> >Judy has cited a study before that was done in Iceland. Yes, but that was of course only done on Icelandics. Have there been similar studies done on any other breed?
>heard anyone talking about bone spavin. There might have been few cases out >there that I missed hearing about, but it certainly wasn't a common, >everyday diagnosis in other breeds. I certainly came across it a fair bit before I got into Icelandics, and navicular disease as well. But over the years I've had a tiny percentage of Icelandics with it, either home bred or imported (let me think - actually, a grand total of TWO). While I acknowledge it's a problem, I don't think it's any *more* of a problem over the entire Icelandic population than it is in the equine population in general. Or at least that's been my experience. Maybe Icelandic owners as a whole are more clued up on recognising it? Maybe we talk about it more openly so it seems like there's more of a problem when actually it's just more visible? I don't know. >With a breed with such small numbers as the Icelandic breed has, and with so >many horses in the world, I'm always surprised to hear about ANY studies >done specifically for Icelandic's. Well yes, apart from in Iceland of course where the researchers don't have much choice! I suppose in a way that's why there are (relatively speaking) so MANY studies done specifically on Icelandics. I don't think there's any other country in the developed world which only has one breed of horse to work with, is there? What I would be interested to see would be a study on the relationship between torque caused through the use of studs/ice nails/caulks and soundness of the horse, whether it's an eventer or whatever. >horses - which often means three-gaited horses. (And do you know another >breed so careless as to advertise Ice Tolts....? I don't.) There are an awful lot of competitions held on ice throughout Europe - pace racing (with sulkies), ridden gallop races etc, so it's not just an Icelandic breed-specific thing. Here's a few sites: www.balticadventures.co.uk/Horse-Racing-On-Ice/index.htm http://www.ski-europe.com/news/articles/pr-rel/stm12-20-04.html www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHuxURPPIXs Mic Mic (Michelle) Rushen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solva Icelandic Horses and DeMeulenkamp Sweet Itch Rugs: www.solva-icelandics.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes"
