DiscoverThe Fifth Gait Podcast5: A Hard Look at World Championships: Shank Bits, Interesting Data + What’s up with walk scores?
5: A Hard Look at World Championships: Shank Bits, Interesting Data + What’s up with walk scores?

5: A Hard Look at World Championships: Shank Bits, Interesting Data + What’s up with walk scores?

Update: 2025-08-29
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In this episode, we dive deep into the 2025 Icelandic Horse World Championships—an event that only happens every two years and brings together the best horses and riders from around the globe. From surprising results and inspiring team performances to controversial judging calls, we take a hard look at what stood out most this year.

We break down:

  • Team Iceland’s dominance and the culture behind their success
  • The shoe-loss controversy in the F1 finals and its impact on results
  • Shank bits: why shorter shanks are trending, the biomechanics behind them, and whether they’re really “less severe”
  • Confusing walk scores and what judges may actually be rewarding
  • Fascinating data on the ages of top competition horses—many thriving into their teens and twenties
  • Inspiring rider stories, from seasoned veterans to record-breaking pace competitors

If you’re passionate about Icelandic horses, international sport, and thoughtful horsemanship, this episode is packed with insights, debates, and celebrations from the 2025 World Championships.

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5: A Hard Look at World Championships: Shank Bits, Interesting Data + What’s up with walk scores?

5: A Hard Look at World Championships: Shank Bits, Interesting Data + What’s up with walk scores?