| acking Horse was proclaimed to be Alabama's State | | | | techniques designed to produce an alteration of the |
| horse in 1975 and is a naturally gaited horse known | | | | gaits shall not be condoned." Racking Horses are also |
| for its beauty, stamina, and calm disposition that | | | | subject to the DQP (Designated Qualified Person) |
| originated on the great southern plantations before | | | | inspections as outlined in the Horse Protection Act, as |
| the Civil War. Plantation owners cherished the breed | | | | are Tennessee Walking Horses and Saddlebreds. |
| for its smooth, easy, natural-born gait. It was a horse | | | | One banned practice is the application of caustic |
| that could be ridden comfortably for hours, allowing | | | | chemicals just above the hoof, in a process known |
| the great distances between and on the great | | | | as "soring," which gets its name from the fact that a |
| plantations to be covered painlessly. The name | | | | horse alters its gait due to discomfort or sore feet. |
| "Racking" comes from the term "rack" which was the | | | | Soring, however is also seen within the Racking horse |
| rural country word for the single-foot gait. | | | | world even though it is illegal under the Horse |
| The Racking Horse has its origins rooted deeply from | | | | Protection Act, and is a federal offense within the |
| within the ranks of the Tennessee Walking Horse, | | | | United States. |
| and this explains much about the breed. Some people | | | | The Racking Horse is attractive and gracefully built |
| have debated whether or not the Racking Horse is a | | | | with a long sloping neck, full flanks, well boned, |
| stand-alone breed, but the designation of "breed" | | | | smooth legs, and finely textured hair. The breed is |
| was given to the Racking Horse by the USDA in | | | | considered to be a light horse, averages 15.2 hands |
| 1978. So what is the difference between a walking | | | | high and weighs 1,000 pounds. It comes in many |
| horse and a racking horse? Well, the major difference | | | | colors such as black, bay, sorrel, chestnut, brown, |
| is the gait. Racking Horses only allow one foot to | | | | gray, yellow, cremello, buckskin, dun, palomino, roan, |
| strike the ground at a time. The Tennessee Walking | | | | champagne, and even spotted. Spotted Racking |
| Horse, on the other hand, generally performs three | | | | Horses are often dual-registered with the National |
| distinct gaits – the flat-foot walk, the running | | | | Spotted Saddle Horse Association NSSHA as well as |
| walk, or the canter. They can also rack, but this is | | | | with the RHBAA. Some Racking Horse events are |
| not a desirable gait. So, simply put, the Racking Horse | | | | now offering classes specifically for spotted horses, |
| breed began from Tennessee Walking Horses that | | | | although the coloration is also permitted in regular |
| rack naturally. | | | | classes and is commonly seen. |
| The movement to form the breed known as the | | | | The gaits performed by the Racking Horse are the |
| Racking Horse was started when a group of | | | | same on the trail ride and in the show ring. The breed |
| Alabama horsemen, who were involved with the | | | | is shown under saddle, in hand or in harness, either |
| Tennessee Walking Horse, split off from the parent | | | | flat shod or with pads. The rack is a fast, evenly |
| club. The primary reasons were economical and | | | | timed, bi-lateral four-beat gait in which each foot |
| political so a carefully studied program for getting the | | | | strikes the ground separately at equal intervals which |
| United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to | | | | is neither a pace nor a trot. It is often called single |
| legally designate the Racking Horse as a distinct | | | | foot because only one foot strikes the ground at a |
| breed began in the late 1960's. | | | | time. There is no head nod, but the shoulders and |
| When the USDA Horse Protection Act went into | | | | hindquarters are very active. The horse appears to |
| effect in 1971, which targets the practice of soring | | | | jump from one foot to the other and there is some |
| within the Tennessee Walking Horse industry, many | | | | overstride in the gait, but not as much as in the |
| people in the Tennessee Walking Horse breed opted | | | | running walk. It is similar to the running walk of the |
| to get away from the problems that were plaguing | | | | Tennessee Walking Horse, but with more collection in |
| the Tennessee Walker breed. On May 23, 1971, the | | | | the Racking Horse's movement. The ride is so |
| USDA recognized the Racking Horse Breeders' | | | | smooth that the rider appears to remain motionless |
| Association of America, thereby allowing a registry to | | | | as the horse racks. It is not the same as the show |
| be established to perpetuate the Racking Horse | | | | gait of other breeds in which the "rack" is an |
| breed. Prior to the formation of the RHBAA, the | | | | artificially achieved gait resulting from special training, |
| Racking Horse had been the only horse in the show | | | | though soring does illegally occur within the Racking |
| rings of the nation that was not protected by a | | | | Horse breed. |
| registry or a uniform set of rules, even though the | | | | Eligibility for registration is determined upon the |
| Racking Horse breeders could have formed an | | | | performance of the gaits natural to the breed, and in |
| association at any time prior to 1971 for the purpose | | | | the beginning horses of all ages could be registered |
| of registering horses and creating that set of rules, | | | | by gait performances. Horses are registered by |
| just like all other U.S. horse breeding associations | | | | inspection by a qualified licensed RHBAA |
| before them. | | | | commissioner to determine if the horse is capable of |
| The primary function of the Racking Horse Breeders' | | | | performing the rack, but all horses born in 1994 and |
| Association was to establish a registry to protect, | | | | after must be blood-typed to be registered. |
| preserve, and perpetuate the breed in a natural state | | | | The Racking Horse has an unusual friendliness and |
| with little or no artificial devices to enhance its | | | | affectionate nature toward humans. It is intelligent |
| natural-born gait and to ensure that the horse's tail is | | | | with a willingness to learn, an eagerness to work and |
| naturally raised without nicking. But some show | | | | an ability to perform in more than one function. |
| classes, such as open shod divisions, still allow special | | | | Beginning riders cherish the smooth gait and the calm |
| shoes that enhance action and a new class allows the | | | | temperament while veteran horsemen admire its |
| use of chains, 6 ounces and under as action devices. | | | | beauty and versatility from the work field to the |
| Horses entered in these classes wear either flat pads | | | | show ring. |
| or wedge pads made of leather, plastic or other | | | | There are 80,000 Racking Horses registered by the |
| pliant material on their front feet. Weighted shoes are | | | | RHBAA throughout the United States and several |
| also allowed, the purpose of which is to provide an | | | | foreign countries, but Tennessee and Alabama have |
| artificial extension to the hoof and to encourage the | | | | the largest number of Racking Horses in the United |
| horse to lift its feet higher in the show ring. The | | | | States. At this rate, it won't be long before the |
| RHBAA has laid out strict edicts covering the size and | | | | Racking Horse is a common sight in show rings |
| thickness of the pads and also addresses the issue | | | | throughout the equine world. |
| of soring, stating "Abusive treatment and/or training | | | | |