>>> Another mare from the same breeder weaves even in pasture, stops eating >>> at the drop or a hat and cribs. Two others are similar. They are the >>> weirdest wild-eyed horses I have ever seen, but they all had the same >>> rough handling.
There have been several times when I've heard such-and-such Icelandic stallion blamed for having difficult (or whatever) offspring. But, when I'd stop to think about it, the offspring were also often started and trained by the same person, or at least in the same forceful way. In the cases I'm thinking about, I'd bet on the rough training being the culprit, not the genetics. I'm fairly confident about one particular stallion - I own several of his babies and grandbabies. The ones started gently are ideal horses, very easy. I'm not saying that genetics has no effect, just that it's often easier for people to blame the genes than face the fact that they made mistakes in selecting a trainer... I think rough handling stays with a horse forever. They may forgive, but they won't forget. Karen Thomas, NC
