i went to the alabama state horse fair one year when there was an
icelandic breed demo. Alabama declares the racking horse as the state
horse, you know. Well, the icelandics came out and there is an
audience of thousands, and in huge gaited horse country, and the
icelandics were not well gaited, one was hard pacing, one hard
trotting, one saddleracking and one did a flying pace demo, they were
from kentucky, he could not make it fifty yards without breaking gait.
he would start hopping and half rearing because the man riding him
would haul back on the reins when he started breaking gait. There was
happy applause and much exclamation about how cute, how adorable, wow,
they are supposed to gait, how cool is that.... then the alabama state
racking horse champion entered the arena in the dark with one
spotlight on him and he flew threw the doors in a full blown speed
rack and circled the arena about five times going so fast, he had on a
tux with tails and the tails flew straight out behind him and the
crowd was launched to their feet just roaring, it was the coolest
thing! horse and rider were so effortless. i think to demo horses it
should be exciting and great fun for all. riders and horses. I can
always tell when a horse is having a good time showing off!
Janice--
even good horses have bad days sometimes.
