Can a gaited horse like a Tennessee Walker be used for barrel racing or pole bending?

Question

I like the ride of a TW but would like to do some fun games with my son in the summer. My current TW is 26 and will do anything I ask but he is old and slowing down. I heard a guy tell me once he was compeditive on a walker

Answer 1

I am not experienced with gaited horses but I thought TWs had the normal gaits but added in the running walk. I thought TW's could gallop just like any other horse? Anyway, I don't think I would try that with a 26 year old horse of ANY breed. At his age you need to be careful with him. I think barrel racing would be too hard on him.

Answer 2

yes, but it might look really funny to see a gaited horse running the patterns!

Answer 3

Yea you can but your going to be breaking gate so much it's not going to be very fun.  The problem with trying to run a TW on poles is that non-gated horses can doing flying leads unlike gated.  So if your expecting a full run out of it the chances of that actually happening are very slim.  Barrels the same case except your going to have only two lead changes if you set your horse up in the correct lead  for that first barrel.  Not going to lie but that could be a very bumpy ride for ya love.  Take it easy on your TW just because of the age and even though your horse is willing, it may try to give you all it's got and even hurt himself.  Take it easy if your in deep sand or soil.  You don't want to have a muscle pulled especially if your horse drops his shoulder into the barrels.  Hope that helped...