>>>> From the Icelandic Trainers Association website: "The Lippizzaner is bred with great collection in mind and the breeding goal takes note of that when it comes to it's conformation. The Standardbred in America is bred to race in front of a sulky and its conformation is molded to fit that role. The Icelandic horse should be able to master both, great collection as well as much extension."
>> Are they kidding?!?!?!? That's in the trainer's association website...? Oh my. Doesn't that remind you of the toothpaste ads that imply that buying a certain brand of toothpaste will do everything for you - get you a hot date as well as a job promotion? That's marketing hype, and that just doesn't stand up to logic - but hopefully most of us are immune to that sort of dribble in TV commercials. (A Standizaner? That would be hysterically funny, if the poor animals didn't get caught up in the hype.) I guess I wouldn't be so surprised if that implication were on the Iceland Air website, or on the Iceland Tourism Board website. In certain sorts of sales (travel, toothpaste, hair color...) the image is everything when it comes to selling a product. But wouldn't you think that the TRAINERS would be more grounded in reality, not lost in silly hype...? That's just sad... I think about what Mic said recently - that Iceland has only had one breed of horses...and a lovely breed it is. Who cares...? But, Iceland hasn't had warmbloods, or QH's, or TB's, or TWH, or Welsh ponies or Arabs... No apology is needed for that, not at all. What on earth is wrong with being darned proud of the great things the breed has to offer, as opposed to trying to portray the horses as possessing traits they simply don't have. The horses deserve better than that. At least they call it the "Trainer's Association", and not a "Horsemen's Association", because there's a huge difference. Karen Thomas, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.17/1178 - Release Date: 12/8/2007 11:59 AM
