>>>> You all know we have only had Icelandics since last January so forgive me please if this has been cussed and discussed, but why do I read so often about Iceys bolting? Do they bolt more than other breeds? Are they more difficult to get good saddle fit on? Because of their generaly phlegmatic nature, are people expecting too much too soon? Or, conversely, because of their generaly phlegmatic nature, are more beginner riders chosing them?
Yes...to all of the above. And don't forget pain, harsh training, a macho-man culture behind the traditional training methods...and then there's the old-standby, forcing horses to "tolt" by whatever means possible. I have an ex-bolting Icelandic. He has a long story behind him, but bottom line, this horse was in tons and tons of pain, for years. I was warned before I got him that only a "good rider" should try to ride him. This horse is gentle as a lamb on the ground, one who MIGHT have been a suitable horse for a small child. Now, why would anyone try to "ride it out" with such a gentle horse who's only trying to tell people that he hurts...? Once we found the source of his bolting, the source of his pain, he stopped bolting. In fact, he has never bolted here. It makes me sick. We didn't rehab him with cowboy methods. We just listened to him. Oh, yeah, don't forget this one: when a horse isn't given suitable basic training, but instead is taught to go fast in all his gaits, then is sold to a timid, older rider, maybe a grandma...and then the horse runs out of control with the woman (probably doing what he was taught), the woman is shamed into believing that the horse is "too much horse" for her...so she sells him in embarrassment, and the cycle continues. Yep, the old "blame the rider" mentality only fosters the cycle. I can't count the number of times I've heard a variation of that scenario. The horse wasn't poorly or incompletely trained...oh no, couldn't be that. The horse isn't nervous - no, no no, not at all. He's just "goey." That's the spin behind the horses. This is the easiest breed as a whole that I've ever met. It just makes me sick that we have a number of bolters. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.30/1127 - Release Date: 11/12/2007 9:19 PM
