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Racking Horse
| Country Of Origin | United States of America |
| History and Background | The ancestors of the Racking Horse were first bred on southern plantations prior to the American Civil War. They could be ridden comfortably for hours because of their smooth, natural gait. They were also bred for a good disposition, intelligence, and versatility. Their development was similar to that of the Tennessee Walking Horse, also popular in the southeastern US. In the late 1800s, horse shows became increasingly popular in the southeastern United States, as an alternative to the gambling associated with horse racing. Racking Horses were most commonly seen at small shows, although they were also seen at larger ones. They did not have their own breed association, however, and were often shown as a type of Tennessee Walking Horse. In the mid 1900s, Racking Horse enthusiasts formed their own group, the Racking Horse Breeders Association of America, and their breed was recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture as separate from the Tennessee Walking Horse in 1971. In 1975, the Racking Horse was designated the official state horse of Alabama. Two stallions who became well known in the early days of the association were EZD Falcon Rowdy and Speck. EZD Falcon Rowdy was a dappled buckskin owned and ridden by John Demetris. He was noted for his good conformation, and he won two world championships in speed racking, in 1976 and 1983. He was a popular sire as well. Speck, owned by Robert Skimehorn, was a red roan stallion who won 14 world championships in speed racking and was also a very influential sire. Although Speck died in 2000 as the result of a stroke, his and EZD Falcon Rowdy's bloodlines are still influencing the Racking Horse breed today. In the early 2000s, popularity of the Racking Horse went down and many distinct bloodlines died out or became closely related, leading to inbreeding. To counteract this, the RHBAA has reopened the registry to horses that meet breed standards for height, conformation, and gait. Some breeds often eligible for this are the Tennessee Walking Horse, Standardbred, Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse and Rocky Mountain Horse. Purebred American Saddlebreds, however, are ineligible for RHBAA registration, although half-Saddlebreds may be registered if they meet the standard. |
| Use Today | Show horse, riding horse |
| Height | 15.2 hands (62 inches, 157 cm) |
| Weight | 1,000 pounds (450 kg) |
| Colour | Colours accepted by the breed registry include all solid equine coat colours and roan. Racking Horses are also commonly seen in colours created by dilution genes, such as dun, cream and champagne. Some horses may also have body markings. Pinto Racking Horses may be double-registered as Spotted Saddle Horses. |
| Characteristics | Overall, the Racking Horse is described as "attractive and gracefully built". The neck is long, the shoulders and croup sloping and the build overall well-muscled. According to the breed standard, the Racking Horse should have slim legs, with good bone and feet large enough to preclude lameness. The head should be "intelligent and neat" with a straight profile preferable. The ears should prick alertly and the eyes should be large, clear and bright. Colours accepted by the breed registry include all solid equine coat colours and roan. Racking Horses are also commonly seen in colours created by dilution genes, such as dun, cream and champagne. Some horses may also have body markings. Pinto Racking Horses may be double-registered as Spotted Saddle Horses. The breed is known for its ambling gait, a four-beat intermediate-speed gait known as the rack or sometimes single-foot, which it performs in addition to the four-beat walk (called the 'show walk' in breed-specific competition) and canter. The latter gait is not performed at breed-specific horse shows. When assessing the rack, judges place greater weight on correct movement and speed, rather than extreme elevation. The rack may range in speed from 8 miles an hour in pleasure or style racking, up to as fast as 30 mph in speed racking. It is similar to the running walk of the Tennessee Walking Horse, but with more collection, and without a head nod. Most Racking Horses have two distinct speeds within the rack. |
| Personality and Temperament | The temperament of the Racking Horse is described as "gentle, intelligent and affectionate". They are typically calm and laid back, but as with any breed of horse, temperament of individuals may vary. |
