1. The welfare of the Tennessee Walking Horse comes first above all other considerations: REAL progress for the greatest number of Walking Horses depends upon UNITY.

2. For this Organization there is but one COMMON PURPOSE; The Tennessee Walking Horse.

3. The members are gathered together for the elimination of soring and abuse within the breed. The only requirement for membership is dedication to this end.

4. Each group, within the Organization, should be autonomous - State by State - but we ALL need to support the Sound Horse Organization.

5.Each group has but one COMMON PURPOSE ; to help the Tennessee Walking Horse to become a Sound Natural Breed and to ensure the survival of this breed.

6. The Sound Horse Organization ought never endorse , finance , or lend it's name to any outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary goal.

7. Each and every Group within the Organization ought to be fully self supporting, declining outside contributions, except as offered by the Organization, itself. Each of us, as members, pays the cost of postage, phone calls, etc... Even travel if required.

8. We should remain forever non-professional but the central service centers may employ special workers, ie: Moon Horse Web Works

9. The State groups, as such, ought never be organized into hierarchies but may create committees, as they become necessary, directly responsible to those they serve.

10. The State groups, as such, have no opinion on unrelated issues; hence OUR NAME OUGHT NEVER BE DRAWN INTO PUBLIC CONTROVERSY. Those of us who are working within this Organization need to SUPPORT it; if we can't then we don't need to be involved.

11. Our Public Relations Policy is based on Positive promotion of the Sound, Natural TWH. Our aims are to educate, inform and encourage.

12. The Tennessee Walking Horse is the FOUNDATION of this Organization, ever reminding us to PLACE PRINCIPLES ABOVE PERSONALITIES.

These Traditions were designed so as to describe the Common Purpose of the Groups and suggest ways to help them avoid distractions and errors that could confuse or dilute the overall program . The growth of the groups DEPENDS on how well the members understand and apply the traditions . The COMMON PURPOSE has to be foremost and we need to AVOID whatever might interfere with providing help for the Tennessee Walking Horse . THESE ARE NOT RULES - Accepting the guidance of these traditions is obedience to the unenforceable. IF THE GROUPS FAIL to observe the principles of this program they risk the possibility of errors and conflict that could deprive THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE the help that this Sound Horse Organization can provide . All of us will benefit , but particularly the TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE.