AFTER DRU McCormick graduated from Louisiana State University with a psychology degree, she traded tantalizing French beignets, Cajun and Creole cuisine, and the cypress-lined bayous of “Fisherman’s Paradise” for Middle Tennessee. But her love for Shelbyville — the “Tennessee Walking Horse Capital of the World” — had begun much earlier. From the age of 10, she’d spent every summer here competing with her best friend — her Tennessee walking horse.
Though Dru and Mickey McCormick grew up together in the Tennessee walking horse industry, their affections blossomed while Mickey worked as an assistant trainer at the barn where Dru’s family boarded their horses. With so many common interests, including their shared love for the breed, they married and have spent the last 27 years working as a team.
“Neither of us remembers a time when we haven’t been involved with Tennessee walking horses,” recalls Dru.
Their daughters, Bailey and Morgan, share their parents’ love of the breed, and through the guidance of their parents, both girls have competed in the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration (TWHNC).
“One of the greatest experiences of our lives is when they both won the World Grand Championships in 2011,” Dru said. “For me, my greatest experiences have been watching Dru and my girls win championships at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration,” said Mickey.
Mickey, who is a graduate of Cascade High School, has been training Tennessee walking horses professionally since 1978. Over the years, he has become a respected leader in the industry, known for excellence and integrity in both training and breeding. He is the proud owner of Mane Motion Stables on Highway 64 West, which has a proven track record for training winners. Their barn has been a part of 106 World and World Grand Championships. Outside the show ring, Mickey has served as the president of the Tennessee Walking Horse Trainers Association twice, and in the ring, he has won numerous championships.
“We love for people to come by Mane Motion Stables for a visit,” Mickey said. “Once you do, you understand our attraction as the horses themselves are the best ambassadors of their breed. I started with probably five horses and have been blessed through the years to have some of the best owners in the industry who brought fantastic horses to me. I love to put amateurs in the ring and have prepared horses for riders from 6 to 76 years of age. Today, we have about 35 show horses.”
Dru said, “Mane Motion Stables is a business, yet we feel like we are actually a barn family. We know we are blessed to have had such a huge success and owe it to our wonderful customers we’ve had throughout the years.”
Like her husband, Dru also spends her days working in the equine industry. She has been the operations liaison at Equine Services LLC since 2011. During the 2024 TWHNC, Dru took home top prizes in two categories: World Championship on TN Lineman in the Amateur 15.2 Mare and Gelding category and the World Grand Championship in the Amateur Mare and Gelding category.
“The versatility of the breed is what I love most,” Mickey said. “Not all of them are show horses, but all can find a place in the world. Any rider, whether 6 or 90, no matter the age, can ride them. Their temperament and willingness are outstanding. There is also a Classic Horse class for horses older than 15, and it’s very competitive.”
What is the McCormicks’ secret to training scores of Tennessee walking horses that reach the top tier in competitions? Mickey said, “You must devote lots of time and patience. You’ll also need to spend lots of time in the saddle, ‘listening to the horse.’ It’s so rewarding to see a young, unbroken colt progress to become a show horse.”
For those interested in becoming trainers themselves, Mickey said, “Starting out, work under trainers who can teach you and who love their job. Just like any job, get good experience. As a rider, take your time, listen to your trainer, and enjoy yourself. Win or lose, you will have fun!”
Because of trainers and breeders like the McCormicks leading the local industry, the future of the Tennessee walking horse shines brighter than the noonday sun perched high atop the show ring of the TWHNC.
“I hope the Tennessee walking horse has a long, thriving future,” said Mickey. “I’ve met many great people through the years because of this horse breed. We have a caring and giving equine community which rallies around its members. We are competitors in the ring, and we’re all friends outside of the ring.”
With their unmistakably smooth gaits, gentle demeanor, and trainable spirit, the Tennessee walking horse is a breed like none other. Renowned for its signature running walk that delivers an effortless ride, whether in the show ring or for pleasure riding, this unique breed has an enduring legacy that has captivated audiences and horse lovers for generations. As they say at the TWHNC, “Let ‘em walk on…” GN
