>>> Looks like a fast pace to me, it looks smooth too. I also see a soft intermediate gait in there when they are going slower.
I wish the resolution were a little clearer on YouTube, but I wouldn't be surprised if that horse has all four-feet off the ground a few times. One thing I thought about - that horse sure can fly around the track at that flying-pace/pacey-rack-whatever it is. When Icelandics pace-race, they always do it on a very short straightaway. Do you remember that video of Rowdy Falcon? At one point, he was weaving in and out of trees, still flying. I'm not personally familiar with the stresses that speed-racking/flying pace puts on a horse's joints - I expect it's nothing to be sneezed at. Maybe it's hard on them to do it on turns and around corners. But, it strikes me that a horse that can do it on turns and corners has a stronger gait than one who can only do it on a straightway. I still don't plan to encourage my horses to fly-pace, but I'm not so sure where the Icelandic show people get off bragging about Icelandics being the only breed to have the gait, when a few other horses can do it...and do it under more demanding conditions. Karen Thomas, NC -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.14/636 - Release Date: 1/18/2007 4:00 AM
