On Mar 27, 2008, at 4:21 AM, Karen Thomas wrote: >>>> At least with Peruvians, what is highly desirable when gaiting -- >>>> ie., >>>> enough reach with the back legs such it is stepping under the saddle >>>> area and is capping or, even better, overstepping by up to 12 >>>> inches the >>>> front hoof prints, really doesn't happen if the horse is >>>> ventroflexed, > > > Oh, I betcha I could find some horses who can overstride with hollow > backs! > I'm thinking of one right now - of a non-gaited breed. Sure, he can > move > better when he's not hollow, but overstride doesn't define collection.
But likely not a gaited horse of Spanish descent, whose breed conformation is short to medium length back, short coupled loins and whose length of leg is equal to depth of body. A long legged, long backed horse like the TWHs or MFTs could maybe pull it off, but we were talking about ventroflexion being necessary fot gait. Lynn Kinsky, Santa Ynez, CA http://www.silcom.com/~lkinsky/
