>>> I think the problem is that the same people come over here and teach the same type of riding as norm for Icelandics.
Yep. There was a special "Trail Breeds" issue of Trail Rider magazine that had a segment on Icelandics. The Icelandic riders didn't look like they fit in that magazine, with stiff upper bodies, whips and dropped nosebands - looked about the same as the "show pictures", compared to the other riders in the magazine. Most of the riders pictured in Trail Rider are pretty relaxed and casual, many horses with plain old nylon halters under their bridles, very few with any bridle with a noseband. I know plenty of people who trail ride in "English" type (no horn) saddles on the trail, but I sure don't know many trail riders who ride with contact, in a dropped nosebands and dressage whips. It's not so much the particular tack that made the riders stick out, but the way they were riding. I don't know anyone who trail-rides like that. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.9/1158 - Release Date: 11/28/2007 9:11 PM
