--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > i recall there being a lot of resistance here on > this list to > the idea that i was going to be putting a lot of > kids on my > icey;
I think the key word is a "lot" of kids. >that he would be a bad choice for that b/c of > his breed. I don't really recall anyone saying it was because of his breed. If they did, I disagree. Horses are very sensitive, sometimes Icelandic Ponies can be sensitive and not show it so obviously outwardly, but things get to them, they are very intelligent. Things get to all horses and ponies, things we do to them. Of course it is usually unintentional on the part of the human, the majority of people do not read them very well. Putting a lot of kids, or adults on any equine is a big responsibility for them. I think it is very rare that a horse can handle this without a lot of stress, sometimes they just shut down, many times they do not like humans a lot. Moving to a new home stresses them, moving to new states stresses them, moving from Iceland to the US stresses them a lot! Many times they will pick up an illness on the truck somewhere because they have no immunity. Many times they do not feel like themselves for a year after arriving here. I have heard what I think it good advice, which is to let them rest for several months or a year. I know Stjarni did not just arrive from Iceland, but this is what he likely went through, it's very rough. I have found that my horses need several months to adjust to a new home, even when they didn't even change owners, Snorri was very reserved for about three months here in Kentucky, then he came out of himself and starting playing with Zoe again. Many things we do to horses are very rough on them, without people realizing it, by the time we do notice something is wrong, it may be too late for the horse, there may be no coming back for them. Kim
