The Icelandic horse is capable of all the usual gaits of any other horse – the walk, trot, and canter. However, they possess two unique gaits, the tölt and the skeið, that are thought to have developed in response to a gene mutation. When Icelandic horses perform the tölt, at least one foot is always in contact with the ground. This fluid movement helps stabilize the ride, removing the usual bounce that a rider experiences and providing a smoother riding experience. The skeið is a fast, or flying, pace that requires horses to perform a lateral gait – where both legs on one side of the horse simultaneously touch the ground and the horse moves in a manner which closely resembles the human running. Performed at speed, there are points at which no hooves will be in contact with the ground.