The Missing Middle: Why Mid-Range Horses Matter for the Future of the Tennessee Walking Horse

Over the last two decades, the Tennessee Walking Horse has reached an extraordinary level of quality. The modern show horse is more talented, more athletic, and more polished than ever before. Training programs have advanced. Horsemanship has improved. Presentation is stronger across the board.

But with that progress comes an uncomfortable question we must be willing to ask:

Have we made the Tennessee Walking Horse so expensive that we are unintentionally inhibiting new growth?

Smaller Shows, Better Horses—and a Shrinking Entry Point

Horse shows today are smaller than they were 20 years ago. Fewer entries. Fewer barns. Fewer first-time exhibitors.

Yet paradoxically, the quality of horses has improved tenfold.

At the top end, record-breaking prices are becoming the norm. Exceptional horses command exceptional money—and rightfully so. But as the ceiling rises, the floor rises with it. The result? A widening gap between elite horses and everyone else.

What’s missing is the middle.

The mid-range horse—once the backbone of our industry—is quietly disappearing. These horses:

• Introduced families to the show ring

• Created attainable goals for amateur riders

• Allowed young trainers and smaller barns to grow

• Gave new owners a realistic entry point into the business

Without them, we lose accessibility, and without accessibility, we lose future participants.

Why Entry-Level Matters More Than Ever

Every lifelong owner, breeder, or trainer started somewhere.

Not everyone enters the industry ready—or able—to buy a six-figure horse. When there is no clear, respected place for a developing or mid-range horse to compete, newcomers face two choices:

1. Spend more than they can reasonably justify

2. Walk away entirely

Neither option builds long-term sustainability.

If we want growth, we must intentionally create space for:

• New owners

• Youth and amateur riders

• Budget-conscious competitors

• Horses that are still developing

  
  

A Possible Solution: A Structured Series or Rating System

So how do we build this missing middle?

One concept worth serious consideration is a show rating system or structured series designed specifically to support mid-range horses and developing exhibitors.

What Could a Rating System Look Like?

A well-designed system could include:

• Tiered or rated shows (example: Developmental, Regional, Premier)

• Clearly defined eligibility standards

• Classes that reward correctness, consistency, and progress—not just brilliance

• Divisions specifically for:

  • Developing horses

  • Amateur and youth riders

  • Budget-conscious ownership programs

The goal would not be to lower standards—but to meet horses and exhibitors where they are, and allow them to move up organically.

How Fast Could This Be Built?

Realistically, faster than we might think.

• Pilot programs could launch within one show season

• Existing shows could opt-in to carry a rating

• Data and participation could guide refinement year-to-year

This doesn’t require reinventing the wheel—only aligning around a shared objective.

The Most Important Question: Is There Interest?

Before structure comes support.

The real question is not can we do this—it’s do we want to?

Are owners interested in:

• More attainable pathways into showing?

• Lower-pressure, development-focused competition?

Are trainers interested in:

• Retaining new clients longer?

• Creating sustainable pipelines for growth?

Are shows interested in:

• Increasing entries?

• Rebuilding grassroots participation?

If the answer is yes, then the industry already has the foundation it needs.

Building the Future—Not Just Celebrating the Top

Elite horses will always matter. Excellence should always be celebrated.

But an industry cannot survive on the top alone.

If we want the Tennessee Walking Horse to thrive—not just today, but 10, 20, 30 years from now—we must rebuild the middle and protect the entry point.

The future of our industry depends on who can get in, not just who can win.

The question is no longer whether we can build this—it’s whether we are ready to start the conversation.