On Sun, 02 Sep 2007 14:04:37 -0000, you wrote: >That's why is so hard for me to imagine sometimes, >how these sweet docile horses, go from that, to freaking out and >hurting people, I mean I imagine something really extreme has >happened to get them to that place.
I might have told this story here before, but for those of you rather newer to the list - I look after horses, mostly youngsters, for an Icelandic friend of ours. A few years ago, a lady was having catching issues with a mare she bought off our friend, and he asked me to take her and work with her, which I did (in the meantime, he offered, and the lady accepted, another horse). After a couple of weeks the catching was no longer an issue and the mare was friendly and polite. However, one day as I walked past her in the field, she kicked out at me. She was not startled, she knew I was there in advance, and there were no other horses around - she just did it. I was very surprised, but put it down to experience (she didn't hit me) - maybe a fly bite or something - and carried on. A few days later, she did exactly the same thing, though this time she actually approached me before kicking out, and got me - her hoof landed on my side. I wasn't hurt, but pretty shaken. I called my Icelandic friend and told him what had happened - he immediately told me to have the mare shot. As he said, once could be a mistake on her part, twice was intentional and an accident - possibly fatal - waiting to happen. I've had Icelandics for over 20 years, and bred many foals. Once or twice, frightened foals have kicked, but that mare was the only adult I ever knew try to kick me intentionally. And she will not have the opportunity again, nor pass on her temperament disposed for it..... Mic Mic (Michelle) Rushen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solva Icelandic Horses and DeMeulenkamp Sweet Itch Rugs: www.solva-icelandics.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes"
