> In general, Icelandics are bred to be spirited under saddle. Almost all > Icelandics tend to be very calm and easy going on the ground, but most will > be surprisingly forward when ridden. Icelanders call this spirit > "willingness" and a willing horse by Icelandic standards is a forward horse > indeed. A willing horse will always offer more energy to the rider. However, > as in all other breeds the amount of willingness varies from individual to > individual some being very willing, others not.<<<< > > > Question: how do you breed a horse to be spirited under saddle and calm on > the ground?
Dunno, but Shadow is like this. Very goey (there's that word again), very willing in the saddle, very "up"and forward--but calm on the ground. Altho he's certainly willing enough. But then again, if the Icelanders have to corner their horses in order to catch them, as I've seen several times in videos/photos, that doesn't appear too calm to me. I sure wouldn't want a horse that I had to "sneak up on", that wanted to run the other way if it saw me coming w/ a saddle. Robyn S
