>>>>If I dont put on leatherboots weight 180gr each and then go down to the track for some pace racing I will probly have a very injured horse as the weight on the front makes my horse take a longer step with front legs so he will not interfere with back legs.<<<<
That's not right. In a well-conformed horse, there should be LESS danger of a horse interfering at pace than at trot or canter. In pace, the legs are laterally paired and should stay basically close to parallel to each other. And remember from high school geometry - parallel lines don't intersect?!!!! The only way for a pacing horse to interfere that I can imagine is if the left rear should strike the right fore, or the right rear should strike the left fore. In a well-conformed horse, there should be plenty of spacing between the legs, and the leg shouldn't come very close to touching. Legs come much closer to touching (and thus closer to interfering) in trot or canter. >>>> If a horse is interfering, he probably should not be bred. Here's a reason why the breeding goals need to be attentive to the Icelandic Horse legs. Exactly - unless his interference is coming from extreme shoeing/trimming or really forced riding. It would take a really extreme case for a horse to interfere at pace - that's a huge warning flag! I've often heard the excuse of the boots being a necessary protection for pace, but I don't buy it at all. Karen Thomas, NC [EMAIL PROTECTED]
