>>> i can think of two reasons: one, the haflingers are a little bigger
I THINK that's a relatively new trait. At least when I first saw them in this area, many were maybe 13.2-14H. I've seen some over 15H - that's 15H even the way I measure. >>> and they don't have anything as strange about them as the tolt. Tolt isn't "strange" everywhere. In many parts of the country, it's even common. >>> and (at least here in the northeast) driving is far, far more popular than gaited horses. In my area, it's not an either/or, driving or gaited horses. I know a good many gaited horses who are, or have been, driven. Both of my TWH were initially broken to carts before being ridden. Several members of the local driving club have SSH and RMH - probably other gaited breeds too, but those are the ones that pop into my mind. Oddly, too, most of the Haflingers I've encountered here have been riding horses. Some are driven too, but I can't think of any that are only used for driving. One other interesting thing I just thought about - I don't ever remember seeing a 6-foot-plus man riding a Haflinger in a demo - all I can think of have featured American women or girls doing the riding. Maybe that's just a fluke of the local demos though... Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED]
