In order to be able to describe the different gaits, we had to sort the endless variety of Icelandic Horses’ talents and divide them roughly into different types. Using these types as a starting point, we will show how, based on the individual talents, we imagine they could lead towards the dream horse.
We will also make a distinction between the so-called ‘free tempo’ and the ‘ridden tempo’. The tempo the horse offers naturally within a given gait will be called ‘free tempo’. This is the tempo we will conduct our training in, and also probably the tempo the majority of leisure riders will choose later on. The ‘ridden tempo’ will refer to the tempi which are expected from sport horses during competitions. Because the ‘ridden tempo’ only represents a natural progression from the ‘free tempo’, the latter, being the basis of our work, will obviously take up more room in this book.
We will also give riders practical tips on how to improve their horses in a certain gait, without meeting resistance. These can be especially useful for the leisure rider. Here, for instance, he can learn that it is better to trot a horse in heavy ground and not try to tölt; or that a pacey tölter is better when ridden forward at all times and that any attempts to tölt should be restricted to areas with a slight downhill inclination.
The walk
Footfalls, seat and tempo
The walk is a four-beat gait with eight phases. The sequence in which the legs leave the ground is as follows: left hindleg, left foreleg, right hindleg, right foreleg.
Walk is ridden in the basic seat. The majority of leisure riders ride the walk entirely in free tempo, competitions for Icelandic Horses, on the other hand, expect to see a medium walk with the horse on the bit (ridden walk). For the aids to moving-off in walk, please refer back to the chapter on the combined use of the aids.
Natural predisposition
The Icelandic Horse normally has quite a good walk, but the natural predisposition of the horse can only be seen for sure, if it moves in a light and relaxed manner. As there is little impulsion in the walk, the rider has far less opportunity to influence the movement than in trot, tölt, canter or pace, and the choices available to improve the engagement of the quarters are limited.
But on the other hand, the walk tells us a lot about the training of a horse. Lack of trust and dubious training methods, specifically in other gaits, can be detected in the walk when the horse doesn’t move freely or is either fidgeting or ‘creeping’ behind the bit.
Any attempt by the rider to try and force the walking horse into a certain outline is generally followed by an immediate loss of rhythm.
Faults in the walk and their correction
Faults in the walk are, as already pointed out, mostly a result of the rider’s errors in the training of other gaits. For this reason, and let us say this again, it is absolutely pointless to try and correct these problems in the walk (for instance by riding through deep ground or over rails). Exercises like this will only bring short-term results because the basic problem has not been dealt with. If a horse is worked properly in all gaits, then the walk will be as good as the horse’s natural talents allow it to be.
The trot
Footfalls, seat and tempo
The trot is a two-beat gait with four phases. The horse’s legs leave the ground in diagonal pairs as follows: left hindleg and right foreleg; right hindleg and left foreleg. There is a moment of suspension in between. Trot can be ridden in the basic seat, the relief seat or the rider can post, i.e. sitting down on every second step. When riding rising trot the rider should frequently change the diagonal, in order to develop the horse’s hindlegs equally. If changing the diagonal is causing the horse to break the gait, it is better to ride trot in the relief seat or as sitting trot, instead of continuing to put increased weight on the one hindleg.
Most leisure riders will allow their horses to trot chiefly in free tempo, as it is the easiest gait for the horse to tackle rough terrain (that too is the reason why most horses will trot over cavalletti). Working trot and medium trot will be asked for during Icelandic Horse competitions.
Natural predisposition and types
Icelandic Horses show basically two types of different trot tendencies:
Type 1: running trot
Horses of this type do a very fast almost four-beat trot. Sometimes they cannot even trot properly, but show a tölt which tends towards trot. The training goal for such horses is to bring them closer to the two-beat.
The trainer can either start by letting the horse run beside a lead horse or, preferably, train the trot by loose-schooling in the arena; both exercises develop the horse’s muscles in the gait, but without the weight of a rider. At the same time tölt training is continued. The trainer concentrates on achieving maximum suppleness and a horse that accepts his half halts without tension will become more collected in the progress. The more the quarters become engaged, the easier it will be for these horses to find trot. Gradually, the rider will allow the horse to stretch, but only to the point where a half halt can still produce enough collection to avoid the horse trotting with its weight on the forehand.
Type 2: the stiff trotter
a] Basic gaits only
This type, the stiff trotter, performs in a true two-beat, often accompanied by impressive high action. However, because these horses are unable to execute a smooth transition towards the four-beat, we still call them ‘stiff’, despite their good trot. In this context, even the Icelanders talk here about ‘crude movements’. Such horses must learn to trot with a higher head carriage, but still stay supple. That’s why in Iceland, horses are not generally trotted in a low and extended outline, and why Icelanders never post. They stay close to the saddle, ready to apply the seat aids to break the two-beat rhythm towards the tölt, and use a brief tugging rein aid (see chapter on bits) to keep the horse’s nose forward and up.
b] Basic gaits and pace
This type of horse can hardly vary the speed of its trot, has the tendency to lean on the forehand, and generally moves in a rather extended outline. It had to physically ‘learn’ the trot during its basic training. In these circumstances, trainers will try to improve the trot by asking for a higher self-carriage and riding lots of tempo transitions. This will, at the same time, act as a preparation for the tölt training (see tölt, stiff horses.
Birgit Michaux
Orchard Barn
Warren Farm
Finmere
Buckinghamshire
MK18 4AJ
England
