>>> There are some, it the latest Eidfaxi edition there was an articel on the biggest known Icelandic (named Islandicus ;-)), he measures 160cm stick, which would be something around 16hands, so regular horse size.
...and I suppose that this example proves that Chinese people as a nationality are well-suited overall to play professional basketball in the NBA?? : http://www.interbasket.net/players/yaoming.htm And I suppose this proves that short people should be preparing for NBA careers too? : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muggsy_Bogues Gee, I'm short, and I loved watching Mugsy play for our home team for years, but in pro basketball, he was nothing more than a fluke - a real talent, but definitely a very rare exception. I should let this go, but this is just another case of someone picking some EXTREME example/claim about Icelandics and trying to make it sound not-off-the radar screen - if this one is even true, which I'll believe it when I see proof. Just this week, we've heard a newbie ask if it's true that 300+ plus riders can ride Icelandic's with no problem. Last week it was Icelandics running/pacing at 30-40 mph...yeah right. This week we are talking about jumping 4+ feet. So, what do you bring up when I complain about too many Icelandic owners/promoters not being able to live in the "real world" - a 16H Icelandic. Do you not see that's just one more extreme off-the-radar screen example to make intelligent horsemen go glassy-eyed with boredom about the same-old, same-old outrageous breed claims? (Although, I have to admit, of all the breed demos I've attended, I tend to think some of these Icelandic claims - typically made by importers - take the cake...) Sure, right, and these horses can jump tall buildings in a single bound.... Things like this make us look like ridiculous macho chest-beaters, and I have NO patience with that sort of thing. Why are the normal traits of this breed not good enough for most promoters to talk about...? I love these horses, ponies, equines, whatever you choose to call them. And I don't think they'll soundly jump 5' fences on a regular basis. (But, I do think it's pretty cool that I own several who can willingly jump maybe TWO-feet... IN GOOD FORM. "Good form" doesn't seem so important to some people though, but it is to me. I guess "good form" is boring.) I don't expect to see an Icelandic showing dressage in the Olympics - certainly not in the foreseeable future, although there COULD be a Yao Ming/Mugsy Bogues exception in that sport I suppose. Nor do I believe many can run 35+ mph (virtually none for more than a few feet), and if they only average about 13.1H, MAYBE 13.2H, that's fine with me...and I don't care if many/most can't carry 300+ pounds for more than maybe 5-10 minutes...What the breed IS, is just fine with me. I don't feel the need to embellish ridiculously, and I think it's sad that more promoters can't be proud of what the horses REALLY are. Sorry, I just watched another online video of still another Ice Tolt...I can't imagine intelligent supporters of this breed (people who actually read articles and books about the importance of good footing, about risk factors for joint stresses, about long-term soundness concerns) thinking Ice Tolts are something to be proud of. Just one more example of an over-the-top, garish and tacky extreme inflicted this breed... Karen Thomas, NC -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.7/620 - Release Date: 1/8/2007 4:12 PM
