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Backward  Ranch
Floyd & Beverly Sherman |
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Cook Brothers
Educational Fund, Inc. |
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| The Celebration, Inc. |
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Enchanted Gait Stables
Bruce & Nancy Lovato |
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Webb's Oil Corporation
Joe & Janice Fostek |
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| Don & George Ann Pratt |
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| David Pruett |
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Deborah L. Williams
Architecture, LP |
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Rutherford County
Convention & Visitors Bureau |
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Rockwall Insurance
Agency |
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| Marketing the TWH: |
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| So You Think Your Horse Can Do Anything? -- PROVE IT! |
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At least that was theme in Eugene, Oregon on November 9-11, 2007, at the 6th Annual Northwest Mountain Trail Championships. Judging this year’s event was Joe Lyneis, Sue Thompson, Elaine Sink and Joann Oswald licensed judges in different breeds. News coverage of the event included over 5 national horse publications including the Western Horseman. This show included over 100 horses, mules, donkeys and miniatures, registered and unregistered. There were approximately 100 classes during the 3 day event that included such classes as open, novice horse, novice rider, equines over six and under six, mares, geldings, stallions, saddle type, stock type and a multiple of in hand classes grouped by miniatures, age and sex.
This event focuses primarily on the horse’s ability to negotiate the very demanding and dangerous terrain found in the mountainous regions in the northwest – hills, rocks, stumps, downed trees, ditches, 5 foot deep trenches, bridges, waterfalls and lots of water that is always in ample supply. Many obstacles had to be negotiated forward and backwards. Jumping a trench was required. The course also included the finer tests of sidepassing floating logs while in water up to the horse’s knees and gates in water. The horse was judged for agility as well as temperament while negotiating the new terrain not rider appearance, horse grooming, conformation or registration. “A trail horse is one that can maneuver through a course of obstacles with physical skill, expression and a good mental attitude. It should travel through and between the obstacles with inquisitive desire to go forward without compromising its calm relaxed attitude and way of going. It should approach each obstacle squarely with authority and correct form with its own style yet maintaining its willingness to be dictated to completely by the competitor with no apparent resistance.” Quiet, slow, agile, inquisitive, on a light rein, without refusal was the call of the day.
The registered Tennessee Walking horses that participated in this year’s event included Bill Cody riding Clever Debutante placing a reserve in equines over 6 years while also currently ranking 3rd in trail obstacle and 4th in trail pleasure in the WHOA National High Point program. Clever Debutante clearly demonstrates that our Tennessee Walking Horses can be competitive in rail and trail along side any other breed!
A TWH/Spotted Saddle Horse was the Open Grand Champion in 2005 which has set the standard for Tennessee Walkers to emulate in trail obstacle as well as for all other breeds and unregistered equines.
It is extremely important for our breed to recognize the marketing potential in competing outside our traditional TWH shows to demonstrate our breed’s strength, smooth gait and superior attitude to successfully compete for equine market share where most sales are for trail riding. It is also important in judging our trail pleasure horse to adopt similar standards across the equine breeds to encourage breed crossovers and TWH sales. The judging standard for a trail pleasure horse must be a quiet horse who is watching the trail, demonstrating the judging standard of longevity as if on the trail, whether ridden English or Western. A true relaxed and exceptionally quiet trail pleasure horse is on the opposite end of the spectrum when compared to the flashy liteshod horse in the ring. There is more to judging a trail pleasure horse than less front end action. Without this judging standard the potential for growth within the breed will be minimal based upon the fact that the majority of sales are for quiet trail pleasure horses.
The Oregon Horse Center in Eugene, Oregon has an open invitation to all equines to prove they can do anything. You can visit their website at www.oregonhorsecenter.com or call Julie at 541- 689-9700 for more information about their Spring and Fall competitions while considering your vacation plans. |
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