We are looking for a new horse. We are not very experieced w/ owning horses, just in the beginning stages. We have a paint now but she's only 1 1/2 years old and we're looking for another to ride, and I do love a fast ride. There's a Tennesse Walker for sale that I have an opportunity to purchase. 3 years old and only $900.00 but will I be happy with that breed if I like some speed????? HELP PLEASE....

if you could tell us what you ride that would help. but i dont think its a good idea to go from a 11 year old to a 3 year old. theres nothing easy about a green, and they are a big responsibility.

The horse I am looking at is really a Racking Horse, not a TWH. She's 5 years old and was abused 2 owners ago. She's had 2 foals already and is green broken. With the right training and love could she still be a good horse for a family? Can anyone give me some pointers or info on a "racking horse" . I have never heard of 1 before.
Thanks
kim

i dont ride saddle seat, but i know they use them in that. when they pick their legs up really high and all. if you just want a pleasure horse i recomand a quater horse or somthing. if you are inexprienced with greens, i think you should get somthing older, like, 10.

i think you should get a horse like a quarter horse or something that is easy going around the age of 13.

My trainer and her fiance own a TW RH barn and if u like speed i would say no there not really fast and there not usuall shown or used for speed but i agree with barnbum300 all the way quarter horses make the best trail mates I think and they are pretty fast and i also agree top get an older one try this website
to find horses for sale in your area......
Dream horse

believe it or not TW are pretty fast. i ride one and she loves to run. but i do aree you would do well with an older more experianced QH or arabians there great family horses...and pretty fast

I did buy her and found out that she is Morgan / American Saddlebred (They think). And simply gorgeous. She does have some speed to her and what a beautiful site it is to watch her. She's only 5 and a bit green. But we've been working with her everyday and she's a sweetheart and anxious to learn. But once she's off the lead rope she's a total "DIVA" , throwing her head and long mane up into the air as she trots off...Hence her name...'DIVA' LOVE HER!!

I had to join and post -- even though its a month old! how are you doing with Diva? I've owned,bred,trained and shown Saddlebreds for 10 years...I think they are the best-kept secret in the horse world! ok, I'm biased : )
I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have about the breed.
And just out of curiosity, did you get her papers?

Thanks for responding....Well, we are not sure what breed of horse Diva is...We suspect (along w/ the vet) that she is Morgan/Tennessee Walker....What a beautiful gait she has....After working with her for a month now, she is nothing but sweet and gentle. The prior trainer said we would have trouble catching her but we have trouble keeping her away from us and the barn. I think Diva just did not like the trainer (neither did we) Do you know anything about Morgan's??
Merry Christmas

More than a few of the foundation Saddlebred stallions were Morgans, the two breeds are VERY similar. Conformationally, Morgans, Tenessee Walking Horses, Rocky Mountain Gaited Horses and Saddlebreds are very similar, so it would be hard to tell just by appearance what the breed is.
Does Diva trot easily? I'm asking because the Walking horses I knew (purebred) were difficult to get to trot, even when not ridden, while saddlebreds (even the gaited ones) also had very strong trots. One other think you could try is to see if she'll "park out": when you have her on a lead, stand her still and stretch her neck up and forward, and with your foot (or a crop) gently tap behind her front leg and see if she'll stretch her body forward. See the picture of El Cortez on this link http://www.trot.org/index.php?option=com_hotproperty&ta...iew&id=385&Itemid=38 for an example. If Diva has had any "traditional" Saddlebred training then she'll know how to park out (sometimes Morgans are taught this also - guess its a saddleseat thing).
If you wanted to pursue it, you could try contacting the American Saddlebred Association (www.asha.net) or the Morgan Horse Assn and see if they could compare a blood sample, to narrow down or rule out some breeds.
In my experience, Saddlebreds and Morgans bond much more closely with their person than most other breeds, and from your remark about not having trouble catching her after being warned that she was hard to catch, I would say you're working on a good relationship! Morgans and ASBs are also very intelligent and very curious about everything, much more so than what I've seen with other breeds.
Good luck with finding Diva's heritage! If you ever have any other questions or anything, feel free to email me at jans_mailatcomcast.net