History
The McCurdy Plantation Horse Breed was developed by the McCurdy family of Lowndesboro, Lowndes County, Alabama, in the late 1800's and the early 1900's. The McCurdy family were plantation owners, and needed well-gaited, durable horses to oversee and work the land. When the Tennessee Walking Horse Registry was established in the early 1930's, the McCurdy family registered their own horses as Tennessee Walking Horses (indeed, several McCurdy-bred horses are in the original Foundation registry of the Tennessee Walking Horse). Over time, as their reputation and prominence grew, others began breeding their stock to McCurdy family horses. Thus developed in Lowndes County and throughout Central Alabama, a breed known simply as the McCurdys, or McCurdy Walkers.
Versatility
Plantation-era people needed a horse that was versatile in use, comfortable to ride, of calm disposition, and dependable. The early McCurdy horses filled this need in every respect - they were often ridden 20 - 30 miles a day to oversee the plantation work or into town, hitched to a wagon, plow, or buggy, herd livestock, foxhunt, bird hunt and transport children safely to school.
McCurdy Plantation Horses have a very calm, easy-going temperament that makes them unequaled as personal and family horses. They excel at many tasks such as trail riding, field trialing, driving and working livestock. Back in the days when horses were the primary mode of transportation, McCurdy's were especially noted for their endurance and stamina.
Many McCurdy Horses are known to have natural "cow-savvy" or cow herding instincts. Many have excellent dispositions for children to begin their riding experience. Their calm dispositions, combined with an easy, comfortable gait produces enjoyment and confidence in novice or young riders that results in life-long love affairs with horses.
McCurdy's Doctor F-79
The McCurdys of Alabama
The Tennessee Walking Horse, July, 1948
Ed S. McCurdy on McCurdy's Fox. This pic was taken in 1935.
Since the early pioneer days of our country residents of various areas of the United States have been prone to favor certain types of horse flesh. In some sections, draft horses are popular and in other sections light horses meet the fancy of horse lovers. Needless to say, draft horses are used primarily for farm and heavy drayage work; and usually the light horses are strictly pleasure mounts.
However, the development and breeding of Tennessee Walking Horses many, many years ago in the blue grass section of Middle Tennessee gave to the people of that section a light horse that could be used for heavy farm work and at the same time be used as a pleasure animal. As a matter of fact, many of the better Tennessee Walking Horses have at one time or another been used for farm work; and they are so adapted that this type of work made them easier pleasure mounts.
Moore's Dick Taylor, Wiley Kirby, up,
owned by A. B. Moore of Marion Junction, Alabama.
Picture taken in 1910.