Natural and Artificial Gaits in Icelandic Horses

Along with natural horsemanship, many people enjoy riding a gaited horse's natural gaits versus the "show" gaits which can be force or manipulated by mechanical means.



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Islandpferde

The Islandpferde / Islandpferd generally wears boots when shown. These are allowed in competitions and evaluations, but they are mechanical aids in regard to gait and actually skew the natural gait of the horse.

Let's show the horse naturally, and base his scores on natural gait and not artificially enhance gait.

If the horse needs "protection" because he may hurt himself with his own legs, perhaps he should not be in the breeding pool. Maybe his conformation is not that great. Horses with good conformation, nice legs that do not interfere with each other, and natural gaits should be the goal.