>>>> I just know, in a RW a horse has to be able to reachhhhh. RW is my >>>> favorite gait. > >>>I see lateral, and I see relatively EVEN lateral movement, so not a stepping pace to my eyes. BUT I don't see the reaching stepping under of the back legs that I associate with a running walk. Neither do I see the speed of a rack, or even the slower saddle rack. Hmmm. . . .But, whatever it is, it's really a neat little gait! I'd be inclined to guess slow saddle rack, or the beginnings of a saddle rack. Or a slightly pacy running walk. That said, whatever it is, I don't think I'd fiddle with it! Look at her go sans bit on a loose rein and I'm thinking she might be barefoot too. That is what NATURAL GAIT looks like. <<<
>>> Does it HAVE to have reach, or is that just the ideal? I know they are >>> supposed to overstride with r/w, but isn't the paso llano basically the >>> same gait as the r/w, at least as far as footfalls? And the paso llano >>> doesn't have a head nod - does it have overstride? I don't know, just >>> asking. >>>Could it be a little running walk without the reach? Yes, the running walk does not *need* to have overstride, particularly not in the breeds other than TWH. The paso llano lacks the head nod and overstride, but it's because of conformational differences; same would be true of the Icelandic. We could call Nanna's #3 gait the paso llano. Now, it would be very interesting to see what other Icelandic Horses do as their natural gait, without all the mechanical aids (which are listed here: http://iceryder.net/mechanicalaids.html ) I think we could possibly have Icelandic Fox Trotters and Icelandic Walkers. Judy http://iceryder.net http://clickryder.com
