>>> http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2007/01/021.shtml
Interesting. I wonder at what age you'd need to do the tests. Also, we know there could be a wide range of results, and while most horses may fall into one of a couple main types, I wonder if you could tell more by looking at the reactions in detail? Maybe that's too much to expect. This quote is really interesting, trying to relate it to Icelandics: "The first profile corresponded to less fearful horses which reacted little to humans, and were not very socially motivated and active. These horses proved to be the easiest to handle and were better suited to leisure riding. ... The second profile corresponded to more fearful horses, reacting more to humans and more socially motivated and active. These horses proved to be more difficult to handle, but were more successful over jumps and at dressage. They would therefore be better suited to experienced horsemen for sports riding. " My limited experience with breeding is with the seven foals we've had born here. Not one of them has been reactive - which is just great to me, because I'm trying to produce horses of the first profile, the sensible pleasure horses. It makes me question even more the reasoning for the old "leave 'em alone until they're four" rule. Was that rule started by people who wanted to create more fearful, non-trusting horses, in order to have "show pizzazz"? Of did it simply start because in the old days in Iceland, the farmers didn't have time to waste with young horses, while taking care of basic human survival needs first? I certainly couldn't fault them for that. Horsemanship as we know it today is basically a leisure sport, and leisure wasn't something many people to spare until very recent times. However, if that was the reason, we have no excuse for adopting the practice, "just because that's how it's done." None of my Icelandics are very reactive compared to most "other breed" horses, but within our Icelandic's, Bjola and Maja are more reactive than the others. (They also learn at least as quickly or more quickly than the others...) Yet, their fillies, Kola and Ima, are two of the bravest, most curious, and friendliest I've ever seen. Both were born here, but they have different, not closely related fathers. All I can say is that I simply can't imagine the wonderful horses Maja and Bjola might have been had they had more human contact in their early years. They are very good horses now, but I wonder what they might have been - Sina-like? Some of the difference could be genetic, but seeing their babies makes me doubt that. Karen Thomas, NC -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.30/674 - Release Date: 2/7/2007 3:33 PM
