----- Original Message ----- From: "Skye and Sally ~Fire Island" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> My question is this. > > Has there been studies on horses with metal shoes driving carriges at a > trot on hard asphalt? Days on end for some of them. Hi Skye, I have often wondered that myself. . . They trot a lot and the concussion to their legs has to take a toll. I always feel so sorry for the carriage horses in the bigger cities. . . Gawd, what a life. > > Horses who are ridden across solid rock for endurance, trail rides etc. > (My horses are ridden across solid rock on a daily basis, very hard, solid > and unforgiving rock....at least ice gives a little) I think as long as there's nothing on their feet that would "grab" and the horse is allowed to pick his/her speed and gait, you'd be okay. > > Have any studies been done on horses that tolt across ice (for short > perioods of time) Remember, they eat horses in Iceland. There have been studies done on the incidence of Spavin in Icelandic horses, however. Am I suggesting that spavin is caused from the occasional icetolt? No. Just that the breed has not "evolved" to be more resistant to such kinds of injuries. > > And why is it ok for a horse to do icetolt in Iceland , but no other > place? Icetolts started as a late winter gathering when people were likely feeling intense cabin-fever after the long, dark winter and wanting to socialize and have a little friendly competition with their horses. What they had to use were frozen lakes. It was what was available. From a cultural standpoint, I can completely understand how they came to be. Now, of course, it's a tradition and though I don't think they're very nice for the horses, I do respect it's their country and their tradition. However, it makes no sense in this country, to rent a skating rink when we have an abundance of indoor RIDING ARENAS which are large, with good footing MADE FOR RIDING HORSES at our disposal in which to show the horses. But Mic has brought up something that I hadn't thought about before and what I am now thinking is the REAL appeal of holding these events here. . . It's that old favorite curse that usually motivates people: MONEY. In Iceland, Icetolts began and more or less remain an open-air, friendly social event as a pre-curser to the riding season. Outside of Iceland, they've apparently taken on another form: a money maker. Well. . . I guess we will continue to see more of these events here then. Sigh. >Are their joints somehow protected there while on their homeland soil?< No, Judy can direct you to the Spavin studies done on the horses in Iceland. There are scads of horses in Iceland, and if you've read Stan Hirson's blog, http://www.hestakaup.com/, you will read where it's rare to see horses beyond their teens (I noticed this as well): Stan said: . . . In Iceland I have heard people marvel that a horse of 18 is still going. And in one case, a horse that is 23 is still being ridden for round-ups. But the competition stallion is going to be ridden for a few years and then used for breeding. There is always a newer and younger horse coming!" A horse going lame at 10, 12, 15 is not going to be around long to be counted. The Spavin study (at least the one I'm thinking of) was done mostly on horse skeletons. -- Renee M. in Michigan
