>>>> I don't know, Karen, I do think there is something to this. My Arab was always glad to see other Arabs, more so than other breeds and Doppa was in a mixed breed herd before I got her and the horse she was closest to was another Icelandic that she had never seen before.
I don't think there's anything to say that Icelandic's won't have personality traits in common at times, but after watching 24 Icelandic's with seven non-Icelandic's (and two non-horses) for five years, I really don't think the breed connection is very strong. I DO think that quiet, more stoic horses are more likely to be attracted to each other than to an opposite personality horse. But, even so, quiet born-old Mac and Thunder-the-not-TOO-crazy-Arab were instant buddies from they day they met until the day Mac died. Mac was more like an Icelandic in his stoicness and gentleness. Thunder was joined at the hip with Mac, a TWH, even during the brief period they were boarded at a barn with other TWH and other Arabs, as well as other breeds. They WERE both introduced to the herd at the same time, so it seemed more that the "new kids" sought each other out. I'm only happy that Mac died first - I'm convinced he would have grieved himself to death had Thunder died before him. I always thought of them as the Skipper and Gilligan for some reason, with Thunder being Mac's "Little Buddy"... :) Mac was more like Joe (App) or Sundance (QH) in personality, but he always preferred Thunder, and Thunder preferred Mac. One other detail - the horses born here who have always known other breed horses seem totally, 100% blind to breed, absolutely 100% as likely to befriend a non-Icelandic as an Icelandic. >>>> I certainly don't think they "have" to have another Icelandic in the herd to be happy but I do think, in most cases, they prefer another Icelandic if they have a choice - maybe it's because they are most likely to have the same personality.. It really hasn't been particularly true here - we've had about as many cross-breed (even cross-species) friendships as we've had Icelandic-exclusive friendships. Remember though, my non-Icelandic's are pretty quiet-type horses too, not hot-bloods...except for the arguably sorta-kinda-maybe-hot-blooded Thunder. I can't demonstrate it right now though, since all of my non-Icelandic's (except Gracie) are aging quickly, and have had to be moved to a separate "old horse" herd for ease of feeding. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.22/1111 - Release Date: 11/5/2007 4:36 AM
