>>>> Hello Karen, Why do you think the hybrid does not work as well on Melnir? Is he built a lot different from your other horses, shorter back?? Renee
He's built differently. First, he's smaller, but what I suspect is the bigger issue is that he has pretty laid-back shoulders - not upright, but angled back. He also has a rather long humerus bone, one that is more parallel to the ground as opposed to some of the more show-type Icelandic's. For instance, I'd count Runa as my most "show-type" Icelandic. She has a rather upright shoulder with more sloped angle to her humerus. In other words, Runa has the conformation for nice gait in her rear end, but her front end conformation makes it easy for her to do a true rack, with some "lift and fold" to her front legs. Melnir is more of a long, flat mover - he's built to foxtrot and/or runwalk, although he can saddle rack. All that said, I CAN use a Hybrid on Melnir. It was really the 17" Torsion that didn't work well on him - it "walked back" on him. My particular Hybrids are the extended seat models, so I suspect the shorter, standard seat versions would be fine. My Hybrids will work, with a breastcollar. But, since he's a smaller horse anyway, I just use my standard-seat Sensation dressage model on him - it's more attractive with his smaller proportions and it works like a charm. To put this in perspective, four years ago I would have been VERY happy to have any of these "problems" with Sina. None of these are serious issues, especially compared to what I went through with her, but since I do have options now, I use them. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.5/1148 - Release Date: 11/23/2007 7:39 PM IceHorses Community for Photos and Videos: http://kickapps.com/icehorses "The greatest enemy of the truth very often is not the lie- deliberate, contrived and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive and unrealistic." "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." ~ Arthur Schopenhauer [] Lee Ziegler http://leeziegler.com [] Liz Graves http://lizgraves.com [] Lee's Book Easy Gaited Horses http://tinyurl.com/7vyjo [] IceHorses Map http://www.frappr.com/IceHorses Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
