RE: [IceHorses] Re: Books and videos about ICelandic Horses

[Karen Thomas]

 There is nothing like getting out of the country for a while. I can't
say I would stay away just because I don't agree with how some things are
done,

It's not that the horsemanship there is "keeping me away" so much as it
doesn't add any appeal as I set travel priorities.  There are lots of places
on earth I'd like to see and I know I'll never see many of them.  I'd love
to see the rainforests of Peru.  I'd like to see some of the Far East.  I'd
like to see more of the good old USA - Alaska particularly - and the Alps,
and I'd love to see the big animals of Africa (I don't count the hokey
"safari" at Disney World!)  none of which I've seen.  I don't have an
unlimited travel budget, and Iceland doesn't have enough appeal to me to top
the other places I mentioned.  I never thought of visiting Iceland before I
got the horses.  The horses put the country on the list for a while, but an
old connection between the country and my horses is not enough to keep
Iceland on my list, and the horsemanship there certainly doesn't attract me.

When I see all of the above, then maybe I'll think about visiting Iceland.
But not to see the horses particularly...

Karen Thomas
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

[IceHorses] Re: Books and videos about ICelandic Horses

[kim morton]

--- In IceHorses@yahoogroups.com, "Karen Thomas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> I've seen a few small herds of Icelandic's elsewhere since, and 
now I have
> my own herd: 25, with 18 of them Icelandic's.  I guess that's 
another thing
> that's dampened my "need" to go to Iceland.  There are some nice 
herds here
> in North America, and I feel lucky to have seen some of them.  I 
feel like I
> have seen Icelandic's in paradise, thanks to Anneliese.  :)
> 

There are some nice herds in North America, I do like to travel 
though and would not mind going to Iceland, I think it would be 
great. There is nothing like getting out of the country for a while. 
I can't say I would stay away just because I don't agree with how 
some things are done, if that were true, I couldn't have anything to 
do with any of the horse people in Kentucky, or probably most horse 
people for that matter. I hear horrendous things (I think) all the 
time, usually I try not to watch this stuff. I have now heard, and 
witnessed more than one person putting full blinds on a horse (to 
gain their trust), this is a hood with full plastic bubbles over the 
eyes, instead of part like on driving blinds. Someone makes these 
things, and it was explained to me that it makes the horse trust 
you. People know how I am with my horses, I try to be an example, I 
don't know what else to do. I can't stay away from all people who 
have these kinds of ideas, which also include hard bits and spurs 
and dominating the horse, they aren't really looking for better 
ideas, I don't even know if they know where to look. Maybe it is the 
same in Iceland for a lot of people. Some of the people who use 
these things really do care for their horses, I am sure people can't 
understand that, but I swear they just don't know better. A gentle 
horsemanship is still rather rare out here, unless it is just 
innate. In real life, I do try to be an example, I know it is clear 
to everyone in real life, that I go slowly, hopefully over time they 
will see the results of what really gaining trust gets you, and 
having patience. Giving respect to the horse. Waiting for spring now.

Kim