That is certainly my admittedly limited experience. I know three Icelandics and met the entire herd at Niels West. So - all the Icelandics I have ever met are related. They are certainly equines, but I bought my first horse in 1963 and I can't really remember any horse or pony quite like the few Icelandics I know. I think I have either ridden, handled or started and trained: lots of Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, one Morgan, one TWH, several Arabs and Arab crosses, Welsh ponies, grade ponies, one Standardbred, one Appaloosa, two Saddlebred crosses, a draft cross. Although each was unique, the Icelandics are more unique, calmer, more phlegmatic, people appreciating, highly teachable, very willing to learn.
Tosca is in training now. She had some previous work in the round pen, done differently than I like to work now, but she's obviously producing what she's been taught with a look on her face that says, "Is this what you want? Is this it? Now do I have it?" I am letting her do what she knows and we are phasing into working my way. Certainly neither style is right or wrong. She has been taught to stop on the circle, on the rail of the pen and stand - and stand - and stand. No matter what I do in the pen, she just stands there like an obedient little soldier. Nancy
