Racking Horse facts for kids

The Racking Horse is a special type of horse. It came from the Tennessee Walking Horse. The United States government officially recognized it as its own breed in 1971. This horse is famous for its unique way of moving, called a "rack" or "singlefoot."

In 1971, a group called the Racking Horse Breeders' Association of America (RHBAA) was started. This group, located in Decatur, Alabama, helps keep track of all Racking Horses. Their main goal is to keep the breed natural. This means they try to avoid using special tools that change how the horse moves. For example, a Racking Horse's tail naturally stands up without needing surgery or special equipment.

Some horse shows allow certain shoes that help the horse's action. A newer rule allows light chains (under six ounces) as action devices. Sadly, some people still use a harmful practice called soring. This is illegal under the Horse Protection Act of 1970. Since the breed began, about 80,000 Racking Horses have been registered. Most of them live in Alabama and Tennessee.

What Makes a Racking Horse Special?

Looks and Build

The Racking Horse is a light riding horse. It usually stands about 15.2 hands (62 inches, 157 cm) tall. This is about 62 inches or 157 centimeters. They weigh around 1,000 pounds (450 kg), which is about 450 kilograms. People often describe them as "attractive and gracefully built." They have a long neck and strong, sloped shoulders. Their body is well-muscled overall.

The breed standard says Racking Horses should have slim legs. They need good bones and feet that are big enough to stay healthy. Their head should look "intelligent and neat." A straight face profile is preferred. Their ears should stand up alertly, and their eyes should be large, clear, and bright.

Colors and Markings

The Racking Horse registry accepts many solid equine coat colors. These include black, chestnut, bay, and gray. You can also see them in colors like palomino, roan, and others created by special genes. These genes can make colors like dun, cream, and champagne. Some Racking Horses may also have body markings. If a Racking Horse has pinto markings, it can also be registered as a Spotted Saddle Horse.

Unique Gaits

The Racking Horse is famous for its special ambling gait. This is a four-beat, medium-speed gait called the "rack" or "single-foot." Besides the rack, they also perform a four-beat walk (called the 'show walk' in competitions) and a canter. However, the canter is not usually performed at Racking Horse shows. When judges score the rack, they care more about how correctly the horse moves and its speed. They don't focus on how high the horse lifts its legs.

The speed of the rack can change a lot. In pleasure riding, it might be about 8 miles per hour. But in speed racking, it can go as fast as 30 miles per hour! It's a bit like the running walk of the Tennessee Walking Horse. However, the Racking Horse's rack is more collected, and the horse doesn't nod its head. Most Racking Horses can do two different speeds within their rack.

Temperament

Racking Horses are known for being "gentle, intelligent, and affectionate." They are usually calm and relaxed. But just like with any animal, each horse can have its own unique personality.

The Story of the Racking Horse

Early Beginnings

The ancestors of the Racking Horse were first bred on farms in the southern United States. This was before the American Civil War. These horses were very comfortable to ride for many hours. This was because of their smooth, natural way of moving. They were also bred to have a good personality, be smart, and be useful for many different tasks. Their development was similar to, and sometimes connected with, the Tennessee Walking Horse. That breed was also popular in the southeastern US.

In the late 1800s, horse shows became very popular in the southeastern United States. They were a fun alternative to horse racing and its gambling. Racking Horses were most often seen at smaller shows. But they also appeared at some bigger ones. At that time, they didn't have their own breed group. They were often shown as a type of Tennessee Walking Horse.

Official Recognition

In 1971, people who loved Racking Horses decided to form their own group. They created the Racking Horse Breeders' Association of America (RHBAA). In the same year, the United States Department of Agriculture officially recognized the Racking Horse as a separate breed from the Tennessee Walking Horse. However, it was hard to find enough Racking Horses for breeding. So, many horses registered as Racking Horses were actually mixes of Racking and Walking Horses.

In 1975, the Racking Horse became the official state horse of Alabama.

Famous Horses and Bloodlines

The first Racking Horse stallion to be shared for breeding was Bentley's Ace. He was the World Grand Champion in 1975. He was bought for $350 as a young horse. After his big win, he was valued at $100,000 for breeding!

Two other stallions became very well known early on. They were EZD Falcon Rowdy and Speck. EZD Falcon Rowdy was a dappled buckskin horse. He was known for his good looks and won two world championships in speed racking. This was in 1976 and 1983. He was also a popular father to many foals.

Speck was a red roan stallion. He won 14 world championships in speed racking! He also had a big impact on the breed as a father. Even though Speck passed away in 2000, his and EZD Falcon Rowdy's family lines still influence Racking Horses today.

Keeping the Breed Strong

Tennessee Walking Horses have continued to influence modern Racking Horses. Many famous Racking Horses, including World and World Grand Champions, are a result of mixing the two breeds. In the mid-1990s, the RHBAA tried to stop horses from being registered with both their group and the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association. But this didn't work because there weren't enough Racking stallions to father foals.

In the early 2000s, the Racking Horse became less popular. Many distinct family lines died out or became very closely related. This led to inbreeding. To fix this, the RHBAA has reopened its registry. This means horses that meet the breed's standards for height, body shape, and gait can now be registered. Some breeds that can often be registered include the Tennessee Walking Horse, Standardbred, Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse, and Rocky Mountain Horse. However, purebred American Saddlebreds cannot be registered with the RHBAA. But if a horse is half-Saddlebred and meets the standards, it might be registered.

How Racking Horses Are Used

Showing and Competition

Racking Horses can be shown in different styles. They can be shown with saddle seat or western tack and clothing. They can also be used for driving a cart. When shown in saddle seat classes, their long, natural mane and tail are kept. Ribbons are often braided into their mane and forelock. They are also sometimes shown in hand (meaning the person walks beside them) or in trail obstacle classes.

The Racking Horse Breeders' Association of America was first created to promote horses shown without harsh tools. These tools were often seen in other gaited horse shows, like those for the Tennessee Walking Horse. However, the Racking Horse is one of the breeds sometimes affected by the cruel practice of soring. Soring is illegal under the Horse Protection Act of 1970. It's an abusive practice used to make a horse's gaits more extreme. This gives an unfair advantage in competitions. The RHBAA works with a special group called a Horse Industry Organization (HIO). They inspect horses before shows and sales to prevent soring.

The two biggest shows for the Racking Horse are the Spring Celebration and the World Celebration. The Spring Celebration happens every April. The World Celebration is held in late September. Both events take place at the Celebration Arena in Priceville, Alabama.

Other Uses

Racking Horses are also great for trail riding and just riding for fun. The RHBAA has a special program for this. Racking Horses can earn awards by doing many different activities, including endurance riding.