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Discussion on The "purr" of the TWH
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Member:
Twhgait
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 13, 2005 - 6:46 pm:
I have a question I'd love for DrO to give his opinion on and also would love to hear from other TWH owners who's walkers "purr". Of course describing the noise is hard, but it is most often heard during eating, sometimes rest, never during exercise, sickness or fear. It is a soft vibration in the nose, like a nose blow, but much, much gentler and soft. All three of my walkers "purr", including my 6 month old. No other respiratory issues before you ask!  I've owned the oldest (25) for 10 years and she's always done it. I've owned her daughter for 9 years (bought as a yearling) and she's always done it and gotten progressively louder over the years. The baby who is 6 months old that I bred is now also starting. I've run into several other owners at shows and that's where I learned it was called the "TWH purr". I know not every TWH does this, but I'm curious on the number of them that do. Anybody else? DrO, what are your thoughts on this? I find this so interesting. It's very comforting to listen to on the baby monitor at night while they are all eating they midnight snack  . Now please don't tell me it's something negative!!
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Member:
Tangoh
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - 8:05 am:
Hi Kim,
I have 3 tennessee walkers and have never heard them 'purr'. I'd be interested in hearing more about this too.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - 9:12 am:
Though we have had several dozen Walkers over the years I have not heard any that purr. Maybe the occasional rough irregular humming noise during eating but no purrs. I will ask my wife who is the main horse feeder in the family.
DrO
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - 11:10 am:
My friend, Phyllis, writes:
"Yes that is interesting. Reno does it. I call it his satisfied sound. When he is feeling good and relaxed and often when enjoying his grain he makes it. Scarlet does not."
Though I have ridden a few TWH, I have never owned any, and am not familiar with the "purring."
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Member:
Twhgait
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - 11:20 am:
I wanted to add that my three are heavily bred from the Ebony Masterpiece line. Grandma is very linebred (sire and dam 1/2 siblings). Wonder if it might be more prominent in a certain line?
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New Member:
Ilona
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - 5:19 pm:
I've had my TWH for 3 of his 7 years and yes he does "prrr" too. He does it when I hand walk him in addition to other times. None of our other horses do this although I have noticed the my newly arrived (3 months ago)Rocky Mountain Filly is trying to imitate him from time to time..its too sweet for words! They share a corral and large run-in stall. I have just assumed that it indicated contentment.
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New Member:
Sargent
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - 5:46 pm:
Hi Kim. We have one TWH and one QH. We've only had the Walker for one year, but right from the get-go I noticed a strange noise that he makes similar to situations you describe, but I would not call it a "purring" sound. It seems to come more from his nostrils, but it's not the "snorting" sound horses commonly make. It's hard to describe. When I first heard it I thought he had a cold, or heaves or something, but he has made the noise on many occasions and there's not a thing wrong with him.
Pam
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Member:
Twhgait
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - 6:32 pm:
LOL Pam, I've got a few friends who insisted that my old mare was sick when they first heard it too! From what it sounds like in your description, you have a purr-er too. It's always interested me cause I've never heard another breed of horse do it. I don't know who came up with the word "purr" to describe it, but apparently it is common enough among the TWH folk up here that it got that name! I wonder if they call it something else in other regions?
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Member:
Twhgait
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - 6:35 pm:
ilona, I too have thought it meant contentment and peace. I've never, ever heard them do it when they were stressed or worried or hyper.
DrO, I'd love to hear what your wife thinks!
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Member:
Vrich
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Posted on Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 - 11:04 pm:
My TW talks! It's the strangest thing and none of my vets has ever seen it. She "putts' with her lips...kind of like a bronx cheer. She's a riot. You can talk to her and get her going or just give her a treat and she'll go on forever. She really needs to go on "Stupid Pet Tricks"! If she's a typical Walker, they are really funny!
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Member:
Twhgait
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Posted on Sunday, Dec 25, 2005 - 9:22 am:
Val, my old mare putts too!! You can really get her going during feeding time and when you have treats! When ever we copy her, we say "Putt, Putt, Putt". Her daughter and grandson don't do it, they just have the usual nicker. What line is your walker from?
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Member:
Ajudson1
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 27, 2005 - 6:30 pm:
I raised a TW from birth and had him about 7 yrs. I never heard him "purr" or "putt" but he did the wierdest thing with his grain box. He would go back and forth with a steady beat, and it was either his lips or his teeth, I am not sure which, that he would go "thunk, thunk, pause, thunk, thunk, pause, repeat etc. (this was a wooden box with a heavy plastic bottem, homemade deal)
He also loved bobbing for apples in the water tank...I mean half his face would disappear!!
And if you had a hat/cap on, or gloves in your back pocket, you could bet money he'd take them from you and run off, DrOp them, and stand on them.
Guess the TW's are just a unique breed! I may get me one again some day, just because I miss all the personality mine had!
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Member:
Annes
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005 - 10:19 am:
I've had 3 TW's and haven't noticed the purr either but the youngest TW I have now will grunt at me when he wants something. It is at feeding time and when he has decided it's time for his treat. It really is like he is talking to me.
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Member:
Morg1
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005 - 10:23 am:
We've owned 5 TWHs over the years, and only one made the noise that you describe. If I remember correctly he usually did it when it was cold outside.
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Member:
Twhgait
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005 - 6:32 pm:
Can you guys tell me which lines your TWH's came from? I'm starting to wonder if it's an Ebony Masterpiece thing............all three of mine are heavy, heavy EM.
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Member:
Vrich
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Posted on Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 - 7:58 pm:
President's Kashmir, Kash, is by Ebony's President, so they could be the same line. Wouldn't that be bizarre?! I always attributed her talking to the fact that she was raised alone in a small enclosure and was highly intelligent, so she developed the habit to occupy herself. Who knows? She sure keeps us all amused!
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Member:
Twhgait
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 1, 2006 - 11:20 am:
Sounds like a possibility Val!! I always reasoned that there had to be some correlation cause they don't all do it. I brought home my mare yesterday (from weaning) and heard how loud she is again. I had forgotten cause she was gone for 2 months. She pretty much purrs all the time.
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Member:
dakotab
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 11, 2007 - 3:12 pm:
My TNW purrs all the time especially when I am leading him. I think it is a contentment thing. That is the only time he does it. I never hear him purring if he is excited or upset.
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Member:
zarr
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 11, 2007 - 4:28 pm:
Hilma, I have a MFT mare who does the same thing and friends who TNWs and theirs do to. Maybe a gaited thing ? Think it is very cool tho! Cindy
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Member:
dakotab
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 11, 2007 - 9:09 pm:
Hi Cindy
I have 4 walkers and Speck is the only one who does it. But he loves people, I think sometimes more than other horses. You are right I think it is really cool, he sounds like a cat when their content. Only louder.
Have a great day
Hilma
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Member:
muffi
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 11, 2007 - 11:01 pm:
I have a 1/2 walker but alas he doesn't purr or putt. If is could I bet he would. He is cuddler and a lover, quite a content big baby. sounds like a delightful noise.
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Friday, Oct 12, 2007 - 10:04 am:
I have never heard of this, very cool to know.
When I ride my wb, if she is relaxing, she doesn't really 'blow' like most horses, instead she makes like a 'mini' blow (which sounds like a rumble) with each step, sometimes for several minutes at a time.
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Member:
zarr
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Posted on Friday, Oct 12, 2007 - 11:25 am:
When I first got Pest my friends asked if she purred and I just looked blank said shes not a cat ??? They just laughed and said wait and a month later she started purring and I thought the barn cats had taught her but shes not alone WOW very fun thing! Cindy
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Member:
melis1
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 13, 2007 - 9:54 am:
We have two TWHs and neither one purrs. Harley's registered name is Lightfoot's Masterpiece and his great grandsire was Ebony Masterpiece.
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Member:
dakotab
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 13, 2007 - 9:42 pm:
To bad we can't post sounds then everyone could hear how sweet it is.
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