i think icelandics are very sturdy, with large cannon bones and short backs able to carry weight. but i think like people, they can do things physically when young, and any small harm doesnt show, but builds up over time. Like strong young men lifting 100 pound sacks of grain all day. Most of them will have ruined backs by middle age. I just think we need to all be careful and keep an eye out for signs. Signs are (in my experience):
1. even tho well trained to stand for mounting suddenly MUST take a step for balance as soon as the rider is on. 2. a swaying and slight buckle when first mounted, especially in the rear. 3. Excessive tiredness/sweatiness/exhaustion when other horses in same shape are doing ok. this is particularly a dangerous sign. You MUST get off and give them a break when they get overheated/exhausted like this. 4. A growing aversion to being caught/ridden 5. and if these signs are ignored? signs of pain, bucking, bolting, biting at the riders legs when mounted. remember backs are funny. you can lift something funny and go ouch and everything is fine, then a week/month later all you do it turn to answer the phone and wham you can't even move. Imagine a rider on you if that happened. you would do whatever you had to do to get rid of them, right? also, like Karen said, the way a person rides makes a huge difference. A sack of potatoes wallering around up there is adding stress exponentially as opposed to a good rider. I told my husband at least a dozen times to not let himself be thrown back when a horse starts up a tall deep sandy hill and he would go, oh, yeah right, then one day his horse started up a hill too fast and he just let himself be thrown back in the saddle and I just STEAMED and told him to get off his *(&*(& horse if he couldn't help him out at least... of course a huge fight but he started paying attention, and now doesnt ride that horse, his horse, anymore until he loses weight, but we have another great horse he rides now until he can lose weight. only trouble is now his HORSE is getting fat :) gotta pony him i guess! also, heavy riders need nice calm horses because balance isnt as good. Believe me, I know! I aint no lite weight myself! Janice -- yipie tie yie yo
