Editor’s Note:  The following was posted on Facebook by Laurie Toone, a prominent pleasure horse trainer in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry.  Toone has trained many World and World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horses and currently trains in Arab, Alabama.  The post was shared with us and we would like to share it with our readers.

Today I was asked the question, what would you say to the public about the Tennessee Walking Horse? This was my response. 

"We have a wonderful breed of horse. Allow it the opportunity to show you. Spend some time at the breeding barns. Meet the stallions and mares and their foals. Watch the natural ability from day one. Observe and ask questions of our trainers and grooms. Ride a padded horse. Ride a top pleasure show horse. Please watch as our horses go through the hardest and most thorough pre and post-show inspections of any breed of animal. 

Go trail riding all day enjoying stamina and sure footedness. At the end of the day realize you aren't sore because of the smooth gaits. Watch our farriers and ask questions. Observe the veterinarians that work with our horses keeping them healthy and sound. Then when you have been educated by truth, and only then, are you entitled to an opinion of the Tennessee Walking Horse."