--- In IceHorses@yahoogroups.com, "Nancy Sturm" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >
> owned Icelandics since last Januray. However, I do own an off-track > Standardbred who paced at the track. He has learned to trot at least part > of the time, but his hard race track pace is a very unpleasant gait to ride. My Stbd raced two years, never won. Had him now for eight years.He has a great trot! And an awful pace, usually out of the canter when he can't get the canter together properly. I have ridden other Stbds with a smooth pace though. > We > can't seem to find the right job for him. His role in our lives may simply > to make us smile. Mine can have a nasty attitude at times towards other horses, but we all love him dearly. I have done some CTR with him, my daughter has jumped him and I drive and trail ride him mostly now. He is amazingly athletic and sure footed on trails; and when I went out with my mother on a trail ride trying out Icelandics, she kept telling me how great and wonderful they are ( she is the one that really wanted one, I had never been exposed to them before).All I could say was that I have one at home in the barn that can do all that!. Long story short, we bought two Icelandics, 3.5 years old, a gelding and a mare. Just doing ground work and longlining with them, but will start training them next spring. I do have to say they are really sweet and I am enjoying having them, just wish my big horses would be a bit kinder to them - I still have to keep them apart in paddocks with space between them. Hopefully some day they can all be one big happy family. Monica Lamothe Ontario
