>>> As you know, we own our first Icelandics so I'm not a good person to write >>> about their 'traditional" training, but they certainly are not the first >>> breed to be roughly handled because they will cope with it. When I bought >>> my first horse in 1963, I hung out with the cowboys for about six months. >>> They used some very quick and dirty methods and the horses did okay, but >>> they had that "look".
Valid point, but to clarify the distinction, I don't think I've encountered any other breed where such an oft-stated philosophy is that the horses should be left unhandled until they are ready to start under saddle, and then the horses are forced into "gait frame". The other examples TEND to be more a matter of individual people/groups of people's ignorance, not so much of a "breed policy," although it could be more common in some breeds than I'm aware of. While there are still plenty of buffoons out there training horses in all breeds and disciplines, thank god I've seen a real trend towards humane and gentle starting even in the 20 years that I've had horses... in most disciplines. >>>> Twist, who came off the trotting track has it too. He went to the track >>>> young, as they all do, and came away sort of squelched. He's sweet. He's >>>> easy to handle. He's a love and absolutely bomb proof, but he doesn't >>>> have any fun. Doesn't that just break your heart? Karen Thomas, NC [EMAIL PROTECTED]
