About Racking Horses

Racking Horses come from the Southern United States, mainly Alabama. They are known for a distinctive sugarfoot gait.It is believed that they are related to Tennessee Walking horses. An Alabama business person created this horse and worked diligently to maintain them for years to come.

Their ancestors 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.

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 Racking Horse Breeders’ Association of America (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.

Racking Horses can be used for shows or competitions, for harness work, or for riding. An Athletic creature, the Racking Horse can run for miles without any fatigue symptoms. They can also be great earners and do very well inside the competition circuit across the country.

Racking Horses are elegant and lean. They stand at around fifteen hands tall and can be bred in various colors. They are considered to have an attractive looking face, sloping shoulders, and a tall frame, they also have a silky tail and short mane. They have clean joints and a very graceful appearance that gives the Racking Horse a look all of its own.