How to Ride a Tennessee Walker

The Tennessee Walker horse is easy to ride with its docile personality and calm disposition. It's perfect for the rider who wants a smooth ride around a trail or a parade horse with an easy temper. This horse naturally performs a smooth, four-beat lateral gait; it rises and falls gracefully. The Tennessee Walker's ability to perform like this is hereditary.

Things You'll Need

  • Saddle
  • Bridle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Check your girth on the saddle before mounting. Stand at the saddle near the back of the horse. Grab the reins with your left hand and place your left food into the stirrup. Hold the skirt of the saddle on the right side. Hop three times on your right foot to gain enough strength to swing your right leg over the horse and your body up onto the saddle. Lower gently onto the saddle. Pick up the reins and place your feet securely into the stirrups.

    • 2

      Straighten your back and sit upright. Let your legs hang loosely behind the stirrup irons. Ask for help pressing the iron against the inside of your legs. See if the bottom of the stirrup iron is even with your ankle bone. Adjust the leather stirrup up, using the buckle to shorten or lengthen.

    • 3

      Relax. Notice how your body feels and make necessary adjustments. Sit quietly for a minute and balance with your thighs. Let a Tennessee Walker sit for a moment.

    • 4

      Hold your hands so there is a straight line from your elbows to the horse's mouth. Grip the reins softly. Take enough hold on the reins to feel the bit; however, get ready to give more rein to accommodate the horse's head nod. Give the horse a gentle tap along his side.

    • 5

      Hold the reins in the left hand. Signal the direction and speed of the horse using your hands, legs, weight and voice. Move the horse forward by slightly squeezing the horse with your legs, shifting your weight forward and loosening the reins. Turn the horse by moving your hands from side to side on the horse.

    • 6

      Encourage your horse to do the rack, a smooth-looking ride where most of the horse's movements are in the legs. Signal to the horse to curve his spine downward by leaning slightly back on the horse. When the horse moves, it will appear that the horse is jumping from his right to his left foot.