>>>> Judy's note questioning Vicka about the horses at Gudmar's barn re tolting at liberty, on a loose rein, and shoes was clear that she was questioning him.
Now think about that a minute. That's what Judy DOES, if you haven't noticed. She asks questions. She also asks questions about current dressage practices, some things that happen under the guise of "natural" horsemanship... If a trainer is good, then they will stand up to scrutiny. It won't hurt to ask questions - in fact, my faith will be strengthened in someone if I can ask lots of questions and get good, substantial answers. It's not the questioning that's a problem - it shouldn't be. >>> Perhaps some of us wouldn't be "defensive" if we didn't get pounced on any time we offered our opinion or different point of view. And maybe you wouldn't seem so defensive, if you chose to ask question or make points on subjects other than Gudmar, and traditional stuff. And please, give Judy credit. She invited you to submit pictures of your horse - from Gudmar - gaiting either at liberty or under saddle. Maybe Gudmar would be better served if you chose to offer positive proof that he sells some good horses - whether on a regular basis or occasionally. If he's really a "new age" Icelander trainer, this is the very forum to show us that... BTW, one of the most impressive Icelandics I've ever met was one of the very first I met - Anneliese's Valur. She bought him from Gudmar's family. I have no idea if this is typical of the horses Gudmar sells, but I know firsthand of one excellent horse his family trained and sold. Now, past that, it would be nice to know if he's doing this regularly, or if he just happened to stumble on a good horse, because no one can draw conclusions from one - or three - examples. I say that not as a question for Gudmar particularly, but because one of my most impressive horses (pre-Icelandics) was owned by one of the most notorious (in a bad way) horse-traders in this area before we bought him from the people we got him from. That Joe is a wonderful horse doesn't prove that the horse trader sold only wonderful horses, but it did prove that he didn't sell only BAD horses... Karen Thomas, NC -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.9/623 - Release Date: 1/11/2007 3:33 PM
