--- In IceHorses@yahoogroups.com, "Judy Ryder" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > >> http://iceryder.net/honouricelandic.html > > > > > > Poor fellow...too bad this is called fighting the bit as it connotates > > that it is the horse's fault and he is being uncooperative/ balky. To > > me, he is looking for a way to relieve his discomfort/pain....and not > > trying to get rid of the rider to do it! > > That's an interesting observation about the wording, Trish! Yes, I think > you're onto something! > > I think these horses are SO willing to work with people that they can be > taken advantage of.
Yes, I think that is right too. It's really so sad. > > But fighting the bit is something that apparently is ignored / accepted by > the Iceland horse culture. They have not learn yet how to deal with it (or > to train a horse to accept the bit, or to properly fit a bit), other than > strapping the mouth shut. Well, what happens if the horse does have a bigger reaction? if something is going wrong with the interaction, bucking? rearing? I think we have heard what happens, so there isn't a great motivation to learn to work through problems, so this isn't really surprising. > > Here's an iceland-promotion page: > > http://www.randburg.com/is/activity-group/index.asp > and there is a horse with its mouth gaping. I saw my share of head flipping at the one demonstration this weekend, it seems to show up a lot. Kim
