>>> Yes, trotting is a working gait. It is the most athletic gait, and has >>> the most balance and stability for the horse (other than walking, when >>> there is speed involved). Tolt, being a gait of one foot / two foot >>> support is not suitable for stability, and is basically for >>> straight-line riding.
And, excuse me if I've gotten lost, but aren't we back where this thread started? When Penny H. posted about the new "American Endurance Gaited Horse" person who inquired about buying a horse from her...and didn't the person site the competition type "speed tolt" (as shown on some YouTube videos) as a reason he/she was interested in buying an Icelandic? Isn't it a mistake to try to associate the "show type" gaits with endurance riding? I guess what bothers me is that I hear the announcers at the big demos citing endurance as a skill Icelandic's demonstrate, while they mostly show the forced-type, high action gaits. Karen Thomas, NC
