Talk:Racking Horse

Spots

The rulebook says nothing about pintos being accepted: [1], open to discussion if there is some other standard out there. Montanabw^(talk) 04:51, 28 August 2015 (UTC)

It's true that the rulebook doesn't mention it, but in the breed profile on this site, [[2]] that profile is written by the RHBAA and it very definitely shows a photo of a pinto along with the article (or did the last time I saw it). I think they mention pintos in the article as well. This is 'original research' and probably doesn't count but I have seen pinto Rackers in person as well. At the breed shows they have a 'spotted Racking' class sometimes.

ADD: I just looked it up on [[3]] and it definitely says there that spotted horses can be registered. I live near their headquarters and like I've said before, it's such a hot climate in this area that spotted horses sunburn and suffer so much they are uncommon here.

White Arabian mare (talk) 16:05, 31 August 2015 (UTC)

Looks like there are two competing web sites? Rackinghorse.com and Rackinghorse.org? I have to say that whoever wrote the color guidelines was a moron - they come in "yellow?" Really.  :-P I did see later on in the bylaws, they say "BODY: Sometimes has white markings." so I guess we can add that language. (They could just say "pinto" though...) While I agree that the OSU site (and the proper link is now here: [4]) shows photos of pintos, they don't list colors there at the moment. I'll tweak the language, see what you think. Montanabw^(talk) 06:33, 1 September 2015 (UTC)

That is fine the way you wrote it. Rackinghorse.com and .org both seem to somehow be the official sites of the RHBAA (? At least that's how it appears when I Google it-maybe it's redirecting somehow because people search for .com?) There is some kind of alternate registry called the National Racking Horse Association, but I don't know much about them. They seem to be more of a knock-off registry anyway... White Arabian mare (talk) 16:14, 1 September 2015 (UTC)

Amazing how often those happen; usually people politics, someone gets mad as someone else.. sigh. Montanabw^(talk) 02:09, 5 September 2015 (UTC)

Open registration

Maybe we should note that the RHBAA has open registration? [5] As of now, any horse can be registered as a Racking Horse if it meets the gait, height, and temperament requirements. Most of them are actually double-registered Tennessee Walkers, Standardbreds and Single-Footing horses. The registry had been closed for a while, but has been reopened to let in new bloodlines. White Arabian mare (Neigh) 02:22, 20 September 2015 (UTC)

If it has a source, go ahead, yes. Montanabw^(talk) 06:16, 20 September 2015 (UTC)

Ok, there's a loophole though that I'll have to note too: Saddlebreds are not included in that ruling and CANNOT be registered as Racking Horses even if they meet all other requirements. I don't know for sure but I'd think it's for several reasons:

1. Saddlebreds use tail sets, which are outlawed for RHs
2. Saddlebreds show at a trot and canter
3. Saddlebreds that rack (5-gaited) are held in much higher regard than the 3-gaited ones within their own registry already, while Walkers, Standardbreds etc that rack are misfits in their own registries.

White Arabian mare (Neigh) 15:29, 20 September 2015 (UTC)

Check out stud book, we discuss open stud books, closed stud books, and semi- or partially-open stud books. Montanabw^(talk) 01:45, 21 September 2015 (UTC)

Maybe time to break showing into separate section?

Maybe it's time to put 'Showing' into a separate section of it's own, and change the heading to 'Showing and Uses'. Racking Horses are popular as trail horses too (probably more popular as trail horses than show [6] White Arabian mare (Neigh) 00:50, 27 September 2015 (UTC)

No, I don't think so yet, maybe later; I think it would be more interesting to add stuff on the history and characteristics. See how we handle "normal" breeds that don't have the controversy the TWH has, American Saddlebred and Morgan horse are both GA-class, not too long, nice models to see the direction you could take with this one. But if you want to see how a long, complex breed article could be structured, look at Arabian horse - Uses section. Montanabw^(talk) 05:41, 27 September 2015 (UTC)

Ok, thanks. I think I'll try to find some sources and info about some of the foundation sires--there was one I've heard about who was named Falcon Rowdy or something like that who was very famous at one time. He was owned by a man called One-Armed Johnny. They're both dead now but they may be worth mentioning. White Arabian mare (Neigh) 18:48, 27 September 2015 (UTC)

Add: I believe Falcon Rowdy was a two-time World champion and his owner was well-known for showing in big stakes classes despite having only one arm. The horse was also a prolific sire--I'll find sources and maybe add a couple of sentences about them; they're not notable enough for a separate article, but they were a big influence within this breed, so maybe a mention in history will work. White Arabian mare (Neigh) 22:00, 27 September 2015 (UTC)

Add again: I didn't make uses into a separate section, a bot did! White Arabian mare (Neigh) 22:08, 27 September 2015 (UTC)

Parking here

• Decatur Daily

• Possible el video

The top is an interesting article on why they decided to allow showing with chains. Discusses the pros and cons and the mixed feelings, so could be handy as a ref. Bottom is a video of a Racking Horse of the type they call a style horse. We have an el video of speed horses, but not of one going at a slower rack where you can see the action. White Arabian Filly ^Neigh 22:39, 29 December 2017 (UTC)

Add: I just added some info sourced from a very helpful article from the Decatur newspaper on the similarities between Rackers and Walkers. The other sources don't really cover this. (One book on Google, not used here, says a cross was made but discarded--they don't know what the heck they're talking about, because I've been looking up the World Grand Champions and at least half were sired by a Walking Horse. There's Generator, Pusher and Jose lines in Rackers just like Walkers. Anyway...) I'm going to try to add some more and make it flow better, probably using the ref above as well. White Arabian Filly ^Neigh 23:20, 31 December 2017 (UTC)