>>And why is it ok for a horse to do icetolt in Iceland , but no other >>place? Are their joints somehow protected there while on their homeland >>soil?
No, the joints are not protected in Iceland. Why is it OK in Iceland and no other place? They can do what they want in their country with their horses. I think the discussion is that the icetolt can be potentially damaging to long-term soundness for the horses, so why would an owner take the chance? My horses are not disposable, so I wouldn't do it. Remember there is not a lot of "cause and effect" in regard to the horses in Iceland as the horses have been expendable and disposable. There is not a lot of reason to look for ways to fix or prevent problems. The horses have been fighting the bit for years and years, but no one has attempted to do anything about it or connect it to problems with the bit or heavy contact. The incidence of spavin is very high in Iceland. Could it be icetolts? The children in the Blue Lagoon did not connect the acts that they performed with the resultant pregnancy and birth of a child. Think about logic and cause and effect. Do we really need a study? It would be nice, but who would study it and who would pay for it. The icetolt in Britain would be a good place to start. Every horse at the icetolt could have had a baseline of radiographs taken, along with video of their movement, with thermographic recordings. And then followed up at specific intervals over the course of the next few years. But in the meantime, we do have basic knowledge that has resulted from experience, logic, and cause and effect. >From Adams Lameness: "Studs in shoes create a wrenching effect (torque) every time the horse lands which can cause immediate or longer-term joint damage. This force can often result in the swollen legs". Now, my own personal example is recent knee surgery. The original tear of the meniscus happened a year and a half ago, doing aerobics on carpeting at the church. I heard it tear / pop. But I've been able to walk and use it over the past year and a half. But it wasn't right, it would be uncomfortable, and at times when moving wrong, it made it worse. I recall one gal several years ago arguing for the icetolts and her horse not having any problem with it, but a year later was dead lame. Judy http://iceryder.net http://clickryder.com
