the time they are 5 or 6 they usually start to fill out and muscle up. Have a look at my profile picture. Tango is very square, stocky and big boned but can still run walk with the best. It took him until he was 5 to get the desired build that I wanted, which sounds like exactly what you're looking for. It takes time to get this build, lots of conditioning, hills and lots of walking builds a big butt, even on a walker.
Don't give up. You'll find one. |
Ann
Member
Username: Dres
Post Number: 591
Registered: 10-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 30, 2005 - 10:31 am: | |
I only suggested as she was / is looking for something with more bone... actually I don't have any information about the breed itself....
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with SPOTS.. |
Sherri L. Hueser
Member
Username: Tangoh
Post Number: 569
Registered: 3-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 30, 2005 - 10:51 am: | |
I was just wondering if the spotted TWH's are noted for having more bone, because I didn't know wasn't aware of that.  |
Holly Wood
Member
Username: Hwood
Post Number: 774
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 30, 2005 - 11:03 am: | |
Sherri,
Is your horse related to the Tango on this site?
www.wtf.com I've heard the Tango name often, so I assume he must have been a popular stud?
I tried the laurindale site, but it wouldn't come up. |
Sherri L. Hueser
Member
Username: Tangoh
Post Number: 570
Registered: 3-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 30, 2005 - 11:10 am: | |
ooops....
that website address is .ca, not .com. |
Sherri L. Hueser
Member
Username: Tangoh
Post Number: 572
Registered: 3-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 30, 2005 - 11:25 am: | |
Holly,
I goofed with the web address. It's www.laurindalestables.ca, not .com.
When I tried to open www.wtr.com I got some crazy message board that had nothing to do with horses.
Anyway, Tango is just his barn name. I don't even know if there's a stud by that name, but I'd be interested in seeing him. He's actually out of Triple Threat and Canadian Threat and goes back to Midnight Sun breeding. His reg'd name is Midnight Party Doll. |
Sherri L. Hueser
Member
Username: Tangoh
Post Number: 573
Registered: 3-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 30, 2005 - 11:26 am: | |
Holly,
I goofed with the web address. It's www.laurindalestables.ca, not .com.
When I tried to open www.wtr.com I got some crazy message board that had nothing to do with horses.
Anyway, Tango is just his barn name. I don't even know if there's a stud by that name, but I'd be interested in seeing him. He's actually out of Triple Threat and Canadian Threat and goes back to Midnight Sun breeding. His reg'd name is Midnight Party Doll. |
Sherri L. Hueser
Member
Username: Tangoh
Post Number: 574
Registered: 3-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 30, 2005 - 11:27 am: | |
oops again...sorry about the double post. |
Holly Wood
Member
Username: Hwood
Post Number: 775
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 30, 2005 - 3:56 pm: | |
Sorry, Sheri. My turn to apologize. I pulled that off my drop down menu without checking first. I made several attempts to find Water Tower Farm, and that was one of them. The correct web address is: http://wtr-twr-frm.com/
They have a picture of a Tango stallion. The owner is a very nice woman who loves Walkers. |
Cynthia A. Nielsen
Member
Username: Wolfydoc
Post Number: 62
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, Aug 31, 2005 - 1:08 am: | |
Thank you all for the discussion!
Ann I would have to agree that the Walkers I've seen "in person" (in horse??) with spots have had the most ideal, square, conformation and all have been bigger boned. Not sure why that is. And I'm not sure why I have not refined my search in that direction to be honest! Hmmm.
I don't have to have a huge boned horse but medium bone will do.
I am no Walker expert by any means, but it seems that the public wants - and breeders are breeding for - that "loose" horse with extreme overstride. And I guess the more sickle-hocked they are the more overstride they can have. I see this advertised on lots of websites - "loose movement", "30 inch overstride!" And the poor foals' hind legs from the hock down are so far behind the butt I wonder how they can walk at all!
One particular breeder I have been chatting with seemed to me to put it very well. The traits that give a Walker the overstride and the gait are certainly not the ideal conformational traits for soundness, but you have to compromise and find that balance between breeding for the classic Walker movement and gait versus breeding for correct conformation. Would you agree DrO? You've been silent on this thread!
And Sherri I agree that one has to be careful looking at young horses and trying to guess exactly what they'll look like as adults. However, I think if a weanling is really sickle-hocked, cow-hocked, and/or camped out, that it will be similarly conformed as an adult. At least, it will be more so than another foal who is more correctly conformed.
And yes, I'm sure you can build butt muscle going up hills and conditioning (which I do religously), but you will never make a lanky Walker have muscling more like a Quarter Horse, not even close. My black Walker, who is built like the show Walker type but used only for trail work, will never have a big round butt simply because he's not genetically set up to be that way, no matter how many miles up hill I put on him. At least that's my opinion. Someone chime in if I'm dead wrong.
But I don't need a big butt, (what woman does?), just good sound conformation. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 13630
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, Aug 31, 2005 - 6:20 am: | |
Hello Cynthia,
I apologize for the delay. I had meant to hand this off to my wife who keeps up with breeders better than I do. Though we still own Walking Horses frankly we have gradually migrated over to a small herd of Paso Fino's, though my oldest daughter and I still ride walkers.
We find with Pasos a more dependable gait, tougher feet, more endurance, and a touch more agility. Yes as a breed they are a touch more skiddish but consistant handling seems to settle even the worse ones. Now we can just find one large enough for me.
We do not know folks in your area very well but Janette suggests what you are looking for will be a bit easier to find in the older blood lines that are closer to the original intent of the horse: a sturdy riding horse. Though it might be hard to find in your area, I recommend something out of the recently rediscovered Dement line.
DrO |
Sherri L. Hueser
Member
Username: Tangoh
Post Number: 576
Registered: 3-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Aug 31, 2005 - 8:52 am: | |
Holly, very interesting that this Tango stud on the website you sent has Triple Threat in his breeding - my Tango also has Triple Threat in his pedigree. I had no idea there was a 'Tango' stud out there.
Cynthia, As Dr. O states, you will find this type of confirmation in the older blood lines, which is in my gelding's pedigree and gives the stockier build, and most noticeably a wider chest, bigger butt, more muscular legs. I have yet to see a walker on any of the trail rides that we have in my area that are put together like him. He has been mistaken for a quarter horse until he moves, then there's no question of his breeding. No, he doesn't have a typical quarter horse butt, but I can tell you, his butt is bigger than my husband's running quarter horse mare's, however they are shaped a little different. Not all quarter horses have the big butt with the typical deep creases down the back and on the hips, that too, depends on the breeding. I do like a bigger hind end and muscular hind legs on my walkers and the hills do help to accomplish this, but you're right, you have to start out with a stockier confirmation to begin with to achieve this as they mature. Our newest walker, out of Coin's Double Play is taller (15.3), lankier and more pigeon chested and will never have the same build as Tang |
Cynthia A. Nielsen
Member
Username: Wolfydoc
Post Number: 71
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Nov 11, 2005 - 12:31 am: | |
Hi All,
Well here's a very useful update on my search for anyone looking for a trailworthy surefooted more square and stocky Walker:
3 great options:
Berry Hill Walkers in Bozeman, MT; website: http://www.walking-horse.com/berryhill/index.html
I bought a 4.5 yr. old gelding with wonderful conformation, a fabulous powerful gait, sweet disposition, and the agility to go across anything from the owner/breeder, Tim Owen. I also bought a weanling stud colt from him! Also has remarkable conformation and disposition. This man is dedicated to matching the right horse with the right person, and if he doesn't have what you want he will find it. He knew exactly what I was talking about in my original post here.
Added bonus - he charges too little for his horses!
Also: The Carpenter family out of Shepherd, MT (outside Billings) has been breeding and USING Walkers exclusively for their cattle ranch and for packing for generations. They know what a "using" horse is! I met Brandon Carpenter on my recent Walker hunting trip. He did not have any horses of his own breeding left at the time, but he is an awesome, knowledgable horseperson, a very impressive trainer, and a wonderful human being as well. His name had been mentioned at a Liz Graves (gaited horse guru and judge) clinic I attended but it had slipped my mind until I saw it in The Gaited Horse magazine. Website: www.hashknifehorses.com.
Last but definitely not least: Box Hanging Three ranch on the Wind River in Dubois, WY. These wonderful folks have also been breeding ranch/trail/versatility Walkers for many years. Midnight Sun lines. Check out their website at www.mountainbredwalkers.com.
Hope this helps others. If anyone wants more info let me know. I visited all three places in October and would highly recommend any one of them.
Cindy |
