Why Your Vet and Friends, Think Your Tennessee Walking Horse is Neurologic
By Gaye DeRusso
The Tennessee Walking Horse and many other gaited horses are a mix of breeds that over the years have been bred into a willing, calm, smooth moving horse. But with the good there is always bad.
We have bred many things into the Walking Horse for certain reasons and many of these things are considered neurologic findings in a normal horse. Because of course when humans like something, we push it to the extremes, it is just our nature to do so. And yes, it is sad that we do this, but we do it all the same.
So, if you have a Walking Horse it is helpful to know, what Walking Horse people consider normal and what vets consider abnormal. Because most everything the Walking Horse does, is considered abnormal to a vet who has not seen many Walking Horses.
There is no education on gaited horses in vet school. They learn on the job and if they are not familiar with the Walking Horse, they are everything the vets were told was neurologic in a trotting horse. I know scary isn't it.
Many other gaited breeds can have Walking Horse lines back in their breeding. They mix other breeds with them to get the larger stride and calmness. So, it’s not only the Walking Horse people that need to be aware of these findings because it could be way back in your horse's breeding lines also, and they could also exhibit some of these findings.
Vet Walking Horse
Large Overstride Abnormal Normal
Drags Feet Abnormal Normal
Hyperflexible Abnormal Normal
Paces Abnormal Normal
Keeps feet where Abnormal Normal
placed
Forges Abnormal Normal
Wobbles when Abnormal Normal
walking
Trips Abnormal Normal
Hocks Wring Abnormal Normal
Toes Out Abnormal Normal
Cow hocked or
Sickle hocked Abnormal Normal
Crooked Legs Abnormal Normal
Moves over with
tail pull Abnormal Normal
Smaller Hindquarter Abnormal Normal
Poor Topline Abnormal Normal
Super Calm Abnormal Normal
Falls asleep Abnormal Normal
Super willing Abnormal Normal
Sensitive to Abnormal Normal
Anesthesia
High pain Abnormal Normal
tolerance
Parks out Abnormal Normal
when resting
Narrow chest Abnormal Normal
Sloping hindquarters Abnormal Normal
This is not even a full list, but you get the idea, that everything considered abnormal in a regular horse is normal in a Walking Horse to different degrees. Also, there are different types of Walking Horses, which I have a video on, but the ones that have the most problem with vets are the ones I tend to call wonky, because they are the extreme ones. Usually very loose and lanky, don't worry I will explain.
They are bred to have large overstrides, to cover ground quickly and smoothly. This in turn can cause many to forge when they are walking slow. They are bred to keep their feet close to the ground to give them a higher endurance and smoother ride, this in turn causes some to drag their toes and in turn causes some to trip since they do not clear all the ground obstacles.
They are bred to be super calm, so less skilled riders can handle the younger horses. But sometimes too calm, that some just go to sleep when standing still, which in turn causes them not to pay attention to much. This makes them not spooky and good for beginners but also bad because they don't pay attention to the ground obstacles and trip.
They are bred with a high pain tolerance, so you have to be highly aware of what is normal for your horse. I had one with an abscess that would only take one bad step when he came out of his stall, otherwise he was fine. I had to convince the vet to dig into his foot and yes, he was surprised to find an abscess. So, you should always check your horse closely before riding. And if a vet pokes their foot with a pen to check if they can feel their feet, they may have to poke pretty hard to get a response.
They bred pace into them for gait but also for the heavy shod show classes, this makes them more trippy and makes them look odd when moving and so many people think they are lame. Some have poor toplines because they are pacey and just swinging their legs instead of using their muscles. So yes, poor topline can mean the horse is pacey.
They can have a narrow chest which is more comfortable for your hips if you have arthritis and many of the narrow ones have better endurance. Their hindquarters are not round like quarter horses but more sloping so they can reach way under themselves. And you may see them parked out in a field, because some have longer back legs then their front legs and this is a comfortable position for them.
They are hyperflexible like the people you see who can dislocate all their joints. Due to this they can be looking one way and walk another, which can cause them to trip because they are not paying attention. If you turn them too fast, some lose balance and fall over, such as a one rein stop because they are not built or wired the same as regular horses. This hyper flexibility causes some to swing their legs out on quick turns which makes the vet think they are neurologic.
If you place their feet in a certain position they will keep them there, because they think you want them to. Also, because they are so flexible it does not make them feel uncomfortable, so they will stand with legs crossed or sometimes all 4 legs facing different directions. They can also stand on 2 legs, just watch the shoer with them. The shoer will have one foot up and the horse is resting one of its other legs.
The hyper flexibility can make some uncoordinated like a Great Dane. Ever watch a Great Dane run? They don't always know how to get over obstacles, they have to learn that coordination compared to a short strided athletic gaited horse. Some also have poor proprioception, so you have to teach them where to put their feet, so lots of work over poles.
When they do the tail pull for the neurologic test, many fall sideways, especially the pacey ones, why wouldn't they, they are moving different then a trotty one, like I said they are wired differently, so the test is not a very good test for them to judge if the horse is neurologic. Also remember they are calm so once it kicks into their brain that they are supposed to pull back, the test is over, and they have failed the test. It can take them 6 times or more of the tail pull before they realize they are supposed to pull back. But the pacey ones usually never pull back as hard as a trotty one can.
Many have crooked legs, toes out or in or sometimes one-foot toes out and the other toes in, some wring their hocks. Sickle hock and cow hocked. So many of these things are bred into them so they don't step on their own feet with that large over stride, these things help them to swing their legs out of the way. But also makes them look unstable.
The vets never get to see these horses in action like I do. I have seen these horses climb hills, like spiders. I have seen the footing give out and them reach up 2-3 feet with a front leg to pull themselves out. I had one slip on the road, and sit down, any regular horse would have probably broken its pelvis. His front legs were facing one way and his back legs another. He did exactly what I said, and he waited till I climbed off. Then he slowly pulled his front end around and pushed himself up like a creature from an alien movie and he was fine. A neurologic horse could not do that.
Their chest is larger than there hindquarters like a Boxer dog, which helps them have strong upper bodies so they can pull with that front end but weaker hindquarters, so they have to learn to engage themselves otherwise it makes them heavier on the front end, so easier to trip if you do not balance them correctly.
Knowing what your horse is and how to help them is the key and you are your horse's guardian. They cannot tell the vet I am a Walking Horse, I have been like this all my life, and I am fine. I was bred to do this. I thought you wanted me to keep my legs crossed. I am pacey that’s why I wobble.
They are an anomaly that we created. Some of you love them and some of you hate them. But either way you need to understand them because your horse just may have some Walking Horse in it and have some of these same issues and we created them.
Now not all Walking Horses are like this. Some Walking Horses are more alert, or spooky or athletic, and will not have many or any of these issues, but some have been bred with such extremes especially for the show ring, and if you get one of these horses, you need to understand what they are, how to ride them and how to manage them because I am getting tired of fighting this fight alone to save them. And some of you will say well they shouldn't breed them that way, well they do, and it probably is not going to stop for a long time.
I love Walking Horses, but I understand who they are and how to handle them. But many are being put down because they are not being ridden correctly and are tripping or falling down and the vets do not understand them. Of all the breeds I think they are the kindest and most gentle, but they are also the most misunderstood because of what we have made them into. An anomaly.
By Gaye DeRusso
The Tennessee Walking Horse and many other gaited horses are a mix of breeds that over the years have been bred into a willing, calm, smooth moving horse. But with the good there is always bad.
We have bred many things into the Walking Horse for certain reasons and many of these things are considered neurologic findings in a normal horse. Because of course when humans like something, we push it to the extremes, it is just our nature to do so. And yes, it is sad that we do this, but we do it all the same.
So, if you have a Walking Horse it is helpful to know, what Walking Horse people consider normal and what vets consider abnormal. Because most everything the Walking Horse does, is considered abnormal to a vet who has not seen many Walking Horses.
There is no education on gaited horses in vet school. They learn on the job and if they are not familiar with the Walking Horse, they are everything the vets were told was neurologic in a trotting horse. I know scary isn't it.
Many other gaited breeds can have Walking Horse lines back in their breeding. They mix other breeds with them to get the larger stride and calmness. So, it’s not only the Walking Horse people that need to be aware of these findings because it could be way back in your horse's breeding lines also, and they could also exhibit some of these findings.
Vet Walking Horse
Large Overstride Abnormal Normal
Drags Feet Abnormal Normal
Hyperflexible Abnormal Normal
Paces Abnormal Normal
Keeps feet where Abnormal Normal
placed
Forges Abnormal Normal
Wobbles when Abnormal Normal
walking
Trips Abnormal Normal
Hocks Wring Abnormal Normal
Toes Out Abnormal Normal
Cow hocked or
Sickle hocked Abnormal Normal
Crooked Legs Abnormal Normal
Moves over with
tail pull Abnormal Normal
Smaller Hindquarter Abnormal Normal
Poor Topline Abnormal Normal
Super Calm Abnormal Normal
Falls asleep Abnormal Normal
Super willing Abnormal Normal
Sensitive to Abnormal Normal
Anesthesia
High pain Abnormal Normal
tolerance
Parks out Abnormal Normal
when resting
Narrow chest Abnormal Normal
Sloping hindquarters Abnormal Normal
This is not even a full list, but you get the idea, that everything considered abnormal in a regular horse is normal in a Walking Horse to different degrees. Also, there are different types of Walking Horses, which I have a video on, but the ones that have the most problem with vets are the ones I tend to call wonky, because they are the extreme ones. Usually very loose and lanky, don't worry I will explain.
They are bred to have large overstrides, to cover ground quickly and smoothly. This in turn can cause many to forge when they are walking slow. They are bred to keep their feet close to the ground to give them a higher endurance and smoother ride, this in turn causes some to drag their toes and in turn causes some to trip since they do not clear all the ground obstacles.
They are bred to be super calm, so less skilled riders can handle the younger horses. But sometimes too calm, that some just go to sleep when standing still, which in turn causes them not to pay attention to much. This makes them not spooky and good for beginners but also bad because they don't pay attention to the ground obstacles and trip.
They are bred with a high pain tolerance, so you have to be highly aware of what is normal for your horse. I had one with an abscess that would only take one bad step when he came out of his stall, otherwise he was fine. I had to convince the vet to dig into his foot and yes, he was surprised to find an abscess. So, you should always check your horse closely before riding. And if a vet pokes their foot with a pen to check if they can feel their feet, they may have to poke pretty hard to get a response.
They bred pace into them for gait but also for the heavy shod show classes, this makes them more trippy and makes them look odd when moving and so many people think they are lame. Some have poor toplines because they are pacey and just swinging their legs instead of using their muscles. So yes, poor topline can mean the horse is pacey.
They can have a narrow chest which is more comfortable for your hips if you have arthritis and many of the narrow ones have better endurance. Their hindquarters are not round like quarter horses but more sloping so they can reach way under themselves. And you may see them parked out in a field, because some have longer back legs then their front legs and this is a comfortable position for them.
They are hyperflexible like the people you see who can dislocate all their joints. Due to this they can be looking one way and walk another, which can cause them to trip because they are not paying attention. If you turn them too fast, some lose balance and fall over, such as a one rein stop because they are not built or wired the same as regular horses. This hyper flexibility causes some to swing their legs out on quick turns which makes the vet think they are neurologic.
If you place their feet in a certain position they will keep them there, because they think you want them to. Also, because they are so flexible it does not make them feel uncomfortable, so they will stand with legs crossed or sometimes all 4 legs facing different directions. They can also stand on 2 legs, just watch the shoer with them. The shoer will have one foot up and the horse is resting one of its other legs.
The hyper flexibility can make some uncoordinated like a Great Dane. Ever watch a Great Dane run? They don't always know how to get over obstacles, they have to learn that coordination compared to a short strided athletic gaited horse. Some also have poor proprioception, so you have to teach them where to put their feet, so lots of work over poles.
When they do the tail pull for the neurologic test, many fall sideways, especially the pacey ones, why wouldn't they, they are moving different then a trotty one, like I said they are wired differently, so the test is not a very good test for them to judge if the horse is neurologic. Also remember they are calm so once it kicks into their brain that they are supposed to pull back, the test is over, and they have failed the test. It can take them 6 times or more of the tail pull before they realize they are supposed to pull back. But the pacey ones usually never pull back as hard as a trotty one can.
Many have crooked legs, toes out or in or sometimes one-foot toes out and the other toes in, some wring their hocks. Sickle hock and cow hocked. So many of these things are bred into them so they don't step on their own feet with that large over stride, these things help them to swing their legs out of the way. But also makes them look unstable.
The vets never get to see these horses in action like I do. I have seen these horses climb hills, like spiders. I have seen the footing give out and them reach up 2-3 feet with a front leg to pull themselves out. I had one slip on the road, and sit down, any regular horse would have probably broken its pelvis. His front legs were facing one way and his back legs another. He did exactly what I said, and he waited till I climbed off. Then he slowly pulled his front end around and pushed himself up like a creature from an alien movie and he was fine. A neurologic horse could not do that.
Their chest is larger than there hindquarters like a Boxer dog, which helps them have strong upper bodies so they can pull with that front end but weaker hindquarters, so they have to learn to engage themselves otherwise it makes them heavier on the front end, so easier to trip if you do not balance them correctly.
Knowing what your horse is and how to help them is the key and you are your horse's guardian. They cannot tell the vet I am a Walking Horse, I have been like this all my life, and I am fine. I was bred to do this. I thought you wanted me to keep my legs crossed. I am pacey that’s why I wobble.
They are an anomaly that we created. Some of you love them and some of you hate them. But either way you need to understand them because your horse just may have some Walking Horse in it and have some of these same issues and we created them.
Now not all Walking Horses are like this. Some Walking Horses are more alert, or spooky or athletic, and will not have many or any of these issues, but some have been bred with such extremes especially for the show ring, and if you get one of these horses, you need to understand what they are, how to ride them and how to manage them because I am getting tired of fighting this fight alone to save them. And some of you will say well they shouldn't breed them that way, well they do, and it probably is not going to stop for a long time.
I love Walking Horses, but I understand who they are and how to handle them. But many are being put down because they are not being ridden correctly and are tripping or falling down and the vets do not understand them. Of all the breeds I think they are the kindest and most gentle, but they are also the most misunderstood because of what we have made them into. An anomaly.