Useful Information....    I hope!
Shoeing the Tennessee Walking Horse and Spotted Saddle Horse
Question:  If you were to cut off  your toes, how would you walk?
Answer:    Like a Quarter Horse!

Walkers and Spots walk like you and I do...Heel-Toe-Heel-Toe!

Please make sure you hire an experienced farrier for this job.  You wouldn't want your smooth gaited horse
to start trotting now...  under saddle, would you?  A hoof is not just a hoof!

Gaited horses also trot out in the field when playing and turned out.
It's a natural gait of these horses.  If you have trouble finding a farrier or if your farrier is willing to listen to a
teaching farrier regarding this important issue, drop us an email at spottedwalkers@aol.com
We will be glad to help




To Learn About the GAITS

To understand,  distinguish and learn how to ask for  all the different gaits of your horse, you will find
Liz Graves  very helpful!  You can visit her web site at   lizgraves.com/      





Equine Dentistry

Teeth problems are another issue sometimes not thought of when caring for your equine buddy!  We have
solved many behavioral issues of horses with a visit from our equine dentist Dr. Ron Johnson!
Dr. Ron has a web site with some great information at spottedfeverfarm.com/Horse%20Dentistry.htm
Training Methods
I would like to explain the training of my young horses.  I know the many people
like to start horses at age 3 and 4.  Here in Tennessee, horses can be started at
18 months.  I DO NOT START my horses at this age.  The colts are worked with
and handled from the day they are born. Taught to halter, lead and have hands
on, get groomed, bathed, clipped and loaded in a trailer. I wait until I see what
kind of mind they have and how their growth is progressing before I start a colt
under saddle.

Some are started at 25 months, others later.  Only "Gentle Horsemanship"
methods are used.  Each colt is an individual and progress at their own pace,
not mine.  When they are ready, and only when they are ready do we take them
on trail rides in the mountains.  Each colt is taught to turn right, left, go forward,
back up and most of all to stop "NOW" when asked.  They are only asked to gait
"Sometimes".  They are only asked to "Canter" sometimes.  They build good
muscle, along with good mind sets because I make it "fun" for them to trail ride.
 We never push a colt to the limit.  He is given plenty of rest during trail ride
training which is great for teaching them to stand still.  He is not trail ridden the
next day or maybe the next 4-5 days.  He is given rest, and the opportunity to
be a horse.  When I walk out in the field, (none are stalled), they all "come" to
me.  They want attention and love and they get it.

All of our trail horses that are for sale are ridden alone and in groups, on country
roads and trails, around cars, trucks, tractors, ATV's, cattle, chickens, barking
dogs and are desensitized to as many different obstacles as possible.

Our trail rides consist of uphill and downhill, creeks and water, rocky and
muddy, and sometimes roadside riding, so that the horses for sale will be
versatile and experienced on trails.

I will represent any horse for sale as honestly and accurately as possible.
Potential buyers have the option, and are welcome, to come and test ride any
horse.

You're welcome to accompany me on a beginner trail ride at my place or if you
are an experienced trail rider and feel comfortable with your riding ability on the
horse you are test riding, we can take the horses on a trail ride,  for a fee of
$15.00
. We like to ride at   
Circle E
Please describe your riding ability honestly.