>>>> It seems, with Icelandics, that form does not always follow function.
Oh, there are all sorts of old wives tales in American breeds too, saying that horses have to have narrow-chests/cowhocks/sicklehocks/big heads/whatever in order to gait. Horse traders will make up genetic rules to sell anything! Sometimes animals do well at a sport DESPITE a conformation fault... The offspring will often inherit the fault, but not the other traits that define the desirable trait. It's up to us to know what's truly related, and to try to preserver the long-term soundness of the breed. >>> From videos I've seen, they always seem to slow down on the bends and speed up on the short sides, where Icelandics in fast tolt are expected to maintain the speed around the bends. Then maybe the judge's expectations should change to honor the basic laws of physics. Karen Thomas, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.0/1296 - Release Date: 2/24/2008 12:19 PM 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/
