icelandichorse.no

The five gaits of the Iceland Horse are frequently to be found in one and the same animal. Good tÖlt and pace are the overriding policy in Icelandic horse breeding along with good disposition and spirit.
The walk or step (fetgangur) is the idling speed of the horse. The beat is quartered and the gait proceeds without a glide. The step was used when the horses were tied together in a train and had loads on their backs. IT is still used by packhorses when traveling cross-country.

The trot (brokk) is a rather rough, two-beat intermediate gait, the movement of the feet being slanting with a glide. Trot is used when the rider is crossing rough country. It is sometimes rather hard on the rider, but actually there are many nuances of trot.
The gallop (stÖkk) is a passage gait with a distinct glide. In good gallop three hoofbeats are heard. The gallop is reserved for occasions when speed is the main factor, both over stony ground and grassy plains. A variant of the gallop is the canter (valhopp), a convenient gait when traversing mixed terrain, but it is considered unsightly and therefore not very popular among horsemen.
The pace (skeið) is a swift two-beat passage gait. The movement of the feet is accompanied by a great glide. In pace, the horse stretches himself thoroughly and straightens his feet. The thrust is forceful and the speed similar to a galloping horse. Pace is used for short stretches at the high speed. In pace, the horse moves the two feet on each side simultaneously. In racing, the horse starts gy galloping and must after 50 meters, at full speed, change over into pace. In the training of a five-gaiter, the last stage consists in exercising the racing pace, and the price of a five-gaiter depends on the quality of his tÖlt and pace.
The rack or single foot or running walk (tÖlt) is the distinctive gait of the Iceland Horse, setting him apart from other European breeds. Is is a soft, resilient intermediate gait with a regular four-beat staccato ant the footfalls are: back left, front left, back right and front right. The tÖlt is good when the movements are gliding, free and rhythmic, with good initiative, nicely raised feet and resilient softness. TÖlt is used for taking it easy over smooth ground. It is a gait that with unaltered footfall can escalate its swiftness from mere step to great speed. One hears the tÖlt distinctly as a constant four-beat staccato; one sees it also: the horse is proudly erect and carries his tail in a typically undulating movement. Finally, the rider feels the tÖlt: he sits, conditioned by the even four-beat rhythm, perfectly still in his saddle, without the tossing movement of the trot.