Tennessee Walking Horses

 This past Tuesday I traveled with my Senior Center to Wartrace, Bell Buckle and Shelbyville, Tennessee to visit “The Cradle of the Tennessee Walking Horse.”  The Tennessee Walker is a breed of gaited horses known for its unique walk, mild temperament, stately manners and was originally developed as a riding horse on plantations in the American South. 

 In 1939, the first Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration was held and Strolling Jim was declared the winner. His remains are buried in a field behind the Walking Horse Hotel in Wartrace where the Tennessee Walking Horse National Museum is also located.

The Walking Horse Hotel

The Museum was full of many pictures and artifacts.  I found the saddle very unusual as it was a side saddle lined with what felt like carpet.  On the back side was a hook which allowed a lady rider a spot with which her purse could be hung.

Wartrace was a small town with a few shops, the Hotel, frequent trains and the memorable Museum.

Our next stop was Bell Buckle.  The following excerpt came from Wikipedia and provides a few thoughts about the origin of the town’s name.  As you will see by the photos, it was another small Tennessee town.

“The origin of the town's unusual name is not known. According to the local chamber of commerce, one story says that one of the first white men to travel through the area found a tree with carvings of a cowbell and a buckle, possibly carved by Indians to warn white settlers away, or possibly carved by surveyors to mark the area as good pasture. Another form of the legend holds that a bell and buckle were tied around a tree. In any case, the nearby creek was named Bell Buckle Creek, and the town later took the name of the creek.”

If you look carefully above the door you will see that this was the vault of one of the three banks in tiny Bell Buckle!

We then toured a very large stables which was the home to many Tennessee Walking Horses.  We were able to ask questions and received many answers especially in regards to the training process.  

Our final destination was Shelbyville which is the home of the Celebration.  It is held the end of August for a total of 11 days and nights and is considered the nation’s largest show as far as fans and spectators…250,000+  Over 2000 Tennessee Walking Horses compete during the Celebration.

What an interesting experience learning about the world-famous Tennessee Walking Horses!

And not too far from my home.

Blessings,

Frannie