Hard to say w/o seeing it, but I'm guessing it was an amble (4 beat intermediate gait) as that's most often what's done by non-gaited breeds. The running walk is specific to the TWH.
Just dawned on my, what I thought may be, "Laceley", is probably, "Loreley" Thanks Ravenbird, hadn't even thought it may be someone's name, who use to own it, makes sense. You'd think, since it has a serial number, that Stubben would have some kind of info on it. I'll get a photo of the entire saddle and post it when I have a chance.
www.strainfamilyhorsefarm.com
you ladies need a saw for your adventures! 
If you got to spend the whole time on the horse I could make a case for it but when I did it years ago, half the class spent the first hour learning how to hold and swing the mallet while the other half jumped right on and got led around playing a 'chukker.' Then everyone switched for the second hour. Totally fun and educational but I'm there for the horses lol I tell you what though... if money were no obstacle, I'd be deep in to the polo world hahahahahaha
Very interesting. I've never personally watched a polo match. I don't think even on television. Certainly not in person. I always wondered about the ball hitting the horses. How the heck do they protect them from that? Besides the leg wraps which to me is never enough. Hitting that ball sounds like the cue ball on a pool table! LOL so it must be fairly hard. I guess that's one reason why I never got into it too much as I thought it was too dangerous for the horses I didn't even want to watch. Educate me.
That's some story! Glad you got the little mare. How long did you have her?When I was looking at Icelandic horses in 2010, one horse I tried bolted in the indoor arena. I panicked and bailed off, hit the arena wall w/ my elbow and then head. A week later I was in the ER w/ a concussion, and that was with a helmet. If I hadn't been wearing the helmet, I think I'd be drooling in a wheelchair about now. Happily, I tried a little mare after that horse, and she was the one that came home with me.I wear a helmet on every ride, no matter how short. I've had enough years as a nurse in neurosurgery and the OR to see the result of every stupid thing you could do to your head.
I still have her. She was 5 when I bought her, just turned 21 and still doing great! I had a TWH who was my heart horse, and it did indeed break my heart when I lost him in 2021. I've been looking for another horse and finally got my young TWH Jack in late 2023. I considered getting another Icelandic, but frankly the people in this breed are some of the rudest, meanest people you could ever meet. Plus the breed is expensive!
Beautiful guy!
She is gorgeous !!
Then it could be leaning towards foxtrot if he is on the trotty side. I'm pretty good at recognizing soft gaits from a video, sometimes from the saddle, although foxtrot is one that I have a harder time distinguishing from a running walk.Beautiful guy!
It's only my first time riding a Walker so I am no expert on the gaits. I am just going by how I think it feels. I can tell the difference when he's moving out and it's a 'stick to the saddle' type of feel. Then when he starts getting a little faster it gets into a hard trot that I'm typically used to. An actual bouncy trot. But when he's what I think is gaiting, it's very smooth. I mean I'd much rather have that then a trot or even a canter. I've never even got him into a canter. Sometimes when he's trying to catch up with his buddy I think maybe he'll end up getting into a canter but he just gets into a rough Trot LOL I could push him a little further to see if I can get them into it. I just haven't.
Okay I was getting confused there for a minute. So you have two Walkers. Jack, who is in training that you got in 2023 and you're beautiful girl Galena who is 21 years old, did I get that right?
Thank you! And a personality to match! I rode her after I had the bad crash into the arena wall, and she truly took care of me. Based on her actions towards me in a few situations that afternoon, it was pretty clear that she'd chosen me and knew she was going to go with me.
I think he is purebred Tennessee Walker. Did I say he was a 1/4 TWH? I can't remember.
but I think he's purebred. But I can ask her again . Her Friesian is 3/4 Friesian. I think he's one quarter Paint.
Glenna is an Icelandic horse, Jack is a TWH--Tennessee Walking Horse, or just "walker" for short. Both breeds fall into the category of "gaited horse" which also includes Missouri Foxtrotters, Paso Fino/Peruvian Paso, Rocky Mt. horse, Kentucky Mt. horse, Spotted Saddle horse, and many other lesser-known breeds. All have the gait gene, and that is expressed in different gaits, distinguished by their specific footfalls--amble, stepping pace, foxtrot, running walk, rack are the main ones.
Yes I'd love to do that. Will try it one day when we are back in her arena. Thank you!
Oh, I see. I thought it was the TWH who was 3/4 Friesian--I misunderstood. Glad you got to experience the soft gait! Then he is likely doing a rack or a running walk, as those are typical of that breed. But they will choose whatever gait is more comfortable for them. My old TWH preferred the foxtrot. If your friend's TWH tends towards trotty, then he might be choosing foxtrot as well. If he's pacey (and most TWHs tend towards that), then he might be hard-pacing under saddle when he gets out of gait. That will feel bouncy, but w/ a side to side roll-y kind of motion. A lot of TWHs have a hard time w/ cantering, and when they do, they often do a 4 beat canter (instead of the typical 3 beat). Very comfortable to ride!I think he is purebred Tennessee Walker. Did I say he was a 1/4 TWH? I can't remember.
Okay got it! Thank you for that. Yes now that I look at Glenna knowing she's Icelandic I can see it. Reminds me a little of my neighbors Fjords.
Interesting, okay. I was wondering if they even got into that. After we're done riding and we let them out in the pasture we both are laughing as they both take off running! My friend says look he can canter !! LOL
