About this site's author…
 WalkingHorseChat.com was the creation of Tommy Williams of Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee in 1999 with the assistance of web designer Scott Pilkinton of Thompson Station, TN, who has worked exclusively with such interest as Tennessee Farm Bureaus and Gaylord Entertainment.   Mr. Williams created this site to give all lovers of the Tennessee Walking Horse an equal voice and access to the daily evolution of the Tennessee Walking Horse and its people.  With the development of this site beginning in July of 1999, Tommy put together what he felt was a user-friendly atmosphere for all to use and discuss some of the most vital topics in the industry. This site can be humorous, serious, educational, and in many cases a battle zone for some controversial topics. September 1st of 1999, the creation of Walkinghorsechat.com became a reality. Within 90 days of its creation, WHC became the most surfed, most popular site for the Tennessee Walking Horse on both AOL and Netscape browsers. To this day it maintains an average of over 100,000 user hits per day, with 3,100 + site members. A fee is required to access the heart of the site, the Walking Horse Chat Members Forums, which are the crossroads for daily industry information.

Tommy Williams was born on Sept 8th 1965, the youngest of five sons born to Dr. John O. Williams of Mt. Pleasant, TN and Anne Nicks Rochelle of Gallatin, TN. Mr. Williams’ life has been greatly influenced by the Tennessee Walking Horse industry and developed this site to give all industry enthusiasts an open forum to debate and discuss issues of major concern. At the young age of six, Tommy’s father opened Five Star Farms in Mt. Pleasant, TN named after his five sons, which soon became a show place training facility occupied by several trainers in the 1970’s and 80’s. Tommy’s first horse show debut was in 1975 at the Cross Roads of Dixie horse show in Lawrenceburg, TN on Sun’s Cinder, a 7 year old gelding, who was soon after sold to the Joe Brummel family. That first show he tied reserve behind World Champion Beloved Masterpiece. His first Celebration performance was in 1976 on June’s Charger, a blue roan gelding his father traded 2 spotted brood mares for from Jack Warren in Spring Hill, TN

Tommy’s early experience with trainers, horses, buying, and selling created his thought pattern on the do’s and don’ts of this business. From the age of 6 years to 15 years, Tommy had nine different horses his dad bought, sold and traded. His early mounts were, Eldorado’s Prince, The Bright Light, Sun's Cinder, Mark of Threat, Wilson Dean’s Bossman, Sun Gun K.W., Sensations CoCo, and Mud Puddle. Tommy says ….“ that list of plugs taught me a lot about this business…and the importance of not getting too attached”. The Williams Family show string included World Champion Gold Son’s Lil May, WGC Magic’s Calico Boy, WC Ebony’s Dude, Ebony’s Corvette, Bum’s Dark Magic, and many others. Five Star Farms had a host of horse training talent including Jack Littrell, Frank McMeen, Howard Adkisson, Jimmy Holder, Larry Derryberry, and Wayne Dean, and countless farriers and grooms.

A 1984 graduate of Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tn., Mr. Williams went on to attend Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tn.  In 1986, Tommy was on MTSU’s horse judging team led by Dr. Dave Whitaker. That year Tommy was individually ranked First in the nation at the North American Livestock Expo in Louisville, Ky. in college level competition for All Breeds. Also that year he was selected as one of the Top Ten college level horse judges at the World Quarter Horse Show in Oklahoma City, Ok.

In 1989, Tommy enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served a four year enlistment with 10th Marines and was a decorated veteran serving two tours of duty in Operation Desert Storm. He was awarded the Kuwait Liberation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Southwest Asia Medal with two stars. In 1992, Mr. Williams was assigned to Washington, D.C. as assistant to the mortuary officer of the Marine Corps, at Anacostia Naval Station until he was honorably discharged in 1993. Upon his return to Tennessee Mr. Williams was quick to rekindle his love for the Tennessee Walking Horse industry and its people. His concern for the leadership and direction stems from observing his father's struggles in the 1970’s and 80’s, when the TWHBEA and the new WHOA choose to draw battle lines over registration, USDA regulations and show affiliations. His concern for the breeding division of this business stems form his observations of other breeds and their ability to breed a better horse.  

Tommy married the former Kimberly Heflin in 1990. They are the parents of four children…18 year old twins Ashleigh Brooke and Wesley Adam, a 16 year old son Taylor Allyn, and their youngest is 13 year old daughter Kimmy Lee. 

The Williams' reside in Mt. Pleasant, TN.