Hi Nancy,
Icelandic Horse Farm Robyn Hood & Phil Pretty Vernon BC Canada www.icefarm.com Hi Nancy, >>> So the question: is this horse naturally gaited or his wiring just haywire? Or is he throwing in all the versions of "gait" because I don't have a clue. I confess, mostly in an endurance ride, I choose the rate of speed and allow him to choose the gait except if we come to the top of a steep hill . He sounds very naturally gaited to me. I think that a horse having as much variety of easy gait and no hard pace is very natural. To me with this type of horse it is a matter of the rider just learning how to ask for the shift changes within the gait. When we did some endurance and competitive trail riding with the Icelandics we did the same thing - pretty much let them choose the gait (not pace). One of the gelding was in some kind of saddle rack pretty much for the first 10 miles, just on a loose rein. Then he started adding some trot and canter. Robyn
