About this generally, We do not handle our young horse much but that does not mean that they do not get "trained". They grow up running free with the herd. What they learn from each other, how to be accepted in the herd, how to social with other horses, how to move in different terrains, what to eat and not to eat etc is so valuable that no human training can compete with that. They get very fit and from early age good condition and muscular.
The foals learn from their mother and then from the other. They can play with other the same age. If a horse knows how to behave in a herd of horses it knows the rules of respect and friendship. If a trainer knows how to treat a horse like a horse it can be very easy to train an Icelandic horse grown up this way. From nature horses wants to be a part of the herd and will be friends with the trainer but of course they first have to check out who deserves to be the leader, just like in the herd. Icelandic horses are considered very intelligent but that could also be bad sometimes because they easily learn how to get away with things that we do not like.... To make things easier for both us and the horse we handle the foals a little when they are by the mothers side, the see that the mothers are ok with that and then the see that people is not to be afraid of. When we then take them from the mothers when they are about 9-11 months they already knows that we are not a threat to them. We let them stay as long as possible with their mother so they can learn and enjoy "childhood", preferable the mares themselves stop to milk them. That's the best way, all by nature. We then take them inside and teach them to lead by halter etc. For just a few weeks.Then they are free running until riding training start when they are from 4-6 years old. Would we send our kids to work when they are 10??? Or to school at 2??? We want them to be kids and learn from playing with friends. That is how they learn human social behaviur.... Best regards from Kristin
