>>>> If you like gaited, TWH are more gaited, in my opinion, than Icelandics.
I think "more gaited" probably needs some clarification. If you mean that there are fewer three-gaited TWH than you'd find in Icelandic's, I'd totally agree. I can't even think of a three-gaited TWH. But nothing is worse to me than a hard-pacer, and I've known more hard-pacing TWH than in any breed I can think of. I guess pace is a "gait", but what a miserable one! As far as "nicely gaited" horses, I'd say there are at least as many Icelandic's as TWH. I suspect we could be looking at regional differences though - I have not been around too terribly many show-trained Icelandics, and I've been disappointed in the few I've met...meaning I've seen too many that I think are marginally gaited at best, but called "four-gaited." And of course, my definition of "nicely gaited" may not be the same as the next person's. :) I know I'd take a three gaited (w/t/c) horse over a hard pacer any day, but hopefully we aren't breeding for either extreme. >>>> If you want to do dressage, between the two breeds, the TWH would be the more appropriate choice. Oh, but not if the TWH is pacey! I don't care one whit about headset for any level of dressage that I'd do - but I do need a decent trot and canter. Truth is, if you want to do any competitive dressage, or anything above a little backyard dressage, you're better off with a more suitable (three-gaited) breed - most of the time, neither Icelandic's nor TWH are really ideal. Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.8/993 - Release Date: 9/6/2007 3:18 PM
