>>>> Well, you might get the same 50% if you did a poll of people who purchasedhorses of any breed. I, at least, have been disappointed about 50% of the time.
I think there's one big difference that we see in this breed: I swear we have more novice-horse-owners come to this breed than to most, and also more first-time-riders who...well, aren't spring chickens. And the timid riders...and the heavy riders who somehow have the idea that Icelandic's can carry MORE weight than full-sized horses... And then there are the folks who only want Icelandic's because they are "exotic". I'd bet the satisfaction rate with these people is less than 50%...but then, this is not an easy target market to please. And when/if these folks somehow get paired up with personable, friendly "horse-traders" with exotic accents, but who are indeed "horse traders" in the worst sense...well, somehow everyone expects the sleazy "horse-trader" to talk like a smarmy used car salesman. I think that combination is an accident waiting to happen - and too often it is. BUT, I'd bet if you look at the folks who come to Icelandics with some horse experience (like you, Nancy, and like me), I'd bet you'd find that the satisfaction rate is amongst the highest of any breed. And, I think there are more like us here on this list, than there are on some other Icelandic lists. First of all, those of us who have been duped by horse traders in the past are usually more savvy about what questions to ask. And some of us with prior horse experience know that it's easier to train a horse than to retrain one, so we've looked for younger horses, and for ones who haven't been spoiled with kinds of training that we aren't interested in. And, I think we're more likely to spot a fast-talkin' horse-trader...even if the trader is young, attractive, personable, with an exotic accent. You simply can't beat an unspoiled Icelandic horse. Too bad so many get spoiled by unsuitable training. I've had nothing but wonderful experiences with my Icelandic's. I couldn't be happier with a breed. But, I've been careful too, to do some research, and I'm no sucker for a slick-talker who's out to romance my checkbook. (And yes, I have one particular Icelandic importer in mind when I say that.) So, I think Janice is correct...in a way. But I think she's right, not because of any defect in the horses, but because of a skewed disparity of how the horses are too often presented, versus how they are trained, all versus the people who are attracted to them. BUT, of the 50-ish percent (numbers totally made up of course) that ARE happy, I'd bet we are some of the most satisfied horse owners in America...I KNOW I am satisfied. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.8/940 - Release Date: 8/6/2007 4:53 PM
