>>> Trausti is being perfectly obedient, yet worried, insecure, wanting to >>> stay with the herd. I think these are signs of him not being settled >>> yet. I have a feeling if I tried to ride him at this point he would >>> try to be good but be nervous. Its hard to see the signs since he acts >>> so mannerly, will walk quietly on a loose lead when I take him to the >>> washrack etc.
My friend, Shirley, put her finger exactly on this same thing when Reddi first arrived here from Canada. Reddi was Mr. Cutie Pie at the Icelandic Horse Farm, Mr. Reddi-to-do-whatever-you-asked. But, when he arrived here, he was different. He's still do whatever we asked, but he had this Eeyore-oh-woe-is-me-this-must-be-the-the-meat-plant look about him. Shirley said immediately that it's not that Icelandic's are "bombproof" so much as they tend to process fear and new situations much differently. Trausti is much like Reddi, although I really think it took Reddi longer to settle here than it did Trausti. Don't get me wrong - Reddi would always do what was expected of him. But, his attitude was basically that he was going to suck it up and take it (whatever the unknown "it" might be) like a man. But, even early on, when we put Reddi in a situation he was familiar with, you'd see him visibly relax, like "oh, cool, I know how to do this, and this will keep me in their good graces for now." Anyone else who's a fan of the movie, the Princess Bride, may remember the line the Dread Pirate Roberts told Westley every night when he was a captive on his ship: "Good night, sleep tight, I'll most likely kill you in the morning." Like Westley did with Roberts, Reddi soon came to relax and even like and trust us, but was dependable even before we won his trust. Neither Westley or Reddi ever got killed in the morning, either. :) I think Loftur is the most stoic horse I've ever met, followed closely by Reddi, but Trausti is right up there - very stoic. They are all good, reliable, horses...but that most certainly doesn't mean they don't have feelings. I've always called these horses the "worriers." I also think that knowing horses like these (and many other Icelandic's) has made me into a better horseperson. It's really rewarding to see this kind of horse come out of his shell and start to show relaxation, even affection. Janice and I talked about this before she decided to get Trausti. She's moved from one end of the Icelandic personality spectrum to the other. Tivar is about the most outspoken, un-stoic...even opinionated... Icelandic that I know. (Sina is right up there too. Go figure, I like them both sooo much!) In a way, I think it's easier for a novice to deal with a Tivar or Sina, because if they don't like something, they darn well will let you know, no bones about it. We SHOULD be especially considerate of horses like Reddi, Loftur and Trausti, because they need it and they deserve it. We HAVE to be considerate of horses like Sina and Tivar because they DEMAND it, and most people have a fear of getting dumped or whatever. Too many people get into their own agendas and can't be concerned about the quiet worriers. Karen Thomas, NC
