>>>> Not here. We don't rush their training and thus, they don't "rush" into their gaits. Of course, we're not trying to do any "collected" canters, not in the true sense of the word. But, nice, relaxed canters? Every Icelandic that we've started here can canter easily, as opposed to some lugging or rushing gallop. I can't think of any Icelandic in my pasture, or who has been in my pasture, who doesn't show both canter and gallop at liberty.
I should l put one disclaimer on that statement I made. I bought my Icelandics with pace in mind - or rather, the lack of it. I don't care if my horses have some lateralness in their gait range (saddle rack and even a LITTLE step-pace can be pretty cool), but we learned the hard way how difficult an inherently pacey can be. We loved old Mac dearly, and he had many wonderful qualities...but because he couldn't canter, or even trot easily, it was risky to jump him, and he never developed a canter. We were limited in what we could do with him. (His gallop did however, become less appalling with time.) I saw a few really pacey horses when I was looking for Icelandic's, but having owned Holly (a multi-gaited TWH with a good trot) and Mac, who could pace, step-pace and occasionally manage a little running walk - I KNEW which kind of horse was more appealing. I passed on buying any Icelandic's that I knew to be pacey. I wanted strong gaits...but to me, a horse doesn't have to be pacey to be "strongly gaited." Another think I've always suspected: "five-gaited" horses, meaning ones who have been traditionally trained, have been trained to PACE. I have always suspected that training pace will detract from a horse's ability to canter. I can actually USE a canter, but I don't have much use for pace, so guess I train, and which I don't. Since I don't encourage pace, I can't say that for sure, but it seems to me that training pace could confuse the horse, or even encourage a more lateral "muscle memory." I don't know that, I'm just speculating. But, for whatever reason, it seems odd that I see no problem at all with Icelandic's cantering (overall, across the breed) where I've heard many people say what Mic said. Karen Thomas, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.2/1270 - Release Date: 2/10/2008 12:21 PM IceHorses Community for Photos and Videos: http://kickapps.com/icehorses "The greatest enemy of the truth very often is not the lie- deliberate, contrived and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive and unrealistic." "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." ~ Arthur Schopenhauer [] Lee Ziegler http://leeziegler.com [] Liz Graves http://lizgraves.com [] Lee's Book Easy Gaited Horses http://tinyurl.com/7vyjo [] IceHorses Map http://www.frappr.com/IceHorses Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/