--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > On Wed, Mar 07, 2007 at 09:15:40AM -0800, Judy Ryder wrote: > > How can we promote the breed as a usable horse for riders in > North America? > > > > What would be ways to make the breed seem more familiar, > user-friendly, and > > functional? > > why, aside from the profits of breeders, do we need to do that? > they're > hardly obscure as it is; they appear even in most kids' books of > breeds. > > --vicka
I have to say that the write ups in the books of horse breeds and the pictures chosen do not even do the Icelandics justice.....some of theose books do not even mention their soft gaits....and in some its just a by-line....like the people writing about them have never been around them, seen them or ridden them. I would not have chosen the breed based on those breed books. I found the breed by writing down the Attributes of what I wanted in a horse Short Smooth calm easy keeper not prone to shy friendly can carry a heavy rider and then did internet research....and Robyns website actually was great. It made me more interested, gave good information, and they had horses availible to purchase. Plus they had a brouchure that they sent out if you were more interested. I wish the Icelandic congress would make a video, we just watched the Paso Fino video from their breed association and it was alright, right now for prospective owners and people interested we have them watch the Dan Slott video before we go go further in our time. Of course I am sure their would be meetings and arguments and disagreements about what to put in the video...but one would be nice...as a breeder I would like it now, and as someone who was desperatley trying to find info on the breed it would have been nice. We know about all the videos and stuff out there, but if you do not belong to the congress, are not in an area that has the show circuit, finding out information on this breed is hard.... And lets face it, alot of people buy horses based on color or ease....or because of their beauty. We have neighbors down our road who bouth into Paint horses...now they are frustrated with them, hard to ride, expensive to feed...they have a trainer come in and work their horses...they want an Icelandic, but they already spents tons of money on Paints and arab paint crosses...so they feel stuck.... had I had a video 4 years ago when they were interested in purchasing horses, I would have given them one...they saw Sally and me riding past their farm on our Pinto colored Icelandics almost everyday, having a blast.....well they bought the color, but they are not having the experience that we have with our horses...sad really, to have a farm full of horses that you do not enjoy to ride...and long to ride one of your neighbors.... Storme ____________________________________________________________________________________ Need Mail bonding? Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396546091
