Hi Maria >>>Interesting point. Peruvians will trot and canter at liberty as do other horses but are not allowed to trot under saddle. It is said about them that 100% of foals inherit the gait (to greater or lesser degrees and abilities)
I am sure they do inherit the gait - I have seen a number of Peruvians who gait is much more towards trot - foxtrot - but really more trot than anything and that is under saddle. >>>It could be as you say Robyn - that since one is breeding for the trot and the tolt that the gene/genes that pass on gait get diluted. Could be - there are also lots of Icelandics that I would call natural tolters - and for me that is a horse that chooses tolt readily without manipulation - although they may have to have light contact as opposed to being strung out. >>I have also read that any breed of horse can be taught to rack with various (some non-humane) training methods. I would say that it is true that most horses can be taught to gait and it is not nice for the horse the methods that are used. It happens with Icelandics - as has been discussed here before - and the better option IMO is to find out what the horse is good at and promote that and gait can come later in life. Robyn Icelandic Horse Farm Robyn Hood & Phil Pretty Vernon BC Canada www.icefarm.com
