I wrote: >>> I have never, ever seen any evidence of classical dressage in any interpretation being done in Iceland......
>>> Well Karen, that may be because you haven't looked. Allow me to make it easy: here is one of many links you will find if you do a quick search; http://www.klassisch- reiten.at/t1_islandpferde_sar_en.html This one is well-written and very interesting. Get a cup of tea or whatever and give it a fair read. I guess I'm confused. It seems to me that this Sara who wrote this article is basically saying the same thing that we've realized - that training in Iceland is often rushed, that Iceland traditionally hasn't put a value on dressage training, classical or otherwise...? She's not in Iceland, so I'm not sure how to read from this anything to dispute what I said earlier...? I've certainly read about a few European Icelandic owners supposedly studying with Bent Brenderup, who seems to be one of her mentors. A few years ago, one Icelander trainer (Halldor is his name) started coming to the USA to give clinics. I inquired about him, since one of his clinics was going to be within a day's drive from me. The American sponsor gushed, he's great, he uses classical dressage methods, and he's studied with Bent Brenderup. Ok, great, I've studied a little dab of dressage, and I'm certainly game. So what if I've never heard of Bent Brenderup - that's what google is for. I searched for him and didn't find much of substance about him either, so a few days later I went back to that same list, and inquired if anyone knew anything about Bent Brenderup. I got some more vague but positive feedback, oh, he's great, he's wonderful, Halldor studes with him. Hmm. Kind of a cycle, huh? Ok, then I persisted, WHAT makes him great, and WHAT makes Halldor great? Then I was told I was rude and ask too many questions. Lesson learned: if someone can't answer a few SPECIFIC questions about a clinician they are sponsoring, something is awry. Second lesson learned: if they can't answer your basic questions AND they tell you that you're rude for asking...well, that's probably THE only answer you need to know! :) Oh, btw, at that time, there were some pictures on the 'net of the same Halldor doing a really bad impression of levade on an Icelandic horse - the horse really appeared to be rearing, not in levade. Last time I looked, I couldn't find them any more. Come to think of it, I haven't heard anything about Halldor in several years either. If you've found something of substance that I missed in my wild-goose chase of a few years ago, I'd certainly love to be enlightened. I got tired of chasing my tail, so I gave up. Meanwhile, we see pictures of Jolli's horrible example of Spanish Walk.... Karen Thomas, NC
