On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:47:09 -0800, you wrote: >What is it about this style of riding that allows people to accept fighting >the bit as normal, part of the gait?
Because it's praised by the general Icelandic horse public, and awarded prizes at shows, so people think it's what is required. Plus many (not all, please don't flame me!) people with Icelandics in Europe (and obviously, in Iceland) do not have any experience with any other form of riding, so they see this as the norm. I think in a lot of ways, countries like the UK and USA have an advantage in the fact that Icelandics are pretty much in the minority and virtually everyone who has them has done some other form of horse sport/horse ownership beforehand. In this country, yes, there *are* people who think it's acceptable to slap on huge bits, narrow saddles and weighted shoes then ride as if they're driving a speedboat with no anchor, but thankfully they are in the minority and most of us are "thinking riders". Mic Mic (Michelle) Rushen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solva Icelandic Horses and DeMeulenkamp Sweet Itch Rugs: www.solva-icelandics.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes"
