On Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:22:45 -0400, you wrote: >Look at how Icelandic's are ridden in shows, and in evaluations. Do you see >any finesse >skills? Do they have to know how to steer or bend or flex? Are "good >transitions" from >one gait to another noted and praised? No, no, no and no.
Um, actually I have to disagree (yippee life's back to normal! ; )) Certainly the vast majority of Icelandics don't know the basics (mostly, I think, because of the "get 'em backed and sell 'em on, get the money in the bank" mentality) but some certainly do. I will often give a bit of a higher mark in competitions for nice transitions and good riding, and though it's not now shown at the WC (shame!) some Icelandics doing dressage do it really nicely. You know me, I HATE generalisations. Mic Mic (Michelle) Rushen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solva Icelandic Horses and DeMeulenkamp Sweet Itch Rugs: www.solva-icelandics.co.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
