>>> Part of the problem, I believe, is that for centuries the Icelandic horse has been expected to fulfill every need of the people of Iceland. That worked, as they needed a travelling horse, a work horse, a meat animal and so on. But now, as the Icelanders (and the horses) learn about a much wider equine world, some people still expect the horses to be able to do everything. So, just because "all Icelandic horses are versatile" they should be able to do dressage like a Lippizaner, reining like a QH, gaits like a big lick TWH and also be safe for little kids and nervous novices and old ladies.... Poor horses.
The real irony to me is that I DO think Icelandic's, as a breed, tend to be pretty versatile...but to me, "versatile" may mean more like "Jack of all trades, master of none." And, there's nothing wrong with that! (Well, except that I think that many Icelandic's ARE "master" trail horses.) I LIKE goofing around, doing a little bit of everything with my horses. But no one expects every (any?) Dutch Warmblood to be a good cutting horse, nor a stock-type QH to be a high-level dressage horse, nor a Lipizzaner to gait like a Rocky. I DO know some stock-type QH's that have done some low-mid level dressage in fine style, and I think that's pretty darned cool. When I think of a horse that truly represented "versatility" I'd have to name Rugged Lark, the horse that Lynn Palm rode to a couple of AQHA "Superhorse" titles. To win the Superhorse title, he had to show well in reining, hunters, driving, trail and western pleasure. I don't THINK he had to show any expertise in dressage to win the title - although Lynn did show him in dressage - bridleless too. And he most certainly didn't have to show "tolt" on top of all that! Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 IceHorses Community for Photos and Videos: http://kickapps.com/icehorses "The greatest enemy of the truth very often is not the lie- deliberate, contrived and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive and unrealistic." "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." ~ Arthur Schopenhauer [] Lee Ziegler http://leeziegler.com [] Liz Graves http://lizgraves.com [] Lee's Book Easy Gaited Horses http://tinyurl.com/7vyjo [] IceHorses Map http://www.frappr.com/IceHorses Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
