On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:04:29 -0800, you wrote: >mentioned in the Cavallo article. Is that a coincidence? were we ahead of >the time? was it some type of synergy? or totally independent?
Probably independent, as they are simply good basic horsemanship that has been accepted for decades in virtually every other branch of equestrianism (sigh). > >So, how did the cycle of poor riding and training get started and how did it >expand to becoming law / culture / correct, in regard to riding the >Icelandic Horse? I think it began because people like to see a proud, fast horse... which started off being a merry, happy beastie who held his head up through spirit, and went quickly because it was fun, but has degenerated into unhappy horses hauled into position and expected to go flat out. But "that's what people want to see".... too many rednecks in the audience... we need to educate them too. Maybe that's part of the reason that Icelandics are so slow to catch on in the UK, a country which traditionally has a huge and rather knowledgeable equestrian public. It's interesting that some of the people most interested in Icelandics over here are gypsies (mind you, they do still have gaited horses of their own, so maybe that's merely a coincidence). Mic Mic (Michelle) Rushen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solva Icelandic Horses and DeMeulenkamp Sweet Itch Rugs: www.solva-icelandics.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes"
