--- Karen Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Anyway, her quote above makes me think of something. A lot of us > have heard the old warnings that we shouldn't use our legs on our > Icelandic's. I've heard some Icelandic's described as > "well-trained" but buyers were warned never to use legs on them. I know that of the Icelandics that we have, that were trained in Iceland, or by an Icelandic trainer, that while riding our leg is relaxed, yet we can give cues with our legs, for sidepass and such. Now with some western trained horses, like barrel racers etc...well there is a lot of leg contact, a lot of go go go.....kick kick kick. This might be a simple language issue, as who knows what Icelandic people over there might think about American riders...if you watch those westerns you would think we all had rough hands and were heavy with the boot! On > the other extreme, we may want to ask a horse to sidepass, leg > yield, move over to open a gate on the trail, or we might want to > ask for a canter using a traditional canter aid. Can most people > do these things without using their legs? > Karen I know I have been taught to use my legs and seat with these horses...leg and seat aids...the less rein the better, and that is from a trainer here that has trained riders in Iceland and has worked with many 'traditional' Icelandic trainers. And she says every Icelandic trainer is different in their approach to the horses and to problem solving and training issues. Just like the trainers here differ... Skye Fire Island Eco-Treks-808-443-6085 Fire Island Professional Farrier Service-640-6080
