>>>> [] It's a horse, not a pony. What's wrong with ponies? I waited a looong time to get my pony! Actually, I think the "not ponies' myth is starting to die. Too many of us are too darned proud of ours, no matter what they are.
>>> [] It's different than any other horse in the world; it is unique. I DO think it's a pretty unique breed - but more as an accumulation of many small degrees of differences on many traits, than due to any single big differences. >>> [] It's the only horse in the world with five gaits. Yeah, right, the only ones. Except for a good many TWH, RMH, Standardbreds, SSH...many of whom have MORE than five isolatable gaits. >>> [] It has great feet (but you need to shoe if you ride). Mine have very good feet - but we ride barefoot - with gaits too! >>> [] It outpulls 1.6 times any other horse (or pulls 1.6 times it's own weight). I don't know what that means. >>> [] It has more intestines than other horses. Does anyone actually do studies on lengths of intestines? Seems like a rather obscure study to find funding... I hope if someone gets some grant money, they will use it on something else. >>> [] It's naturally gaited (but you don't see it gait at liberty), and to gait with a rider, you have to have shoes, boots, an icelandic saddle, tight noseband, heavy contact, and a whip. Mine gait at liberty for the most part - some may not gait all the time, and sometimes the foxtrots may not be instantly visible to an untrained eye, but the gaits are generally easily felt from the very first rides under saddle. If not, I don't breed those horses, and I let people know that they are not as strongly gaited as the breed standard should be. >>> [] It can carry a 300 lb man, over all terrain, all day. Three-hundred-pound-men? Sure! Over all terrain, all day? Ok, maybe not, but for a couple of minutes...maybe more. >>> [] It is the fastest horse in the world. BAHAHAHAHA!!!! >>> [] It needs no special care. Well, years of survival of the fittest probably HAVE eliminated some the biggest sissies in the breed. However, I don't enjoy watching natural selection at work in my own personal herd, thank you. >>>[] It has lost it's spookiness and flight response because it has no predators in Iceland. I don't buy the "no predators" idea. I DO think that a harsh climate would quickly weed out the nervous, flightiest horses, simply because it takes more energy to act goofy. >>> [] They are extremely versatile. I believe that one. I think a lot of Icelandics can do a lot of things. It doesn't mean I think you're too likely to find a Grand Prix dressage capable Icelandic, nor a Tevis Cup winner, but plenty of horses can do an adequate job of entertaining their owners with a variety of activities. So, within reason, yes, I think they are very versatile. Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED]
