>>>> stjarni is the shortest-standing equine at the barn he's at right now, but i bet he's either first or second in weight-carrying ability (there's a belgian who's enormous and big-boned, but i've heard draft breeds are not the best for carrying heavy riders....)
Not ALL Icelandic's are built to carry weight. At the same time that these people are insisting that they aren't ponies, they are also breeding for a "refined" horse. "Refined" is in the FEIF rules now, and if you look at the show horses, you'll see it. So, semantics or whatever, they are changing the breed to a less-capable-of-carrying-weight equine. Semantics may not matter, but the results most certainly do. And if it's JUST semantics, why do some of these people rush to deny that they are ponies, even being offended at the idea? Is it only ok to call it "semantics" when we'd like to see it stated correctly, but not when someone is overstating the truth? I guess semantics is a one-way street? Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED]
