And here's this new jewel...from http://www.icelandics.org/checklist.html#naturaltolter
"Also known as the skeith, not every Icelandic Horse exhibits this fifth gait. This is a very fast lateral gait, very slightly four-beat, with a period of suspension in which all four feet are off the ground. The Icelandic Horse is the only breed in the world which performs this distinctive gait and, unlike the pace of the American Standardbred, it is comfortable to sit. Icelandics Now, just how many Standardbreds do you think the person who wrote this has ridden...? And then there's this: >>>> Horses are raced in flying pace under saddle (like Thoroughbreds)" And, can someone tell me how racing flying pace is "like Thoroughbreds"? What does that even mean? Thoroughbreds are raced at about a mile to a mile and three-eighths, right? Maybe 5200-7000 feet? With 100-ish pound jockeys. Icelandics are raced for 100-150 meters - about 300-450 feet approximately...? And I certainly don't think the ladies wear big flowery hats or drink mint juleps at the pace races... :) so what IS similar about Icelandic and TB racing...different gaits, different speeds, totally different customs. Why did they not choose to say "like Quarter Horse races" - because QH's are just sooo common and ordinary? Even QH's, known as sprinters, race for about 1200-1300 feet, right? About 3-4 times the distance of Icelandics. And who WANTS to be compared to TB racing? I think of that sport as abusive to horses, infiltrated by organized crime...but I guess it's filled with big money and glamour such to appeal to some folks...not me though. Am I the only one who sees this as so...wannabe and pretentious? One more example of the organizations desire to be "clubbish" I think... Karen Thomas, NC -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.10/624 - Release Date: 1/12/2007 2:04 PM
