>>> I think he was kind of nervous. Does that make a difference? My MFT is just so smooth with out me doing much. So I expect the Icelandics to be the same.
Yes, nervousness and tension can be big factors in how well any horse gaits, as can conformation, training, conditioning, saddle fit, pain...the list of factors that affect gait is very long. This list applies to all gaited horses, and even somewhat to three-gaited horses, since even a relaxed trot can be much more pleasant to ride than a tense one. There are infinite degrees of smoothness found in different individual horses of any gaited breeds. There are Fox Trotters who aren't so smooth, just as there are TWH, RMH....and there are also smooth individuals within every gaited breed. This is why we shouldn't pay much attention to any breed's marketing hype, since we buy individual horses, one at a time, not some imaginary "ideal" horse. Some horses can take several months to really settle into their homes - even a year for some. I'd say most need a MINIMUM of a couple of weeks with practically nothing demanded of them, but that depends on the individual - some may need a good bit more time. And then, they still need time and patience while they gradually get accustomed to how you ride, your cues, your style, etc. How did he gait when you tried him before you bought him? Karen Thomas, NC
