--- In IceHorses@yahoogroups.com, Mic Rushen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >
> > Yes, but that's a result of bad riding/training, not of keeping the > horse in a dark stable then bringing it out only for the show. > > We were talking about the unnatural way the stallion Clout is probably > kept, in order to bring about such unnatural animation when he's > allowed out. This is not the same discussion as the usual poor > riding/training etc. > Do you really think that Clout is a product of merely keeping him in a dark stall? I seen this first hand. Although I have fond memories of my childhood, taking lessons at the Saddlebred barn and hanging around there all the time, I do remember what they did to the horses. All of the Saddlebreds were kept in the barn all the time. They never let them out to run free. This was mostly to keep them clean and to prevent them from pulling shoes. We know I am not for this, I think it makes horses go crazy. Mine are all out 24/7 without shoes. At the Saddlebred barn they would often use wooden balls on leather straps that go around the horse's legs, or chains, they let the hooves grow unnaturally long, probably use a bit of a heavier shoe. I have actually seen someone use a weighted leather strap on Icelandics to manipulate gaits. This was in CA. They said they bought it in Germany. It is a little different than the wooden balls and chains, those are meant to increase action by hitting the horse above the horse, a form of soring in my mind, and the leather weighted straps were meant to change the footfall, but the weight still increased the action. You cannot create a horse like this through keeping them in a dark stall alone. I would bet that he has had some sort of devices used on him. The connection to me, and the reason I think we are talking about this, is that I don't want to see this kind of thing creep into Icelandics. I would say in the US, these kinds of devices are widely used. I can go to any show and see racks of chains, metal balls, wooden balls, all for increasing action and/ or manipulating gait. It really makes me sick. I also believe there is a movement for a natural gaited horse and this is becoming more and more important to people and hopefully the devices are on their way out. I don't see the difference between what we are looking at with Icelandics (flash nosebands?) and other manipulations, none of them are good for the horses. I like to see more naturally gaited horses who are started and trained in a relaxed manner giving some freedom to the horse. I am going to try and do what I can around here. Spotted saddle horses are apparently becoming very popular. I work with a guy who has something to do with the shows. I would love to try and get them to have an all gaited horse trail class and be able to take Snorri to something like this. I have a feeling that I may be able to get them to do it, if I take responsibility for it and sponsor it and everything like that:) It may take a couple of years while I am waiting for him to grow up though. Kim
