What makes the Icelandic Horse Unique
What makes the Icelandic horse stand out as unique when compared with all other breeds? Instead of just walk, trot and canter Icelandic horses have two additional gaits. There are other breeds of horse which boast an additional or special gait but the Icelandic horse is unique in being 5-gaited. Not Icelandic horses have pace, the fifth gait but they should all have tölt.
Tölt
Tölt is a four-beat gait where the sequence of foot falls is the same as in walk. This means that at least one foot is on the ground at any time. That being the case, there is no period of suspension within the tölt. This lack of suspension in the gait means it has a smoothness which is comfortable for the rider as there is no time when the horse bounces the rider out of the saddle. This was prized by the Icelanders living in a land where the road network was at best haphazard and where the carriage was not such a useful mode of transport. The horse was the main means of transport and a comfortable gait was certainly worth breeding for.
In modern times breeders select for a true four beat in the gait and horses which have both a high knee action and a soft back are particularly prized. These horses combine beauty with a sense of power and a smooth ride. It is these qualities which catch the imagination and it is without exception guaranteed to produce a grin from a rider who experiences the tölt for the first time.
Tölt can be ridden very slowly or extremely fast and competitions are designed to show the variations within the gait.
For a video clip of Tölt visit the IHSGB Ltd website
Horses are born with the ability to tölt. Here is a filly clearly showing tölt within hours of being born.
Bjarni Davidsson riding Stefnir frá Sandhólaferju in an exceptional tölt
. Janice with Riddari in working tölt
Flying Pace
Flying Pace is the fifth gait. Not all Icelandic horses are capable of this. It is a lateral gait in which the legs on the same side move together. This should only be done at racing speed when there is a definite moment of suspension when all four legs are off the ground and the horse does indeed appear to be flying. Fast pace horses are highly prized but it does take rather special riding and most people find a four gaited horse (a horse which has tolt but not flying pace) is enough to get to grips with initially.
Hersir in pace showing the flying phase when all four feet are off the ground