Gaits of the Icelandic Horse
The Icelandic breed have 5 natural gaits – the walk, trot, Tolt, canter and Pace. Those who have the basic gaits plus tolt are called four gaited. If they can pace and tolt they are known as five gaited. There are different classes at competitions for five and four gaited horses.
TOLT -
The Tolt is an extremely smooth gait which can be ridden comfortably by the rider for long periods of time. It is a four beat gait with the same footfall as the walk and at least one foot is always in contact with the ground. The tolt can be ridden very slow or fast to the speed of a canter. A tolting horse is magic to ride and the tolt is a very important trait of the Icelandic breed.
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PACE - Skeið
The Pace is a two beat gait where the horses legs move laterally with a moment of suspension. It is often called the flying pace as it gives the rider the feeling of doing just that. The flying pace can reach speeds of up to 30mph for short distances over flat ground.
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