On Sat, Aug 25, 2007 at 09:44:24AM +0100, Mic Rushen wrote: > However, although FIPO shows are the main competition arena for > Icelandics internationally, on a national level there are many more > opportunities (well, at least in the UK and Europe, may not be the > same over there). Le Trec, LDR, dressage, driving, RDA etc are all > being done very succesfully with Icelandics.
in the usa too! stjarni is now my eventing horse; having won our first two-phase, three-phases are next :) i am noticing a difference in his gaits depending on his shoeing, though i still rebel at labelling either condition thus far "artificial". with shoes in front, he trots beautifully. bare in front (four weeks so far) he was lame the first week, okay the second (won the two-phase then), ok on trail rides the third, but still definitely more lateral when at liberty and having less reach in front at the trot. i kind of think he's still a little sore, and adapting (i am using moisturizers on his feet, as our sand paddock and arena are both bone-dry, and he had cracks in his front feet before i had his shoes removed). otoh his tolt has become somewhat more beautiful, i am told. *shrug* i will have him re-shod in front if he doesn't seem comfortable (mainly by whether he'll walk on a gravel trail or prefers trampling the blueberry bushes on the sides) when he's due for his next trim in three weeks or so. regardless of his shoes he prefers to trot or canter to his jumps, presumably so he can see them and dorsoflex over. but he LOVES jumping; it's his favorite thing so far. (we're up to 2' verticals and 18" spreads, and nothing so far has scared him, incl. barrels, tires, and flowery tiger-striped gates.) --vicka
