Icelandic horse that paces instead of cantering

When you work on the canter with an Icelandic horse that has a strong lateral tendency, several things usually matter:

1. Basic rideability. The horse needs to understand and feel confident with the forward-driving, restraining, turning and sideways-moving aids.
2. Good body control from you as the rider, so that you follow the horse correctly through the hip in canter.
3. The strike-off into canter. Training this is everything. Remember that a few strides of good quality beat several laps where the horse drifts more and more towards a four-beat gait.

When you start to ride longer stretches, try riding uphill at first and gradually on a gentler slope 😊