Hi Judy >I also noticed in the videos of the pacers that their heads are pretty >steady and not tipping and torqueing like the Icelandic Horses when they >pace.
>Why the difference? I was noticing that too and there could be numerous reasons. I think that riding bareback actually forces the riders to stay more over the middle of the horses - they lean way back instead but are at least over the horse. When you have stirrups it will exaggerate the one-sided collapse that most riders have to a certain extent. Also I didn't see many of those horses canter and so it is a different feel for the rider if the horse has a tendency to go from pace to gallop. I have only met a couple of Paso Finos that have anywhere near the speed that these horses could exhibit. I think most of the horses were barefoot in the video as well from what I could see - I sure hope the ones on the pavement did not have shoes - could anyone else tell? Robyn Icelandic Horse Farm Robyn Hood & Phil Pretty Vernon BC Canada www.icefarm.com
