Tölten - The unique gait of the Icelandic horse

Title: Tölten - The unique gait of the Icelandic horse

Introduction: The Icelandic horse is known worldwide for its unique gait, the tölt. This special form of transportation fascinates horse lovers all over the world. But why can only Icelandic horses do this? In this blog post we will take a closer look at tölt and explore the reasons behind it.

The Tölt - A definition: The Tölt is a four-beat gait in which the horses always have at least one hoof on the ground. In contrast to the trot, which involves a floating phase, the tölt allows the rider to ride particularly calmly and comfortably. This gait is extremely comfortable as it hardly causes any shock to the rider.

Genetic predisposition: The ability to tölt is genetically determined and occurs almost exclusively in Icelandic horses. Centuries of breeding on the isolated island allowed the special characteristics of the tölt to develop in the horses. The robust and resilient Icelandic horses have developed a unique gait over time that has adapted perfectly to the harsh climate and mountainous terrain of Iceland.

Agility and Balance: Another reason why only Icelandic horses can tölt is due to their natural agility and balance. These horses have exceptional body control and can move their limbs independently. This ability allows them to perform the tölt while maintaining a high speed.

Training and Education: Although the ability to tölt is genetic, the horse still needs training and education to perfect this gait. An experienced rider can improve the tölt quality of an Icelandic horse and fully exploit its potential through targeted training. It takes time, patience and expertise to get the horse to perform the tölt at its best.

Popularity of the Tölt: The Tölt not only has practical advantages for the rider, but is also very popular in the horse world. Many riders find the tölt to be aesthetically pleasing and harmonious. In addition, the tölt is very popular for riding tours and recreational sports. The gentle and comfortable pace allows for relaxed rides in nature.

Conclusion: The tölt is a unique gait that only occurs in Icelandic horses. The genetic predisposition, combined with the natural agility and balance of these horses, allows them to perform the tölt. The quality of the tölt can be further improved through targeted training and education. The tölt is not only practical but also aesthetically pleasing and is very popular worldwide. It's no wonder that Icelandic horses fascinate so many people because of their unique gait.

It is important to note that teaching other horse breeds to tölt requires time, patience, and targeted training. An experienced rider can improve a horse's tölt quality and develop his tölting ability through appropriate training. However, it should be noted that not all horses can achieve the same quality and speed in tölt as Icelandic horses.

It is believed that originally all horse breeds had the predisposition to tölt, but this was bred out through the use of the horse for military purposes. The tölt requires a certain level of balance and coordination, both for the horse and the rider. It is therefore important that training takes place under the guidance of an experienced rider or trainer.