[IceHorses] 33 Truths about Horses
Many many truths Subject: 33 Truths about Horses 1. People who don't take care of their own horses will be the first ones to tell you how to care for yours. 2. You should never buy a cheap girth! 3. A handsome horse who's badly behaved will become a lot less attractive in about 15 min. 4. People who think they have nothing more to learn about riding, hit the ground the hardest. 5. Children and ponies are natural allies and often have identical dispositions. 6. The richest horse people often look the poorest. 7. The closeness of a horse is one of the sweetest smells in the world. 8. A solitary ride through the bush is more beneficial then six months with the best psychiatrist. 9. The worse a person rides the more likely they are going to blame it on the horse. 10. The best thing about going to the barn first thing in the morning is that horses don't care how you look. 11. If a dealer insists a horse is worth twice what he's asking he's usually worth half that much. 12. The best way to appreciate how another person rides is to get on their horse. 13. I can recognize another horse person no matter what town, city, state, county or country I visit. 14. You can never have too many hoof picks. 15. It is not wise to argue with something that outweighs you by 1,000 pounds 16. I'd rather have a horse with a perfect mind then a perfect head. 17. Eight hours is not too long to be in the saddle! 18. If you think you have left the water on in the barn you have, if you think you have closed the pasture gate you haven't. 19. When someone asks you if you like their horse always say yes 20. The happiest people I know own horses, dogs, cats and at least one deranged goat. 21. If you're looking for the perfect horse you will never own one. (VERY TRUE!) 22. Owning a horse can either make a marriage or break it. 23. I'd rather lose my Chap Stick than my curb chain. 24. You shouldn't talk about your first place ribbon to someone that came second. 25. If someone says that horse has a little buck, it has a BIG buck. 26. If we need rain, schedule a show. 27. I've never warmed up to someone that didn't want to walk down to the stables. 28. A clean stable and a sparkling horse are among life's great pleasures. 29 Even given away horses can be too expensive. Especially give away horses. 30. No matter how badly behaved you are, your horse always gives you a second chance. 31. A more expensive horse doesn't make a better one. 32. I can't stand to have an empty stable. 33. Losing a horse can break your heart, but it will have been worth it.
RE: [IceHorses] Seeking info re health issue of Icelandic gelding
the vet said Bo has an infection in his muscular system. Results of the blood testing showed a very high white cell count. Please note that we couldn't see any bites/cuts/wounds on Bo. The vet prescribed an antibiotic (Tucoprin) and bute for the pain. Connie, don't wait until you finish all the medicine to get some professional help, I live in the east and I have New Bolten above me and Leesburg west of me, and anytime I am dealing with an unknown, it is financially and supportively more important to get that horse to a center with immunologists and hemotologists available to colaborate on what is wrong and the best way to treat the horse. I have had horses that board at my place that had allergies that progressed into heaves or horse COPD and another that lost vision in an eye over the coarse of a month, that were treated at my barn my limited resources and these things might not have progressed to those levels had I insisted on going to a medical center to assess the animal with specialists, especially in one as yourg as yours. Get a team of equine vets to evaluate the horse and take all of the info you already have, blood work and xrays with you, they will speed up your delivery of care. And most importantly, good luck to you. Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] lightning
she was knocked down like a bowling pin Was her horse shod? That could have knocked her off her feet if she has on metal shoes.
RE: [IceHorses] Another Success Story
stubborn, willful, ignoring me, giving me the hoof boy, you aren't kidding, those ears were cranking around to you constantly, what a good job you have done. And what a hot number, grey and pink are the prettiest combo together. My young mare, also 5 years, is very similar, and I am still working with her in short rides with specific horses to get a more desired action, she bucks when I won't let her go in front, won't let her pick the speed, won't let her stand and play statue, etc...but we didn't get this a year ago, so we are just going slow until this attitude passes and she becomes happy to go out with me, then I will ride her alone, but not until. She is too willful as you put it and has tissy fits when she doesn't get her way. She is a good girl and loves me on the ground. I am taking it slow so it doesn't become too daunting to get through to her under saddle and nothing too stressful. She is such a sweety otherwise. You keep up the good work and keep me updated, it is reassuring to know someone with a good outcome in a short period of time. Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] Lorraine's Butt's
I just happen to have one just like him for sale. Lorraine Yes, I know and the price is right, but the distance is unreal, I don't want to buy a horse from the other side of the country, and I don't want to imagine the cost to bring him over here, and the torture he would feel being brought clear over here. I hope he finds a great home, I am still riding and training the three I have and getting ready to breed two of them next month. Looking forward to some wonderful babies. Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] Mongolian Horses
Bruce thought maybe treating for frostbite? Nancy Yes and very bad on the right hand, did you see how white it is, he could easily loose the fingers. I would be so worried if that were my son.
RE: [IceHorses] Dilemma
But - people who keep their horses there say they have already tried to get something done about the state of the owner's horses, and nothing has happened. That those horses are not being fed anything extra, and don't even get much haylage - and what they are fed is not good quality. Mic, if I were in your shoes, and this friend or friends of yours had these kinds of conditions for their own horses, my first thought is they are not very happy in their lives and they aren't energized in taking care of their horses, seeing them thrive and look healthy, but the ones in their care that I would assume they are being paid to care for, are looking well, then I would try to get them to find new homes for the horses and decrease their burden, as that is what it must be for them. The horses can't speak for themselves and if you are able to speak to these people honestly, then helping them to realize they are needing a break from their horses, even if it would be a free lease to other places so they don't have any work involved in the care, since money isn't the problem, a free lease might be the best way to maintain some control but none of the care. They might need a vacation from their horse lifestyle for a prolonged period to decide what direction they need to go to be happy. I see people buy farmettes here fairly frequently and burn out in less than 2 years, because the horse care becomes a ball and chain and they really can't enjoy their horses when they are the sole providers of care. Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] Icelandic mare on Dreamhorse
yeah, I know, but the mother was sold to Ward in Jersey, at least I am pretty sureThe horse's name (Vina Eir Fra Curtis) suggests she is from the Curtis ranch, whom I think was located in Idaho
RE: [IceHorses] Icelandic mare on Dreamhorse
wasn't this some of Debbie Wards horses bloodlines? She has sold a lot of horses over the net, my neighbor has one
RE: [IceHorses] not tolting
I still don't get how to tolt. They just seem to trotLorraine, is the mule riding friend own a gaited mule? I wondered since I see more gaited breed mules advertised out west than here in the east. Since you are trail budies it would be a good one to ride parallel to for gaiting. I found my guys foxtrot when riding alongside the peruvian and the paso around my farm. My icey gelding just gets his sides touched to go forward and he will tolt and canter is easy, but trot is not as easy. Also, my older mare is trotty, and it is wonderful to ride, but my friend who rides a appy pony, hates his trot, I thought shorter legs made for a less bumpy trot but she doesn't think so, she loves riding my trotty mare. But my point is, my mare won't tolt much either, she needs help like Lynne said with setting her up, which I don't do routinely since I like her trot, but with help, in keeping my bottom rolled back, and getting her in an open straight away, she will go into tolt, but as I said, it takes effort on my part to help her get what I want, and it is hard to keep her in it. I also find, if the group of horses I ride with are gaited, and excited about moving out in a fast gait, not canter, she has a quick to find tolt, but it is very fast and extremely animated. So much animated, I wasn't sure I was in tolt until my friend with the peruvian saw her doing it and said how beautiful she looked. Don't give up, keep trying for short spurts to get him into it, and if he gets it, don't push for too much, but build in gradual increments so he can get it. My youngest mare, who just turned 5 lost her easy to find tolt for about 6 months, I think it had something to do with growing, and now tolts at liberty in the pasture, she seems as tolt dominate as my gelding.
[IceHorses] re:re: not tolting
just wanted to add, when I said like Lynne said, rolling back on the back of your bottom to get the gait started, not saying to stay in the chair seat, just go to it long enough to find out if the horse gets the change to move to another gait, if not, don't worry about it. Just keep riding your horse. Sometimes, more fitness can get gaits to happen. Wait and see!
RE: [IceHorses] Tosca saddled/unsaddled
Okay - everyone has to use restraint here. I know the sadle is huge. I don't think you have any problems from this saddle by looking at it on her from the side. It looks like quite a nice fit. I have had to give up most of my treed saddles for my icelandics as I don't get the looseness they needed across the shoulders.I have one Aussie saddle cut wide for a halflinger and it also fits my draft,other than one off brand half breed saddle, I don't have anything else to fit mine that I would have confidence in when I set in it. I haven't seen any saddles like that around here that I could have tried or believe me, I would have. She looks very relaxed and if that is what you get when you are in the saddle and riding her then what could be the problem? Seems like a grand choice for her. Jeannette
[IceHorses] Supra Cinchs/Girths
I have been looking at the Crestrigde Supragirth and am interested if anyone out there has tried this one. I wouldn''t work for all my saddles but I was primarily interested in use on my treed saddles. Check it out at there site and see what I mean. It is an X-shaped girth and it says it is for the prevention of saddle sliding for the mutton withered horse. Price is not outrageous, but even 65.00 is too much if people out there know the product and if it lives up to its claims. I notice when I take long trail rides the horse gets so sweaty underneath that when I get back on I have to tighten the girth and I feel like it is too much too tight to keep them comfortable. I want something that can stablize the saddle and not squeeze there guts out.
RE: [IceHorses] Supra Cinchs/Girths-OOPS
Could this be it? How in the world does it attach to the billets? http://crestridgesaddlery.com/CRSSupraCinch.shtml Yep, that's the thing. it says you can't have a inset rear girth attachment, like I have on my one of my old western saddles, it would work on my others and it say you need to get it 2 inches bigger than your usual girth size. If you scew through there supra girth, it gives you pics or instructions on how to attach it to the saddle.
RE: [IceHorses] Supra Cinchs/Girths
I have been looking at the Crestrigde Supragirth I had one and LOVED it! the horse liked it, too. That type is also called a packer's cinch. what did you love about it? Was it a very stabilizing force against saddle slippage when mounting the horse. I have 3/make that 4 sausages with legs, no wither, at least none that anyone around me can find and I really would like something that can hold the saddle when the horse is sweating. Anytime I ride from mid June to late Sept. it is very humid and hot and unless I stay on my horse for breaks during the ride, I have to tighten up my girth a lot and I hate to do that to the horse any more than I already have. My hubby has the same problem when he is riding and I know he would appreciate a more stable girthing system.
RE: [IceHorses] Natural Class
Why stop with a class. Let's have a full show. I don't care much for any of the on the rail type classes, but I'd love to see a trail class I think the virtual class is a great idea and a whole show even better but I do think that to set up video of the class at home to be viewed by others it would have to be only one class at a time to keep us focused on the right moves, time limits, etc. I would like it since it would be done on my schedule instead of waiting in line for others to compete, and sometimes causing my horse impatients, especially if others horses are rudely acting up. Although, sometimes mine get a little rude and cause some racket with their tasting others flanks when bored. I do think this sounds awsome...I am ready to get started.
RE: [IceHorses] A few pictures for the Canadians
being slightly above you on the latitude, it gives me hope after the ice storm, just beautiful Karen.Jeannette in Maryland
RE: [IceHorses] The groundwork has started
I don't know what kind of access you have to wood chips but we have had such good success in our ring with them that I wouldn't have anything else. I live in a very sandy based area near the Chesapeake Bay and my husband made us a 65x95 ring that was leveled with the sand and covered with the wood chips. I prefer it over sand as it isn't covered and if we have only sand it becomes too dusty to ride on during the dry summers, but the wood chips hold the moisture just like mulch and the ring is very cushy in case you fall off. No regular watering needed to keep it comfortable, although we did water it down a couple of times last summer as we had the worst drought ever since I have lived here, so even the wood chips were disintegrating in the dry heat and we put fresh chips out on top of the old. My husband takes his crawler over it after a fresh layer is placed to pack it down, usually only once a year to keep it neat and tidy. We get our wood chips from the power and electric company who hires contractors to clear power lines paths and they just bring over the truckloads for free. They need a place to unload and go back to grind up more and we also use it to cover some of our trails to minimize damage from the 4 wheelers in the mud. Great erosion barrier.
RE: [IceHorses] bad weather
i live in a doublewide with a nice big pole barn :) Janice, they are not called doublewide's anymore!! They are manufactured homes, and I live in one, too. Janice, I am not talking about the vinyl sided double wides, I am refering to the old steel trailers that used to be parked side by side in little communities and they were blown all over the place when tornadoes blew threw the area, I know they don't make those kinds of trailers anymore but they are still out there in large numbers, I have a 3 block cluster that is about 1.5 miles from my farm and only a handful of them are vinyl sided, most are the old metal covered 14'wx40'l. If I lived in one of those kinds and my area was under a tornado warning, I wouldn't take cover in it, I would go to another location, they always took the worst of tornadoes. But now that I live in Md. and not tornado alley, Missouri, I don't worry about it nearly like I used to. I also have a double wide in my western Md. farm and it is on a foundation, I like them much better than stick built homes, better insulation standards, easy to customize, and so fast to get put up. The only thing I don't like is the pitch of the roof on the house, too low. I guess that will make reroofing easier though.
[IceHorses] Eclipse gait
I think he has a very lateral pace type movement and looks to be quite a speed in this gait. I don't know what kind of head gear is on, all I can see is tons of leather all over his cheeks, what on earth does this horse have for head gear? Anywho, seems like he is going in a smooth pace to me.Jeannette
[IceHorses] bad weather
hey Janice, you don't live near any trailer parks do you, I remember when I lived in Missouri those places always attracted tornados, must be all the metal, also next most often hit were the farms with huge steel pole barns. I hope you stay safe and so do all the boys. We are supposed to get snow ice and rain here in Maryland. I am hoping for mostly snow, ice really stinks, it takes so long for it to melt so I can go riding. Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] Prices
$10,000 plus the cost of import. That's a lot of money in my book. However, when our former Welsh pony Summer was first for sale as a pony hunter and by a new owner, the price tag was $20,000. She sold for substantially less. I think push button show horses are always asking more than family trail horse prices. I don't agree with it but I am not a show person. I think trail horses that are listed for 10,000 better be perfectly mannered trail horses. No nonsense with retraining. I feel that price is more than I would be willing to pay but everyone has there own experience in pricing for horses, I think someone who has been injured will be much more willing to spend good money on a well trained horses without dickering on price, who wants to spend time healing after a accident when they can spend the extra for a ready steed. Just my opinion. Jeannette
[IceHorses] big wide walker
this guy is built nicely, and I wish I was closer to him as I have friends who are wanting a nice trail horse for there husband and themself to ride. This one has such a nice sprung wide chest and wide set legs, that is what gives them good balance to carry a rider up and down those steep and difficult trails. Jeannette
[IceHorses] Horse Classifieds
this is too funny not to share with everyone, although sometimes it is too true! Horse Classifieds GLOSSARY OF TERMS * Event Prospect: Big, fast horse * Dressage Prospect: Big, slow horse * Pleasure Prospect: Pretty color * Sporting Prospect: Short, fast horse * Barrel Prospect: Fast horse, which can turn * Endurance Prospect: Fast horse which will turn sometimes * Flashy: White sock * 15'2 hh: 14'3 hh * 16'2 hh: 15'3 hh * Big trot: Can't canter within a two-mile straightaway * Nicely Started: Longes, but we don't have enough insurance to ride him yet * Bold: Runaway * Good Mover: Runaway * Athletic: Runaway * Quiet: Lame in both front legs * Dead Quiet: Lame in all four legs * Good in Traffic (Bombproof): Lame all around, deaf, and blind * Pony type: Small and hairy * Arab Type: Looks startled * Thoroughbred Type: Looks terrified * Quarter Horse Type: Fat * Easy to catch: Dead * Elegant: Thin * Black: Brown and/or dirty * Well-Mannered: Hasn't stepped on, run over, bit, or kicked anyone for a week * Professionally Trained: Hasn't stepped on, run over, bit, or kicked anyone for a month * Clips, Hauls, Loads: Clippity Clippity is the sound his hooves make as he hauls butt across the parking lot when you try to load him. * Should Mature 16 hands : Currently 14 hands, dam is 14'2, sire is 14'3, every horse in his pedigree back 18 generations is under 15 hands, but this horse will defy his DNA and grow. * To Loving Home Only: Expensive * To Show Home Only: Very Expensive * To Good Home Only : Not really for sale unless you can 1) Pay twice what he is worth 2) are willing to sign a 10 page legal document allowing current owner to tuck in beddy-bye every night * For Sale Due to lack of Time: Rider cannot afford to spend any more time in the hospital * Any Vet Check Welcome: Please pay for us to find out what the [EMAIL PROTECTED] is wrong with him! * Recently Vetted: Someone else found something really wrong with this horse. * Must Sell: Spouse has left home and taken kids * All Offers Considered: I am in traction for 6 months
RE: [IceHorses] Quote
We are shaped and fashioned by what we love --Goeth Boy, can I relate to that one,Jeannette
[IceHorses] magazine article on icelandics
the author is Jessica Caldwell and the photos look like the east or appalachian mountains in the background so I am guessing that is where they are taking the pics that go along with the story. I stated the height wrong, now that I am looking right at it, it gives a height range of 12-14.2 tall and says they are stronger than other breeds, and can carry 1/3 of there weight on there backs. They describe the tolt as a two beat verticle gait with two hoof one hoof support. More description of a gait than I have seen in a while. They still lay claim to 4 gaited or 5 gaited on this and don't mention the gaited assortment that the breed has, but it does give a comparison to the walkers rack in reference to there leg movement.Jeannette
[IceHorses] at a gait magazine
I quickly read the at a gait who put iceys as the breed to highlight, they say they are 13-14.2 tall, make great endurance prospects and are long necked. I haven't seen too many long necked iceys in my years, quite surprised to see that as a description of there body. I only see short thick necks that look very strong. Has anyone else got the issue?Jeannette
[IceHorses] Basketball Player on Race Horse/SuperBowl Commercial
Did anyone see the giant basketball player racing around the track on the horse that looked like a pony under his huge body, and he won by a nose, his nose, what a hoot. The jockeys came up to his waste as they walked past him. I wish that one would be on again, although I don't know what the ad was for, maybe next time they show it, I'll notice. Jeannette
[IceHorses] Nos pony day
Janice, you did very well, as did your leader who you ponied from. Nos looked very interested in his surroundings and going on an adventure. Great job. Jeannette
[IceHorses] Nanna vs. Gelding
I see the same leg action in striking the ground but the geldings is faster and he doesn't lift his back legs as far underneath of himself. I would say they are both a fast walk or a running walk. I can hear 4 beats in Nanna's video but not so in the other, too soft of footing but still looks like he is moving in the same way. U an trying to make sense of these and I sure like trying with the videos, I can't do it with still pictures at all.
RE: [IceHorses] Mufassa
Thanks Renee, I am going to one of Gudmar's clinics in May and will ask him about the big guy myself since he will be available. I might have to start thinking about selling my Am. Cream Draft horse, otherwise my husband would shoot medead!
[IceHorses] rushing horses
Thanks for the checklist Judy, lots to work out as source problems. I wanted to mention I don't usually ride in the western saddle, just did yesterday as I hadn't been on her in 2 weeks more or less and it was a breezy day, and the norm is one of my treeless saddles, and yes she still tries to rush, which is a good term for it, down or over things. I have seen horses like this get loaded into trailers and they leap over the ramp, when on trails, they leap over a downed tree, and in my case they leap down an incline, or at least she tries. Just don't want this to be her only way of thinking she should go, all my other horses I ride always walk down hillsides, never trot or tolt, too afraid of accidents on unexperienced riders who don't know to go slow down hill. Probably why I don't let others ride this little girl unless we stay on flat ground. Always want people and horses safe.
[IceHorses] Mufassa
Karen, I don't think that a year for a horse to settle into a new country is unreal. He had just arrived when the Kentucky show was going on and that in itself had to create a lot more commotion to his already stressed big move. I also don't assume that the whole year of settling in would he be skiddish, may expect him the first couple of months, then become reactive and gradually see him conditiondown to a more managed reactive state. I think Gudmar list his horses pretty straight forward as what kind of personality they have, whether it be family style, anyone can ride, to excitable, show prospect, etc...I do think that the language and intonation of the US carries its own training issues to these imported horses. My oldest mare was very nervous when I got her and I know it took me a very long time to buddy up with her, she had always been with her herd from iceland until she came to my farm and I think it disarmed her, no where to hide, she was shy and we were all over her, she is beautiful. It took her a long while to trust us and not too uncommon for the imports to be this way. Especially if they come without a buddy. if he does stay overly emotional, or as some would say, sensitive, I bet that is the horse Gudmar would advertise. I guess we will all wait and see, when he posts him on his site for sale.Right!
[IceHorses] riding the young tall icey
went on a short trail ride today, short because my girl was not to interested in following and she wanted to leap down hills or run them. I didn't let her and it made her angry and she would crow hop or buck. Neither was that bad because I put the western treed saddle on to ride and it defiinitly gives you more confidence when riding an overconfident horse who is green. I do think my larger size makes the bucks a lot more uncomfortable for her than she is making for me and so she only gives it one try and then stops it and goes back to a walk like I ask her. She did mostly very nice on flat ground and when I did give her the chance to lead on the trail she wanted to go into trot or tolt and I said no for today since she was giving me her attitude, only walk, then she would try to race whoever I let get back in front of her for more riding. She is very dominant. I do find I have to give her lots of jobs to keep her mind off of who is behind us so she doesn't try to bother them. She is not the laid back personality of her mother. She is still very loving and when ever I get the chance to remind her with praise for being good, she starts prancing, like she is the best child I have. I think she is going to be a horse that needs a dominant personality to be responsive to, and not someone who bullies, that seems to be her job. I am not sure if I should be letting her go faster on the flat and then slowing her on the turns and hills. I don't know if forcing her to go slow is going to create more problems. Like head tossing, etc. What do you think. I don't ride her on trails alone just because she is so head strong and the funny thing is, I can't ride her in a ring, she won't go forward after about two laps, like she hates being in the ring, I do too but I don't tell her that.
RE: [IceHorses] What gait - Runa #2
is this a plain trot? That is what it looks like it would feel under saddle.
RE: [IceHorses] Mufassa
Renee, did you spend some time talking to Gudmar about who he brought Mufassa over here for? Is there a plan for him or is he something that Gudmar wanted to keep for himself?
[IceHorses] young tall icey
Thanks Janice, I don't use the wonder bit anymore either, never did on her even when I had it. I started her with a side pull and went to a sidepull with a stainless steel broken bit but it was so big in her mouth I didn't like it and she played with it too much to get her to hear my signals. Then I went to a hackamore for about a year and now I am using the training style full cheek snaffle, and she doesn't seem to mind it or play with it. She just doesn't like me slowing her down. She has been a challenging horse as when I started her in the ring two years ago with verbal cues on moving she would strike out at me when ever she saw me wave the driving whip in the direction I wanted her to go, she was so evil in the ring that I forbid my boys to mess with her there until I got things figured out, and finally we did but that is a for instance of her dominance. She is quite the take charge mare and is also solo in the field from other mares, she will stand with my cream draft and play with him but she is not like other mares I have seen at all. I like her peppiness, and I hope she keeps it but I do see her having a problem letting me be in charge. I am not sure if this is going to get better or if I need to give her some of the charge so she has some say in what we do, I don't feel like I should but I know I am not able to stand back and look at her like another might. She almost sounds mean in my description but she is the farthest thing from it. She is the one standing at the gait or comes from the farthest end of the field at a run to be the first to join me. She wants to come out and be ridden, or go on an adventure, but she still doesn't want to do it if no other horses are with us. She just wants to run with me or stand. No in between, do you or any others find this with there horses?
RE: [IceHorses] Barney, From Lin
Judy, who is Lin, and where is she located. I have a friend in search of a trained pony for her short husband and she is wanting something that looks like Barney. Could you hook us up?
[IceHorses] pony height not big enough for my organization
The association that my kids have competed in for years had the rule that anything under 14 hands couldn't be used by an adult. I put in for a change in rules and they refused saying that they couldn't imagine some of the oversized adults sitting on these little ponies and hurting them, not in reference to mine, but to all the other little boned things that others would try to compete on. So I guess they won't be getting my participation this year. My kids have almost outgrown competing in speed events unless I drag them out of bed to go to a show, don't see any point in that, so I am retired to a trail rider only for fun. I was really looking forward to competitive trail courses at the show and maybe a little western pleasure competition so I would have to work on gait maintainance in competition. I was really disappointed. My icelandics are 13.0 and 13.2 and just under 14 hands. Doesn't it just figure.
[IceHorses] ice vs. concrete or asphalt
I concur with Mic about the effects on feet over ice or road. I have seen so many people not take heed and trot or cantor their horses on hard surface with steel or aluminum shoes and splat. I ride only at a walk on the roads and my horses are almost always barefoot just because of the accidents I have seen. Really, people should make as much protest about riding shod horses on roads that don't have some type of friction material applied and move faster than a walk as I am hearing about the ice ride that is coming. Just my opinion.
[IceHorses] ice and asphalt
I still don't think people all understand that surfaced asphalt or concrete areas are just as slippery as ice on shod horses. Just watch some of the videos on youtube with the kids that were riding barefoot on the ice, I think it was in Iceland, I was watching it about a year ago but I am not sure this much later how I came upon it. I kind of thought the kids were mimicking the adults at a competition on ice. The oldtimers were getting a hoot at the kids trying to get their horses to move out. The exact kind of thing happens when you put a steel shoe on the roads. That horse will slide like on snot if you let it do more than walk, hoping that nothing comes by you and your horse spins or hurries off in a fright. And also, seen lots of horses go down in stalls at shows on the concrete floors. I don't mean you should change your barns, just be aware of the dangers in perspective of what they are. I wouldn't ever ride in the icetolt, especially since I don't trust the hard road, but I won't beat up people that have done it. I would just have to pray everything goes safely and that is what I do on trail rides when I see the crazies go by, racing fast down steep hillsides, etc. I would guess people put the caulks on for safety and the icetolters will treat their shoes with borium spots or nails too. This isn't as dangerous in the few videos I've seen on YouTube as what I mentioned about some of the road warriors do with their horses, and I am not saying that anyone who has to travel the roads on this list are doing the type of riding I have witnessed, but I just want to keep things in perspective. Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] gonna kill a dog
ANimal control will come out, drive throughthe neighborhood, of course the dogs arent around I have the same thing at my farm, most everything around has been developed and all the wildlife and unwanteds come back to my place and eat all my small farm animals. If I am lucky enough to catch them in the act, I will shoot them, if not, I call animal control to file a report and at least get them to come patrol the area occassionally. I and my husband won't hesitate to shoot pitbulls, we have so many fighting rings around Maryland that most are breed and raised to fight so you can't take a chance on getting caught in their jaws, even animal control in this state won't turn over any of that breed to potential adopters in this state, only turn over to out of state animal rescues so they don't get put back into maryland circulation. I have come home many times to find dead poultry, cats, sheep strung out on the farm, just killed for sport of pack dogs, not even remotely chewed on like they were hungry. Really sad to see and makes one very angry to have happen to nice livestock.
RE: [IceHorses] Hollow?
Oh dear that's the horse with all the hardware. I see now why his eyes looked so haunted. Wanda, I see what I think is a wonder bit in his mouth, no chin strap which is surprising so I am not sure what you are saying about all the hardware, I do see a saddle sitting too far back on the horse and not sure why and if you really get him going I don't know how the saddle would stay secure but it can definitely hollow out a horse, even with this lean rider.Jeannette
[IceHorses] hollow
Okay, now I see what you mean, not so much hardware, but hard use, I agree the horse is very high headed and that is from the gag effect but I was surprised that the mouth was not strapped closed. The wonder bit I don't see used much around here but on occassion some of the barrel horse riders will use it to supposedly improve the breaks on the horse. I am not sure why. I don't understand when horses throw their heads, why do people put on tie-downs. Why not find out why they started tossing to start with. Same with the gaitedness in the competition horse. If the horse is moving nicely, why do they start adding things that can throw off timing and screw the movement up? I don't get it. I have my mare who mostly goes in trot, except when she is excited with a burst of adrenaline, and then she will tolt like no bodies business, but I guess she doesn't like the movement so she doesn't chose it much. I can't see getting her stimulated everytime I want to get her to tolt. Her trot is super nice and I wouldn't put a wonder bit in her mouth to get her to lift her head, round her back and force a tolt. Do people really go to these tools to get a gait? Or is it to sell a horse? I use trail horses and have always thought that show horses had a different mentality and way of going. More high maintainance and more refined rider skills. I am a common person and would hope that people would not want to sell a horse based on forced gait. I would hope that someone would ride that horse themself and in the style they are comfortable with before they would consider buying it. I love seeing horses gait at liberty. I saw a TWH and a Racking horse at the New Years Sale in Maryland and the Walker was a lovely mover with the floating smooth rack but the Racking horse was very laterally gaited and was moving at a slow pace which made the rider teeter from left to right throughout the ride. I never saw the Racking horse rack when the rider demonstrated the skillfulness of the horse. I don't have great gait recognition in Foxtrot but even my husband noted the different way the horse moved. These gaited breeds that rack but become pacy, do you fix them the same way that one fixes the piggy pace? Is it fixable?
[IceHorses] Whisper
What a beautiful grey she is. Susan, she looks like a fairy horse. Jeannette
[IceHorses] Older horses
I have the same feeling as Raven about horses being older. I don't think of them as older until after the early twenties and depending on how they wear there age, maybe older. I have been accused of being too leanient with my horse care but I have always let the older horses dictate what they want or need for extra care. If they piddle around in their feed I leave them in maybe over nite since sometimes they need to be rested but I never chain or close them in a stall, I leave them in a paddock alone with hay and grain and they can see all the horses but the other horses can't push them out of their food or pester them and it does make them relax and the rest is good for them. The next day they almost seek out play time as soon as breakfast is done. If they don't act like they want to go out, then I start finding out if they aren't feeling good, but most of the time when you have older horses, they have times when they need their own space and no one to bother them but they always need to be able to touch noses with the others and that gives them peace of mind. Tiv sounds like one of my horses and a gelding of my friends. They are mature and I think a horse who has the potential to do anything. There is something very special about my Teton that makes me crazy over him and I know it isn't just me, people who come to my barn just love him and always want to ride him whether he wants them to or not. The same can be said about Spike the other gelding who is 24 or 25 and I ride him whenever I can talk his owner into it. He and my gelding will play until there necks and manes are destroyed. They love and hate eachother and are also the head of there paddocks. They make just the slightest move of their butt and everyone clears the area. They aren't mean but they are leaders and just my opinion but I am 48 years old but I still live inside a 15-20 years old brain in a lot of things I do. Your horse doesn't think he or she is adult, they are who they are, no matter what age. I hope this makes sense, but I do think your Tiv has very special traits that I would take in my barn and cherish. Its as though they have the soul and wisdom beyond their years.
[IceHorses] Robyns pics
what a beautiful and huge place you have. If I was closer, I'd be sneeking in your fences and playing with all those horses.
RE: [IceHorses] Fixing a horse/squeaking
when he does the tiny squealy sound is when its real trouble haha, Janice Boy, isn't that the truth, Icelandics aren't vocal horses, they must have Italian in them, full of gestures and looks, not much sound but when they do, it is this weak little squeak that means something bad is about to go down and you better check them out. I am half italian and we use our hands when we talk, very demonstrative in my house growing up.
[IceHorses] logging and pulling
Annie, I live close to Baltimore but I have my larger place between Cumberland and Keyser, in Rawlings so we could have been neighbors. I wanted to retire there but who knows what the future will bring with kids and all. I am planning to do a lot of camping and trail riding to Dan's Mountain top, state land that our place attaches to and I want to have a big ride for FRIDA riding club this spring up there. I have so much woods that it just seems like such a waste to not give my plump horses something to do when I take them up for a stretch other than trail ride. I would like to have horses with a little bit of a job that makes me feel like we can make the place better for us all. I still don't have a barn up there, just corral panels to keep them in. I think teaching these guys to pull trees out of the woods shouldn't be too hard, I actually started my horses by ground driving and advanced them to leadline with a kid on them before I rode them myself. I don't have the tack to do it yet but we have a lot of places nearby that Amish made working gear is available and I think I would get something made for the Hafllinger as they are pretty common and about the same size as iceys. Did you team pull the logs or was it all one horse per job? You can email me privately if we are taking up too much chatting space. I always thought my guys looked kind of drafty.
RE: [IceHorses] Logging and Pulling
Personally I do not think the Icelandics are built for pulling. Driving with a cart is less stressful, but pulling / logging would put too much stress on their hind legs. Maybe small branches, but probably not logs. Judythanks for the info and opinions, just wanted to hear from a few who had experience with this breed! jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] Lonely horses
reported to spend much less time eating when living alone. Just like people, they are much more relaxed at meal time when in the company of others, that is why so many nursing homes put there residents in the cafeteria if it is at all possible to give them stimulation and company, regardless if they can interact with others or not, it does make them more content. They are a constant source of intrigue and amusement to me. And I bet that extends to those two horses too as that is what makes their day interesting is how they drive each other off of something that one of them wants and the chase and play begins! I have had to replace many fences from my geldings being that way and I wouldn't separate them for anything, doesn't matter how much mane disappears, nicks, scrapes. They are definitly having fun.
RE: [IceHorses] Charm Running
We had a dog, in the past, who was kicked by a horse and dropped dead at my feet, so the dogs are not allowed in with the horses.Charm is young and easily influenced, I guess. I suspect in a few years she won't bother noticing them. I am sorry to hear that about one of your dogs, but I am sure it was by accident, as horses kick eachother all the time and don't think a thing about it, well maybe not all the time but they certainly endure most contact without much ill effect. I do hope your little mare is playful well into her adult life, as it does make for more entertainment when you aren't able to ride. I never see my older mare play and my youngest one is such a loner in the fields, she will come running to play with me but sadly none of the horses. She usually stands with my draft gelding in the field if she has to have company but that is only when she is in season, not anyother time. My gelding, well he is such a hoot that I will never be bored with him. He is always playing or eating, not much down time for him. I rode him with some friends yesterday and he was in a mood to race and kept trying to get opportunities to bump into the other horses rear sides and take off. He even squeeled once when he wanted to get the other horse going. He hates to go in quarter horse walks on the trail and I love it. I know one day he will get older and feel more like me with the social and visual part being more fun on the ride than the yahoo part of it. He is 9 and still acts like my teenage boys.
RE: [IceHorses] A good horsey day/Lorraine
All my neighbors have normal hours unlike me. HA! What's normal?? I am lucky, tho, in that I work my 40 hours(well, 39 actually) in 3 days, so even with my second job every other weekend, I have more days off than if I worked a regular 5 day/8hr/day work week. I am the same, I have been night shift for more years than I can remember and I just never let it get in my way. I am a nurse and prefer the work comraderie of nights so I have less stress than if I worked days, I don't rotate from days to nights at the job so I think that it is better since I am less stressed in the job and I get a 25% shift differential that I hope translates into better quality of life and maybe 25% longer life too! Wouldn't that be great. The NIH released a study a couple of weeks ago saying more women who work night shift get breast cancer than women on days. They forgot to mention that more people who work night shift are overweight and the biggest contributor to breast cancer other than genetic influence is obesity. I wish I could have gotten the money for that study. And I am not saying everyone who works nights is fat, I am but I am working on fixing that. I said earlier I rode my horse yesterday, and I did it when I got off work from a 13 hour shift that morning, feed the chickens, geese, peacocks dogs and all 15 horses. Then I tacked up and went riding. I just got about 2 hours of riding which should fix me until this storm front leaves Maryland and I went to bed after the ride. My friends think I am crazy but I love to ride and not many people can ride on the week days before it is dark so I get riding buddies when I can and just alter my schedule to match everyone else. It doesn't seem like a chore if it is something you love to do. Even I can't get my husband to go riding with me but I get so many other things from him, that I don't nag him to be a riding buddy. I just mentioned that since I know so many people who get husband horses only to have to sell them because the husband isn't really into it like they are and they end up fighting about it and eventually have to sell since the guy didn't really want it to start with. My hubby has said he wants a quarter horse but I would have to give up one of mine before he got one. I told him I couldn't and since he doesn't ride but once or twice a year, he could just ride one of mine. I bet I am one of the few who won't get a husband horse since I am too stingy to give up what I love and couldn't part with anymore than my own kids. Sorry to go on and on but I got on a roll and then got lost. Trail riding is so darned addictive. I wish everyone on the list could live within 2 hours of me so we could ride all the time, sadly, no one is close that I have seen post here.
RE: [IceHorses] Here's another..is it real?
Here's another..is it real? I was responding to one of the pictures you sent Wanda of your black or smokey black horse yesterday, he just didn't look like he was in the air like he leaped but like he was transposed to that picture. It was the one with him by hiself. I love the picture. JEannette
[IceHorses] forgot to mention the lunge picture
I forgot to tell you the lunge picture is my oldest mare and I can work her with walk trot and cantor in ring using my finger and stomping my feet. She will be the best when we learn driving, my goal for me and her as I want to use my horses for logging and tree moving after I learn to drive. We have lots of trees that need to be cut up but they are too far into the woods so we could drag them out to the road edge and then cut them and split them to load in the truck. Lots easier than doing in all in the deep woods and taking them out tractor loader at a time. Hopefully we will get enough clearing done I can actually make roads to drive them on. Does anyone else use their horses for logging? I would like to know how well they have done at this job?
RE: [IceHorses] Here's another..is it real?
this is so good it doesn't look real!
RE: [IceHorses] working on horses, one on one
What type of saddle are you using in the pictures I have a 19 in. seat of a Torsion Endurance model. Does anyone on the site do pulling or logging with their icelandics? Haven't heard anything like this and wondered if anyone tried and it didn't work out?
RE: [IceHorses] wide saddle on ebay
I would be careful about the saddle, my friend has a paso saddle and a peruvian saddle and neither are as wide as a quarter horse bar. I have seen people get them and resell becuase they don't fit there mutton backed horses. seems like the McClellan saddle is also popular with the paso groups.
RE: [IceHorses] teev xmas parade
LOVE the photos!!! I wonder why he would roll! V I can tell you why he rolled, cause she had one of the most expensive saddles on his back and the horses just know to swim, roll or scrape trees and mark or ruin the saddle. HeeHeeHee...Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] Re: white hairs on back/treeless saddles-long
i have a problem in that area! ! When Teev trots fast or canters it scares me because i feel wobbly. sensing I was losing balance. In my orthoflex on Jaspar he can canter up a hill and go around a hairpin and i am part of him, stonewall too. i am nervous when i do because he is basically green and when I had my bad fall off stonewall it was in the trail sensation. (he whirled) Janice, I share the same problem, when I got hurt it was my draft and he would counter canter and over extend his back end in canter, both problems as well as drop his head to propell his front end into trot as drafts when being trained in saddle are not very strong in the rear for collection, not that they don't get that way but they are very wobbly when getting started and I was not the best at balance with his gaits and got hurt pretty bad. I do not ride him in a treeless as I don't ride him as much as the 3 iceys who even at trot are very easy to be more of a passenger than a rider, even my green icey is easier than my draft. I have to ride a trot at least 5-10 minutes to get into rhythm with his so I can post, and finally, he has a little wither so I can keep the saddle centered if it is treed I find myself tipping sideways even a little, and I make him lead on trail rides to get him less spooky instead of mindlessly following, seems to decrease his adrenaline reaction to anything we run across on trails if it is just his response rather than all the horses around his field of vision. I don't take him away on large groupings to ride as I can't always keep his attention and he does bolt when afraid, not pleasant. I will eventually take him to these kinds of rides but he is now 7 and this is the first year I can tell he is maturing and learning, so I can get him to hear me when I am on him. Then icelandics are so smooth that I don't have to work as hard when I ride and I like the way I feel them under the treeless, I use the Torsion. My iceys are witherless, I call them sausages with legs, and if they make sudden change in direction I have to grab mane, to recenter or potentially go off, which I have plenty of times when wildlife pops up and we are going too fast for my legs to hold on. I also put too much pressure in my stirrups when I ride and need to do more of what Karen mentioned about riding the faster gaits without stirrups in my ring until I find a better seat, I have been just so relaxed at riding with friends that I don't spend time improving myself, I become a passenger on my horses way more than I should and don't do them justice carrying my big rear around without working on this. None of my friends ride treeless and it is because they say it isn't secure enough for them, won't even try it when I have made the offer. I think they have felt the same insecurity that I have on my draft and they don't want to lose that control or the appearance of it. Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] OT-chickens
I am so excited!! I cant wait to get film of an emu living with Teev and Noss! will that be cool or what. Cool stuff, I had a woman come to my farm years ago to hire my geese to sit her eggs she bought. I couldn't charge her anything and they didn't hatch, but she bought them from someone saying they were fertile and she just had to keep them warm and turned. Also got a call from a neighbor last night to say some loose chickens about a mile from my farm. My husband told our boys and gave them 2 nets, off they went to bring home two hens and two roosters, they must have been blown to our farms from the 40-50mph winds we had yesterday. Not much relief of winds today.
[IceHorses] champagne/cremello
It seems as though the cremello shares similar characteristics to champagnes, and the draft pic I sent he has light green eyes, freckled muzzle and his boy parts too which he tends to show off more than I like. He is a light cream and I know I have seen some dark creams that I would call champagne in color. I guess they could come from pearlino's and cremello's both, the Champagne color I mean.Jeannette
[IceHorses] big red saddle
it is a Hilason 19in. saddle they clearanced on ebay for lots less than usual. Thanks for the compliment Janice and red looks really good on bays and buckskins, in case you are shopping for your dunn when he is ready to ride.
[IceHorses] treeless no name saddle
I saw a number of all leather treeless saddles for sale on ebay today asking only 155.00 and they are 18 seats so I think they would be equal to a 16 in western, would fit most people, just thought I would mention it since the holidays are close and very inexpensive way to try one so if they didn't suit you, you could sell them back and recoop your money.Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] Scooter and I on a good ride
Lorraine, you and scooter look like you've been doin this for years, great video!
[IceHorses] Living in Iceland
I had the same feeling about Wyoming terrain when I went to Yellowstone years ago. I live in Maryland which is very hilly and has 4 seasons, I couldn't get over the lack of vegetation everywhere I went in Wyoming, you had to get to the west side in Idaho before you saw much for grass and trees for shade for that matter. I don't need lots of neighbors or the development but I am quite use to having greenery growing and fall colors and lots of trees. I guess my only wish is that the spring and fall would be longer so we didn't have the extreme heat. I don't mind the winter at all, just the short daylight is depressing sometimes when you have long stretches of cloud cover. I think the pictures of Iceland that Ihave seen look very beach shore like, and some arid plains. Is that what you saw Annelise? My friends in Colorado have tried to get me and my husband to move west near them, but I am hooked on the east, don't think I could ever leave. Jeannette
[IceHorses] trainers
Lorraine, what is a 22?Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] HAHAHA
curlsblocking me from coming up HIS driveway!Janice, I was just scanning thru the mail and got a look, what a hoot. You have quite a watch-donk dontcha think? I thought my geese were good at the evil eye.Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] barn sour
Just the other day he was acting out. And rearing some. Same tack I always use. Maybe he was just in a bad mood. Lorraine, I have run into similar sort of scenerious with my 9yrs gelding. Never had a problem, anyone could ride him and this year he has turned into a strange little beast when going on group rides, he just became evil and will drop his head to his feet while cantering so to pull away from the reins, pressure and then goes into a full gallop, so I don't do anything different to bring this on then I find out that one of the borders at my barn has her boyfriend riding him like a bat-out-of-hell when she rides her TBD who is off the track and too looney for me to try outside the ring, the whole thing started this past spring and sometimes he will buck, crow hop, rear a little, but I have had him for 7 yrs and don't let him get rid of me. I just always thought a horse with a good mind is wonderful to share and I am having a dickens of a time getting him to stop this stuff. I don't let the young man ride him anymore and am hoping that this is going to resolve. My youngest son road him on our trails with a group of 4 other riders and he was the leader and he only tried to short-cut home once so we are finally getting some progress, although it took him almost 10 minutes to mount him as he was backing, side maneuvers and stepping into him when he wanted to get on, and my son always mounted him from the ground before without any issues, so after 5-6 perfect years of riding, one wrong person has done a lot of damage, so maybe if I just keep consistant with my old ways and not loan him out to anyone, we can get him back on track, and I bet the same will happen for you with Daggur with consistancy, even Mark Rashids latest mount was headed for the meat truck because he wouldn't let anyone on him without giving them the ride of there life, and Mark just said he kept a consistant work ethic with this horse and now he would stand anywhere Mark puts him whether he is on or off of him, and he stays there. Likewise, when Mark tells him to go after a bolting or rearing horse, he does it without hesitation and this is a horse in his upper teens, that was quite a turn around from his past, and Mark said that this is his horse, no one else can get this from him because of the way they tried to force him into being good by there rough training. This is an example of what can go wrong and become right with patience, and I know what my horse was good at before and I will keep up getting that guy back, but I certainly will think twice before I loan out my horses to people who want to ride and not know what they are about. I like to ride without training on the trail and do some work in the ring, like reminding my horses of good standing skills when we mount, seems they need to be reschooled on this at least once a year if not more and I am sure I am leaving something out that is always an issue but I think your riding alone in the ring, and around the pasture you keep him in would be a good start and gradually get it longer and farther out until you can get off of him and do some other chores. While on the trail. I have taken plastic bags on the trails around my farm and got off my horse to pick up trash and just lead them around or tie them to a tree while I got some big limbs and dead trees out of a path. Make you rides about more than getting him to leave the buddy although that is your main purpose, make yourself multi-task so you are putting less pressure on him and yourself for this one problem. Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] Oh my...
Does someone really think this saddle fits this horse? I think the saddle needs to be brought forward a good bit more than it currently is, and if I had it on my icelandics, it would migrate forward so the girth finds the sweet spot underneath, not so far back as it is in the picture, I mostly ride on a torsion saddle and it is a nineteen inch seat, and it doesn't sit so far back on the loins as you say, and I got the 19 in. Hilason western style that also sits nicely on the iceys but I don't prefer it as it has a horn that gets in my way when I bend down to put my foot back in the stirrups, one of these days one of my boobs is going to burst when I have to go forward, I am so used to riding without a horn in front that it is an annoyance now, but the saddle is useful for new riders who aren't used to treeless saddles and balance seats so in that regard, it is nice to have a handle to grab until they are a better rider and as I had mentioned before, I have 3 very different shaped icelandics and one cream draft horse so it is nice to have treeless saddles so I can switch them around, my old half breed big horn saddle with full quarter horse bars wasn't wide enough for any of my horses so I sold it to a neighbor who owns a appy pony and it works great on him, and she has a 1 year old icey colt who looks to be much more narrow than mine and will probably fit him too when the day comes to start him under saddle. I did get pics of my big red saddle but haven't figured out how to get it on the site,, I know I went to my yahoo address the last time I put in pics but I don't remember after that. Any help would be appreciated. The pictures are on my digital Kodak camera, if anyone is familiar with that.Jeannette in very cold Maryland-in the teens last nite.
Re: [IceHorses] Calm and Cool Pellets:Valium...calm and cool tablets
The Calm and Cool pellets help a horse be more calm Valium, a small cocktail, Ativan can help the rider be more calm and therefore, the horse responds likewise. I find more people activate the loonie, spookie side of horses and if they started the ride out more relaxed, then the horse responds likewise. I had a friend who was recovered from a femur fracture, compound in fact and required her be airlifted out of her predicament to a hospital to have it surgically repaired, then 7 months later she is trying to trail ride with us on a walk only ride that was not hard to ride, she was a basket case and ended up going back to her camper in only an hour time. The next day she decided to get herself something that would relax her so she could ride the horse without worry, she had a bloody mary with breakfast, and we went on a 4 hour ride crossing railroad tracks, multiple water crossings, and her horse didn't hesitate at all. We told her what was wrong during the first ride so she could try to calm herself on the next attempt. No more problems. She wasn't aware she was so tense on her first ride that it was scaring her horse. She was kicking her pasture buddy behind her and biting the horses in front, none of this is tipicle of her horse and she only got more upset when her horse got upset, to start the cycle of fear. I have lived through a similar situation and it took my friends to help me through the anxiety of riding the horse I got hurt on by sharing the same things we told my girlfriend when she road. And I just want to say that I belong to the candy a-s riding club, so I am far from a brave or dangerous rider. Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] Dagur in red
I am showing this again because nobody commented. LOL Lorraine, I cringe every time I see creamellos or palominos in red. I own an American Cream Draft and every red thing I have he either sweats in or gets wet in and the red bleeds out onto his coat and short of using bleach, I have to live with pink marks for at least two weeks, although it looks good, great even, I haven't had much luck, I did just pick up a treeless barrel saddle from Hilason that is red and I love it, my husband calls it the Xmas saddle and wants me to hang bells from the horses bridle, I don't think I'll go t hat far but I do have a patriotic bridle and saddle pad that I use with the saddle. I will have to get a picture this week and send it on the sight. If Denise can send pics., then so can I. Jeannette-who can't remember how to email pics.
RE: [IceHorses] Hands:who would want one?
my son would take one in a heart beat. That is the only thing he feels he got jipped was not having a longer legged horse to make him a little faster in the speed events. I just put a proposal through this same association to allow adults to ride pony size animals. I am hoping they don't block the change as I would like to compete in some trail and maybe some western pleasure classes. I have to wait till next month to find out, otherwise, they only let kids compete with pony sized animals. Jeannette
re:Re: [IceHorses] Dagur's eyes sores.
He rubbed the heck out of it. But they looked better until I put more stuff on them. Lorraine, I hope that you have been stocked up on several fly masks so that each evening you can take it off when the sun is mostly set and wipe his eyes with a lint free towel. I the mornings, re-apply the clean mask. All his rubbing and tearing is caking bacteria back into his eyes. Finally, make sure the vet checks his eyes for abrasions or uveitis. I have had one of mine develop it over nite and the STB border that I take care of used to get irritations every summer, sometimes 3 or 4 times but this past summer it advanced into uveitis and I don't wish that on anyone. You always want to save vision. Good luck--Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] Litla Lina / early use
My just 12 yo daughter has been riding our 3 yo icelandic, Litla Lina, Meg, I'd like to see you try to stop her, at this point, your daughter is hooked. I have had the same experience and my oldest icelandic he's 9 yrs, and shows no detriment from early use. I too had young kids who couldn't resist the sweetness of this breed and would get on and go for a walk, trot, tolt and slip into an occasional canter. Just watch your horse for stress and don't let your daughter go with really high expectations of the horse, she's so young and a willing partner, you always want her to stay that way. Enjoy-Jeannette
Re: [IceHorses] New farrier
Showing up is a majoy factor. Why are shoers so flakey? It is hard to find a good one. Lorraine, flakey is a good term for most of the owners my husband complains about when doing there horses that are ill mannered and for the most part, dangerous to their owners. Do you think farriers enjoy having to recover from 3 months of injury from a horse who hurt them and be without pay? I am amazed at the tortures my husband endures from owners who will never work with their horses, and he keeps going back because they are good people, just not good owners. I worked with each of my horses before I had my husband trim them, and I found that if I couldn't take my hoof pick and wrap on there feet just like he does to shoe them, I wouldn't ask him to. I bought my impatient horses some slip on shoes for there feet when I go on rocky rough rides. Farriers are some of the nicest guys and gals you can meet, and patience, unending. Spend a day with a farrier, trimming and shoeing 6-10 horses a day and see what I mean. The best most owners give there horses is picking out there hooves before a ride and you would be amazed at how many I have seen that don't even do that. Only time there hooves are touched is when the farrier comes. Pretty pathetic don't you think. Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] What breed - chestnut daughter of buckskin
is it one of those Marchador horses? They are as wide as quarter horses and carry the 4 beat gaits as well. Never seen any around here but I hear some are in Texas and California. I think they are from Columbia, South Am. ???Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] Western/English
most western riders are using the full cheek snaffle, like the one Lyons has encouraged more use of. Not much shank, leverage bits being used in western riding. Only a few people I know use them, and for only specific purposes, and a few still use the wire hackamore for speed events when they can't get the horses head down. It is very fine wire and feels painful, but they only do it for there short event, seconds in time and take it off for other times when they use there horse. You will see more of the specialty bits in cutting and reining horses. Again, only in the use of special training and with experienced and knowledgeable people, I just put a curb bit into my Iclelandics mouth once and road him around my farm and he hated it and kept lifting his head very high anytime I turned him or pulled back on the reins, didn't use it again.Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] Isakre: blue eye
When you go to the tool bar and increase the size to 150% you can see a very nice blue eye. In case anyone else wanted to see, since Karen obviously can without the help. Jeannette
Re: [IceHorses] Pergolide
Storme, I know we use to have a border at my farm whose horse was on it and she got it from the SmartPack mailer, they didn't list prices but they do have it, it is the supplier who gives you all your supplements in monthly measured doses or in bulk so you have convenience or savings, whatever works for you, and I am sure you can search it out on the web if you don't receive the mailer. Jeannette
Re: [IceHorses] Promotion of the Breed
I just want to add, the promotions of this being a family horse are excellent as we have taken ours to a western showing program for the last 2-3 yrs and have had the boys have great success in speed events with many people asking to buy these guys from us. I don't intend on ever selling them but I have had offers of 10,000 during one of the shows and most of the quarter horses that compete here aren't nearly that expensive. I took it as a compliment. I had decided that when the horses weren't at their game I would ride them around the grounds where the boys show and try to work out the issues they brought that day and I was approached by so many 50 something men and women who said they didn't know they could ride them and wanted to know where to buy one. I told them same as other breeds, and some places who breed nearby me. Then I figured I would show this year in trail classes. Well, I had to dash that idea, the adults can't compete on anything under 14 hands. Don't think I will ever get another that will be that tall so I can't keep the plan of sparking more adults interest. I am going to a western/english show grounds and I don't know if all other organizations have the 14H or taller for adult riders or not but this could be a problem if it is. I don't care for myself, I don't need to compete at all, I just love riding with my family and friends on trails but I was disappointed that you can't use them at the show. Does anyone take their horses to shows that have gaming, western pleasure, hack classes? Do they all pose this height issue or is this unique in my area? Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] Bridleless and bareback?
Has anyone here mastered riding bridleless and bareback at all gaits with their icelandic? Inside and outside of the arena? Just wondering! :) If I was 20 something it would be a blast, but at the closer side of 50 and I carry the health insurance, nothing racy happens outside the ring and usually nothing inside either. I do have a neighbor who has a history of landing sideways over jumps her horse takes her on and she manages to get back on the horses back in about two more leaps, she has taken the saddless, bridleless approach that Chris Cox suggested to go to in the Md. Expo and she says it does make her horse more responsive, however, she went on a ride with my neighbor and son two days ago in 30-40 mph gusts of wind and she couldn't keep the horse under her. We did great, my icelandics just kept moving off to the side of this horse and backed up behind her to stay safe, none of them wanted to run off with the jumpy nervous horse, I love my icelandics. Jeannette
RE: [IceHorses] Icelandic demo:Response
Karen, this was not as good of show as last year in Harrisburg but is was much flashier group of riders, all were Icelanders except for Laura Benson. The horses were much more snappy looking in their movement when they stayed in a tight formation and it does make them look mechanical and unreal, even commical. I noticed the show bill gave all the names of the riders this year and in the past, only Gudmars name was mentioned in the group. The first time I saw them at Harrisburg, the demo group was put together by K. Pierce and many others here in the east and it was nice but too brief. Last year was more performance in gaits and this year it was tolt or pace, except for the buckskin who kept breaking into cantor when the others were movin out... Gudmar and his brother did the best with the pace, go figure. They came back for an oncore. The young people behind my family were saying they figured most of those guys were really small to not be dragging there feet from those ponies, I know Gudmars brother is tall, I spoke to him a couple years ago at Dillsburg, not nearly as small framed as Gudmar.Jeannette
Re: [IceHorses] Gudmar's Interview/Christophers' response
I was very disappointed to read that you feel the Americans have ruined this pony er uh horse. I love them no matter what we call them. It isn't an issue and if it is, it's more about one feeling defensive about riding their size than anything. I know my husband always corrects people that call mine ponies, but I myself call them ponies when he isn't around so I don't bother his definition of this breed. In this country, you are right, we call them ponies, and we call Fjords ponies and drafts, and we call haflingers ponies and drafts too. When it all gets said, who really cares. It's why I prefer them. Pony size I mean. I love the way they move, look and act. They are so much like other breeds and so different. Mine look very drafty in build because that is what I like, and you might prefer the more refined body. They are certainly not ruined by being bred here. I find that the ones that are handled by experienced breeders here or there, have the superior mentallity to own and train under saddle. I don't want a horse that has to go thru so much time in a new owners hands that they are mentally not able to deal with a new change for 6 months to a year before they can resume the activities they have been trained for at their new farm. The socialized horse can do much better than the one who is left untrained until they turn 4 or 5. We have two mares that I have tossed around the idea of breeding and the 1st one has made 3 fine babies. I don't feel convinced that her personality is good enough to give her 4-6 months off during her pregnancy and another 2-3 months post delivery. She was very untrusting and still has issues in new situations with anyone but myself. Not good for a trail riding person who likes to put her kids on at any given day. My younger mare I will breed when she is done growing and maturing. But I am still so selfish that I don't know if it would be easy to let her go unused for the time it takes to breed her successfully through weaning. It is something that most people would think about if they breed unless they are just trying to give themself another horse for themself. The cost to breed to a good stallion is not peanuts and neither is my time and the vets for shots, health checks, etc. I had to say that because I prefer the icelandics that were breed here in the states than the one that I have from Iceland. My friends and aquaintances are the same as they prefer to ride my American line with there easy going and fun personality over the sensitive and somewhat untrusting personality of the icelandic breed mare. Who might I add, was trained by icelandic trainers and sent to icelandic trainers to improve her gaiting. It is very difficult to get her to relax. This seems to be a common story with the horses that aren't handled. My husband and I have helped many new horse owners with starting basic horsemanship and starting there young horses on the ground and under saddle. We agree whole heartedly that you need to interact with the young horse from the start and continue throughout there growing so they can trust and learn. Tough to teach anything without trust. I feel the biggest reason the cost of icelandics is declining is because so many people have started to get this breed and now are capable of breeding themselves and not with the export costs to make the sale. I don't even know what the basic charge is to send to the US anymore since I don't have to look in Iceland to find an nice horse. I am sad that you feel we are doing an injustice to this breed. I feel we have made it much more possible for people to own one, not just those with ample money to spend. I feel in my working class world, most people near me don't spend more than 4-5000 for a trail horse and the sky is the limit for a show quality horse. But the catch is, what and or how many icelandic shows do you have to enter? I am trying to work on training for possible showing with some wonderful icelandic owners but I won't sweat it if it doesn't come to pass. They still are fun to find tolt and most of the other gaits, not many shows to go to but tons of trails to have fun on. I am a pleasure rider and so are the kids I have, so we only hope that those who do have to spend 12000 to 15000 have enough shows to enter that prize horse into. Especially if it is gelded and or not of breeding quality. That is a lot of money in my world. Just my 2 cents worth of opnion.jeannette
Re: [IceHorses] Natural Gait
Cheryl, he is gorgeous and such a spectacular head. I would love to tolt with him. Jeannette
