Hi Judy, >>>What would an icelandic-style rider and trainer do with a big horse?
Actually we had two young trainers - male and female here about 12 years ago they were also at my sister Susan's farm when she was in Ontario. At the time Susan was riding at the Royal Winter Fair and one of the riders was Hugh Graham who is a jumper rider for the Canadian jumping team. The two were looking for winter work and he hired them to help take care of and school his horses. They worked for him for 2 or 3 months and he found them to be really good with the horses - riding and otherwise and good workers. So I don't know but I agree a lot can be done with the Icelandics because of their general nature and tractability. However, I find that the majority breeds that I work with are reasonable if you are reasonable with them and I don't see any reason to get after any horse the way I have seen it with clinician many people consider to be good horseman. >>>Look at the Feldmann videos... he has to have one or two people hold the horse for him to get on it. Horrifying to watch what he considers acceptable riding and training of horses. Robyn Icelandic Horse Farm Robyn Hood & Phil Pretty Vernon BC Canada www.icefarm.com
