I was very disappointed to read that you feel the Americans have ruined this
pony er uh horse. I love them no matter what we call them. It isn't an issue
and if it is, it's more about one feeling defensive about riding their size
than anything. I know my husband always corrects people that call mine
ponies, but I myself call them ponies when he isn't around so I don't bother
his definition of this breed. In this country, you are right, we call them
ponies, and we call Fjords ponies and drafts, and we call haflingers ponies
and drafts too. When it all gets said, who really cares. It's why I prefer
them. Pony size I mean. I love the way they move, look and act. They are so
much like other breeds and so different. Mine look very drafty in build
because that is what I like, and you might prefer the more refined body.
They are certainly not ruined by being bred here. I find that the ones that
are handled by experienced breeders here or there, have the superior
mentallity to own and train under saddle. I don't want a horse that has to
go thru so much time in a new owners hands that they are mentally not able
to deal with a new change for 6 months to a year before they can resume the
activities they have been trained for at their new farm. The socialized
horse can do much better than the one who is left untrained until they turn
4 or 5. We have two mares that I have tossed around the idea of breeding and
the 1st one has made 3 fine babies. I don't feel convinced that her
personality is good enough to give her 4-6 months off during her pregnancy
and another 2-3 months post delivery. She was very untrusting and still has
issues in new situations with anyone but myself. Not good for a trail riding
person who likes to put her kids on at any given day. My younger mare I will
breed when she is done growing and maturing. But I am still so selfish that
I don't know if it would be easy to let her go unused for the time it takes
to breed her successfully through weaning. It is something that most people
would think about if they breed unless they are just trying to give themself
another horse for themself. The cost to breed to a good stallion is not
peanuts and neither is my time and the vets for shots, health checks, etc. I
had to say that because I prefer the icelandics that were breed here in the
states than the one that I have from Iceland. My friends and aquaintances
are the same as they prefer to ride my American line with there easy going
and fun personality over the sensitive and somewhat untrusting personality
of the icelandic breed mare. Who might I add, was trained by icelandic
trainers and sent to icelandic trainers to improve her gaiting. It is very
difficult to get her to relax. This seems to be a common story with the
horses that aren't handled. My husband and I have helped many new horse
owners with starting basic horsemanship and starting there young horses on
the ground and under saddle. We agree whole heartedly that you need to
interact with the young horse from the start and continue throughout there
growing so they can trust and learn. Tough to teach anything without trust.
I feel the biggest reason the cost of icelandics is declining is because so
many people have started to get this breed and now are capable of breeding
themselves and not with the export costs to make the sale. I don't even know
what the basic charge is to send to the US anymore since I don't have to
look in Iceland to find an nice horse. I am sad that you feel we are doing
an injustice to this breed. I feel we have made it much more possible for
people to own one, not just those with ample money to spend. I feel in my
working class world, most people near me don't spend more than 4-5000 for a
trail horse and the sky is the limit for a show quality horse. But the catch
is, what and or how many icelandic shows do you have to enter? I am trying
to work on training for possible showing with some wonderful icelandic
owners but I won't sweat it if it doesn't come to pass. They still are fun
to find tolt and most of the other gaits, not many shows to go to but tons
of trails to have fun on. I am a pleasure rider and so are the kids I have,
so we only hope that those who do have to spend 12000 to 15000 have enough
shows to enter that prize horse into. Especially if it is gelded and or not
of breeding quality. That is a lot of money in my world. Just my 2 cents
worth of opnion.jeannette
