The Horse That Wouldn't Trot: A Life with Tennessee Walking Horses Lessons Learned and Memories Shared...

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Rose Miller

The Horse That Wouldn't Trot

A Life with Tennessee Walking Horses Lessons Learned and Memories Shared

Rose Miller

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QTY:

English

Movement Publishing
15 August 2019

Rural crafts; Horses & ponies; Equestrian & animal sports; Children's & Educational

In a way, this story begins in 1886 during the Civil War when a little black colt was born. He was born into trotting royalty, his mother from a famous line of Morgan Horses and his sire from the Hamiltonian line of trotters. Racing trotters were in demand and much was expected from the little black colt. Allan, however, refused to trot, preferring to pace. Allan lived his life in ignominy until he was seventeen years old and proved himself to be a prepotent sire of smooth-gaited horses when mated to the tennessee Pacer. Thus old Allan became the foundation sire of Tennessee Walking Horses. Through this heritage, Allan would make a vital and significant contribution to Rose Miller's life.

There are very few true stories about the Tennessee Walking of yesterday and today. A notable exception is Echoes of Hoofbeats by Bob Womack. Rose Miller has used his knowledge of the old time Walkers in her book, but the present day accounts are all hers. For thirty plus years, the author has ridden, raised, trained, shown, judged and most importantly, loved this unique breed of horse. She wrote The Horse That Wouldn't Trot predominately to entertain, but also to expose some ugly truths of how throughout this breed's history, some men have cruelly treated this gentle and willing horse in the name of training. Rose's horse tale begins when as a child, she told her parents that they should move to the country and raise horses. Eventually, Miller got her first horse, but this story really takes off after Rose and her family survived an Indiana tornado. Losing their little dream farm led to another bigger and better farm and in 1973, Miller was able to follow her childhood desire of raising horses--Tennessee Walking Horses, an easy-gaited horse that did not trot--but the endeavor wasn't easy. Rose's stallions were as diverse in attitude as color. Xanadu was almost too lackadaisical in his duties, but grey mares got him energized. Delight might just try to breed the tractor if it were in the breeding area, Galahad dug holes under two fences to get to the mare of his desire, but Praise Hallelujah, the horse love of Rose's life, was nearly perfect. Xanadu and Praise Hallelujah defined her Walking Horse history. Xanadu was shown to a top national honor: The TWHBEA Supreme Versatility Championship. Many points in different categories including show jumping were accumulated for this prestigious honor. Xanadu had once jumped a high pasture fence, but learning to jump in the show ring was an entirely different story. The second part of Miller's horse life was dominated by Praise Hallelujah, a naturally-talented, marvelously gaited individual who competed successfully again horses trained by soring, the inhumane method of getting the Tennessee Walking Horses to step high using caustic chemicals on the horses' front ankles. Miller was introduced to a brilliant dressage instructor who aided her and Praise Hallelujah in reaching their lofty goal of getting the blue ribbons in tough competition. This stallion proved himself a sire of naturally-gaited horses, both for trail riding and showing. Because of the use of soring for show horses, the genetic pool had been diluted away from horses that could actually do the smooth gait. This book is not only about Rose's horses, but about the soring issue as she herself saw it as she competed in the show ring. This issue persists but hopefully continued public outrage will succeed. Presently hard working people are trying to get the PAST ACT passed in Congress for the President to sign. This will hopefully finally put an end to soring. You can contact your congress people and ask them to support it!

By: Rose Miller
Imprint: Movement Publishing
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 14mm
Weight: 358g
ISBN: 9781513649320
ISBN 10: 1513649329
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 15 August 2019
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Rose was raised with her only sibling, Linda, on a 50 acre farm in northern Pennsylvania, right next to gorgeous Tioga State Park. Dad and Mom were school teachers in a close town, but the sisters went to a one room country school to 8th grade. Because of the farm's location miles from town, cows and horses became close and beloved companions. Inspired to share her life story, she began writing about what she knew and loved: animals. For over 40 years she lived in northern Indiana managing a thriving Tennessee Walking horse farm. Now retired she lives in Prescott, AZ with her husband, Hal, and enjoys trail riding the mules and retired show horses that moved with them. She paints ""impressionistic style"" in acrylic medium, and is the proud grandmother of Alexis and Ava.

Reviews for The Horse That Wouldn't Trot: A Life with Tennessee Walking Horses Lessons Learned and Memories Shared

As a general rule I don't read biographies and autobiographies. They just don't interest me, which was why I was so surprised that this book drew me in so quickly. Yes, this book is about horses, but more than that it's about a life with horses. It's about the people and their attachment to these wonderful animals, their triumphs and struggles. This book will break your heart and then mend it. There are some horrible things in here about the Tennessee Walking world, and the methods that are used to achieve the 'big lick' gait. Still, it's something people need to know. I'm still stunned to find there are people out there who really don't know about the cruelties of the professional horse world. I think I take for granted, having learned a lot at a professional Dressage barn, that there are bad people, bad trainers, and very cruel methods. A lot of the public doesn't know these things, though. The cruelties to the horses aren't the only tragedies. The human side of the story has its fair share of pain, of struggle, but that's life. And reading about how these struggles are pushed through, the triumph and tragedy that this family has gone through...it really touched me. I originally picked up this book to learn more about Tennessee Walkers. I found a completely unexpected journey, as I read it, and I'm so very grateful I did. Emily, Goodread review