Icelandic Horses: Blog

Icelandic Horse Conformation

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:02:17 GMT

Here are a few links with information about Icelandic Horse Conformation:

Necks: http://iceryder.blogspot.com/2008/07/icelandic-horse-neck-conformation.html

Legs: http://iceryder.blogspot.com/2008/07/icelandic-horse-crooked-legs.html

Back: http://iceryder.blogspot.com/2008/04/back-of-icelandic-horse.html

Breed for Naturally Gaited Icelandic Horses

Tue, 20 May 2008 20:44:40 GMT

An Icelandic Horse Is Born!

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:26:36 GMT

This is a new Icelandic Horse colt, named Hroi.

Icelandic Horse Slide Show

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 01:13:02 GMT

Talking about YouTube - Natural Icelandic Horse Virtual Show

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:40:44 GMT

Quote

YouTube - Natural Icelandic Horse Virtual Show

Cookie, Icelandic Horse, on Lead-line to the Lake

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:07:03 GMT

We had a very nice time down at the lake. Cookie was really good, as usual, practicing her work as a therapy Icelandic Horse.

Time For Changes

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:14:12 GMT

    We are at a point of great change within the Icelandic Horse breed. We
have reached the cross roads; one going down the path of mechanical devices
and manufactured gaits, and one leading to natural horsemanship and natural
gaits.

    Which path will you take? It may be a hard decision for some. For many
people, it will involve change.

    Are you afraid of change?

    We are creatures of habit. People generally *like* status quo. Humans
are made to recognize familiar objects and experiences. That's the logic of
our brains. We can use a minimum of brain power to function with "familiar"
things, rules, and order, which can be taken care of subconsciously. That
leaves conscious brain power to deal with "different" or new things.

    Sometimes "different" can be perceived as "dangerous" or disconcerting.
Just part of the human makeup... leaving the comfort zone. The level of
danger can be based on if you are isolated, alone, or the size of your
companion group. Higher danger is in smaller groups or for the isolated
human.

    The tendency is that outgoing, confident people are more willing to
consider and accept change, and move towards making changes more easily.

    Change involves work. It's not easy, and it takes time, energy and
effort. This explains why most people loathe change. Change can be viewed as
opportunity or threat.

    What some people see as a benefit can stress out others. Most people
have a natural curiosity about change but at the same time, can be spooked
by it. There are people at the low end of tolerance of change and at the
other, the confidant ones, who love it.

    "It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry
out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle than to
initiate a new order of things. For the reformer has enemies in all those
who profit from the old order and only luke warm defenders in all those who
would profit from the new order. This is partly due to the incredulity of
man who do not truly believe anything new until they experience it." ~~Quote
from the Italian Machiavelli delivered in 15th Century.

    There are four distinct phases of change: denial, resistance,
exploration, commitment.

    These can be broken down into seven phases: shock and surprise, denial
and refusal, rational understanding, emotional acceptance, learning and
practicing, realization, and integration.

    Most people look at change in a negative way. For them, change may mean
learning new things, increased pressure, potential loss of position, fear of
the unknown, or even a challenge to their personal beliefs or way of doing
things.

    Six reasons for fear of change:

    1. Fear of the Unknown
    2. Self Doubt; Afraid of Losing
    3. Self Isolation and Agonize Over Decisions
    4. Forget That We Always Have Options
    5. Focus on the External World to Define Our Identity and Worth
    6. Handcuff Ourself to Stuff

    In each generation there are a few individuals or a group who step from
the old patterns and push the boundaries of current limiting beliefs and
structure. WE ARE THAT GROUP!

    We are standing up for the Icelandic Horse, and insisting on improved
training methods.

    Some individuals will never be change makers, but kudos to those who
are, as that's how we progress and how we reach higher levels in our
society.

    People like to hang on to the familiar, even if the change will be
beneficial, something "different" is harder to accept or deal with. The
denial and refusal stage also includes "hanging on"... hanging on to the
old, familiar way, resisting the new. Change can disrupt work patterns and
teamwork.

    The middle part of the process of change is "letting go"... letting go
of the old ways. A successful "letting go" includes confidence that the new
way will be more personally beneficial and for the greater good for the
whole. This is where there is a willingness to consider change.

    Active acceptance, the final step in positive change, is mental and
emotional acceptance and implementation of change. People learn, practice,
and exercise; the more positive responses they get (correct answers), the
more vested in the new changes.

    You do not have to be afraid of change!

    Again: WE ARE THAT GROUP!

    We are the Change Makers who are making things better for the Icelandic
Horse; moving away from mechanical devices and manufactured gaits, over to
natural horsemanship and natural gaits.

    Which do you value? Blue ribbons? ego? winning? or fairness, empathy,
two-way communication with, and consideration for, your horse?

    Read the Change Maker: http://iceryder.net/changemaker.html

Pay It Forward / Random Acts of Kindness

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 02:02:46 GMT

Pay It Forward are "Random Acts of Kindness".

Gandhi said, "We must be the change we wish to see in the world."

What goes around, comes around.

Kindness is contagious.

From the Pay It Forward book:

I do something real good for three people. And then when they ask how they can pay it back, I say they have to Pay It Forward. To three more people. Each. So nine people get helped. Then those people have to do twenty-seven." He turned on the calculator, punched in a few numbers. "Then it sort of spreads out, see. To eighty-one. Then two hundred forty-three. Then seven hundred twenty-nine. Then two thousand, one hundred eighty-seven. See how big it gets?"

YOU can help to change the Icelandic Horse world.

YOU can make things better for Icelandic Horses.

From Pay It Forward website:

Start a revolution--it begins with you! The premise of the novel Pay It Forward is one that any person can implement in his or her own life, at any time. It begins with doing a favor for another person-- without any expectation of being paid back. Indeed one would request that the recipient of that favor do the same for someone else: ideally for three other people. The unconditional favors can be large or small. As Trevor observes: it doesn't have to be a big thing. It can just seem that way, depending on whom you do it for.

Trevor's concept of "paying it forward" comes from an extra credit assignment given to him in school. His teacher asks the students to "Think of an idea for world change, and put it into action."

Ancestors of the Icelandic Horse

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 21:24:51 GMT

http://thoof.com/stream/highlightedStoryId/146887/tr/true/.p12

Horse Books

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 05:29:57 GMT

If you need a gift for yourself or a friend, try some of these; they are all good for Icelandic Horses:

[] Lee's Book Easy Gaited Horses http://tinyurl.com/7vyjo

[] Christine's Sleipnir's Story http://iceryder.net/sleipnirsstory.html

[] Sharon Foley's Getting to Yes http://iceryder.net/gettingtoyes.html

[] Bill Dorrance's True Horsemanship Thru Feel http://iceryder.net/truehorsemanshipbook.html

[] Rikke Schultz' Understand Your Icelandic Horse http://iceryder.net/rikkeschultz.html

[] Linda Tellington-Jones' books: http://iceryder.net/lindatellingtonjones.html

There are other books here:

http://iceryder.net/astore.html

http://iceryder.net/books.html

http://iceryder.net/amazonclick.html

Happy Holidays from Icelandic Horse Connection!

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 22:56:51 GMT

Happy Holidays from Icelandic Horse Connection!

Two Icelandic Horse Rescues Need New Homes

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:55:04 GMT

Von and Sam, a mare and a gelding Icelandic Horses are currently in a rescue which is closing down. They need to find new homes. More information about Von and Sam here:

http://iceryder.net/rescue.html

Audio Posts

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:09:23 GMT

You can listen, or leave a voice message here:

What Are They Applauding?!?!?!

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:29:00 GMT

After watching the sample video of the World
Championship for Icelandic Horses, in Holland, 2007, at the following site:

http://www.notion.net/icelandichorses2007/flash-icelandichorses2007-streaming.html

and

http://www.notion.net/icelandichorses2007/flash-T1.html

I wonder: what is the audience applauding?!?!?

The first horse shown on the video, moving directly towards the camera,
appears to be frothed and fighting the bit.

The next horses shown entering the arena, again, moving towards the camera,
are showing the winging flight of poorly conformed legs.

Some big bits are used with nosebands.

The bit evasions are obvious in just about every horse on the video.

What are the people cheering?!?!?

What's up with the current fad of making the horse go behind the vertical?

Is anyone listening to the horses?

What exactly is a slow tolt? Does it have a definition? Is it a two-foot /
three-foot support gait? or a one-foot / two-foot support gait? Or is
one-foot / two-foot / three-foot support allowed as some of the horses were
doing?

Heads tossing, above the bit, behind the bit; mouths trying to open, lips gnashing; odd tipping of the head, crossing the jaws...

Heavy contact... always. Why? Are any of the horses naturally gaited to
gait on easy contact?

And the feet.... long... shoes... boots... can any of these horses gait
barefoot?

And loosing a foot in the competition?!?!?

That's.... odd.... really odd.

Some of those tolts look pretty bone-jarring, as can be seen in the
rider's bodies.

Nosebands.... seems they are tight; some placed relatively low, not allowing the horse to
breathe enough?

And the people are cheering.... why?

Whips for ponies?

Tail wringing...

I don't understand what was being judged. There did not appear to be much
horsemanship (as horsemanship has an applied meaning of "good" which was
not in evidence).

Was the point to see how much force the horse could take from a rider? how
much it could lift it's feet without losing a foot?

How much it could run without having enough incoming air?

How much pain it could take in the mouth, bearing the weight of a rider on a
broken bit with long shanks?

Or could it be that the horse who could touch his chest with his chin was
rated higher?

What in the world were the people cheering and applauding at this
competition?

Do *they* even know what they were seeing?

Keywords / Tags: icelandic horse, iceland pony, islandhest hestur, ijslands paard, cheval islandais, islandisches pferd, islandpferde

Hlynur, Icelandic Horse

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 21:30:39 GMT

This is Hlynur, an Icelandic Horse in our IceHorses Rescue.

Hlynur, Icelandic Horse - Watch more free videos

Getting To Yes: Clicker Training For Horses

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 21:28:08 GMT

This is a fantastic new book by Sharon Foley, called Getting to Yes: Clicker Training for Improved Horsemanship. It is very effective with Icelandic Horses / Ponies.

http://iceryder.net/gettingtoyes.html

Possible Cryptorchid Icelandic Horse

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 21:25:48 GMT

This horse was thought to possibly be a cryptorchid.

Read his story:

Possible Cryptorchid Icelandic Horse

Cookie, Icelandic Horse, Rings a Bell

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:34:19 GMT

Icelandic Horses and Trotting

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:53:47 GMT

Here's an interesting thread about trotting and Icelandic Horses:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/message/104761

Judy
Icelandic Horse Connection
http://iceryder.net
http://clickryder.com

Charm, Icelandic Horse in Dog Pen

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 23:54:56 GMT

Natural Gaits of Icelandic Horses

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 23:36:48 GMT

Icelandic Horses can be two-gaited, three-gaited, four-gaited, or
multi-gaited.

The two-gaited horses generally are the ones that pace and pace. They are
very laterally wired and can't do much other than pace slower and pace
faster.

The three-gaited horses can be walk / trot / canter or walk / gait / canter.

The four-gaited horses can walk, trot, gait, canter.

The multi-gaited horses can do several intermediate gaits along with walk /
trot / canter, or walk / gait / canter.

Of course there are variations within these categories.

Some horses, for whatever reason, possibly conformation, may not be able to
canter at all.

Not all Icelandic Horses do a tolt; some prefer fox trot, running walk, or stepping pace.

Here are some videos of the natural gaits of some Icelandic Horses.

Little Icelandic Horse Pinto

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 03:02:26 GMT

This little Icelandic Horse pinto mare will be staying with us for a month or so.

She had her first clicker training lesson today:

http://iceryder.net/videoclickerpinto.html

Preparing Your Horse for the Future

Sun, 13 May 2007 17:25:28 GMT

The following link has training discussion lead by Nancy, working with exercises from True Horsemanship Through Feel; very good for Icelandic Horses:

http://iceryder.net/future.html

Icelandic Horses Canter

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 21:34:22 GMT

Icelandic Horses can be three gaited, as in walk, trot, canter; or can have a wide range of gaits from trot to pace (see the gait chart at http://iceryder.net/gaitchart.html).

Some multi-gaited Icelandic Horses can favor trot, but still be able to do an easy gait. Some might favor an easy gait, yet not be able to trot. Some may be pacey and have a hard time with trot, an easy gait, and / or canter.

The more gaits a horse can do, may be harder for him to be good at any one in particular, but there are some who can do the wide range of gaits well.

Icelandic Horses (Ponies) have been shown in demos running pretty fast as their "canter" which begs the question: do they have a nice easy slower canter?

Some do; some do not.

There are some videos on this page http://iceryder.net/charmcookierun.html

The videos show the horses in nice easy canter, fast canter, rotary canter, lead changes, etc.

Talking about Another Icelandic Horse and Sensation Saddle

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:45:23 GMT

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Another Icelandic Horse and Sensation Saddle

Here's another picture of an Icelandic Horse, Djangi, with his custom Hybrid Sensation Saddle from Nickers Saddlery.

Another Icelandic Horse and Sensation Saddle

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:43:51 GMT

Here's another picture of an Icelandic Horse, Djangi, with his custom Hybrid Sensation Saddle from Nickers Saddlery.

Riding Icelandic Horses Bareback and Bitless

Sat, 24 Mar 2007 04:25:22 GMT

Here are a few new pages on the website, which include video of riding Icelandic Horses bareback and bitless:

http://iceryder.net/irisroskurhalter.html
http://iceryder.net/irisroskurgait.html
http://iceryder.net/nhbleikja.html
http://iceryder.net/clickerroskur.html
http://iceryder.net/swordpractice.html

Shedding Time!

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 23:53:27 GMT

It's spring and the horses are shedding like crazy!

I rode yesterday, bareback, and had the signature "bareback butt" (where the back of your pants shows dirt), but all the more noticeable since my horse is a pinto Icelandic Horse... all that white hair!

We've had good success with using the Coat King to help with the shedding process.

There's more information and pictures at this link:

http://iceryder.net/coatking.html

Here's a picture of the filly with the hack job on her coat... she was just too hot this winter in California!

Technorati

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 17:28:48 GMT

Technorati

Identifying Gaits

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 01:32:45 GMT

Identifying gaits can be tricky.

Most gaits have a certain "feel".

An easy gait that tends to rock your pelvis forward and back would be a gait on the diagonal side.

An easy gait that tends to rock your pelvis from side to side would be a gait on the lateral side.

Here is a young Icelandic Horse, just being started, lead by a ground person, with a rider on him bareback:

Young Icelandic Horse Gaiting

His gait can be determined by analyzing the still images from video.

In this sequence, he is doing a slow fox trot.

My Filly's Dam

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 04:14:04 GMT

This is Eir, my filly's dam. She is 20 years old and looks great.

Nosebands on Icelandic Horses

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 05:46:03 GMT

From the book by Gerhard Kapitzke

A simple bridle without a noseband is the most pleasant, force-free scenario because it allows the horse unlimited chewing activity and does not restrict him in any way.

An English noseband (sometimes called a "cavesson") is the mildest noseband you can use--if buckled fairly loosely. The jawband runs directly under the cheekbone around the horse's head, resting on solid, less pressure-sensitive bone. When the reins are tightened, the pressure is dispersed onto the nasal bone and the lower jaw, and it is further lessened by a wide strap. The noseband prevents the opening of the horse's mouth, but still permits sufficient chewing activity. Because of its high position on the head, it does not impede the horse's breathing.

A dropped noseband can be the most troublesome for horses because it is so often used without an understanding of its purposes and with intended force. When used by hard hands, pressure points are focused on the chin groove and the lower, sensitive area of the nasal bone. If adjusted too high, this noseband pulls the bit into the corners of the horse's mouth. If adjusted low, it restricts the horse's breathing. There should be room for two or three fingers between the noseband and bone in order to make such restriction bearable for the horse.

Inappropriate Nosebands:

A figure eight noseband has crossed straps that can slip if the rosette in the middle has not been stitched tightly. The often thin, rounded straps may cut into the horse's skin.

A lever noseband. Both of these noseband styles extensively restrict the chewing activity because of the straps surrounding the lower jaw, although breathing is not inhibited.

The English noseband remains preferable because it only encompasses the lower jaw once and does not restrict chewing activity.

For more on Gerhard Kapitzek's book, you will find it here:

http://tinyurl.com/jq2oq

Body Condition Scoring

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 01:21:47 GMT

The Equine Body Condition Scoring can be used on all horses, regardless of breed. The body type, or muscling does not matter.

There are nine areas to consider in evaluating a horse's condition; these areas are:

[] Neck
[] Withers
[] Loin / Groin
[] Area behind elbow
[] Topline
[] Ribs
[] Tail head
[] Point of hip
[] Point of buttock

Another area, mentioned by Susan Garlinghouse, is the "twist", the area between the thighs, as viewed from behind.

Use visual means to evaluate, as well as your hands by palpating boney areas.

In the system, the horse is evaluated in these areas, by determining the amount of fat in each area. Ratings in the scale are from 1 to 9: one is thin / boney, and nine is fat / very overweight.

[] Score 1: Emaciated
[] Score 2: Very Thin
[] Score 3: Thin
[] Score 4: Moderately Thin
[] Score 5: Moderate
[] Score 6: Moderately Fleshy
[] Score 7: Fleshy
[] Score 8: Fat
[] Score 9: Extremely Fat

For more info and pictures: http://iceryder.net/bodyconditionscore.html

Teaching Charm to Back Up with Request From Behind

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 00:58:27 GMT

Time flies! Charm will be three years old in a few months!

Another year after that, and she will be an Icelandic Horse mare, instead of a filly!

We're doing a little groundwork with her, and this video shows her backing up with the request coming from behind.

Don't let the video fool you; I had to go round and round with her several times, as sometimes the young horses don't know what you want when you ask from behind them, and they tend to want to turn around and face you. But holding your position and moving along with them, along with telling them that turning around is not what you want, will eventually get the job done; and they will stand with you behind, and try to respond correctly to the request.

See the video at http://iceryder.blogspot.com

Icelandic Horse Connection

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 08:03:38 GMT

icelandic horse

Icelandic Horse Connection

Icelandic Horse Filly's First Bow

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 04:46:53 GMT

This is the Icelandic Horse filly's first bow. She only had two previous, short lessons, which consisted of "giving" her foot, and following a feel.

A short video of the Icelandic Horse filly bowing is located on the:

 Icelandic Horse Connection website:  http://iceryder.net/charmbow.html

Finally, The Clip Job!

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 06:27:43 GMT

Finally! We got the Icelandic Horse filly clipped!

After practicing with the small and the medium clippers, we got out the BIG
clippers (which are also very loud), and clipped Charm's neck, chest, and
under belly.

She was VERY good! and stood at liberty while being clipped.

This "air vent" has really helped her remain cool in the warm Southern
California winters. Normally, she is very sweaty, and now she's enjoying
not sweating!

She's a very happy Icelandic Pony!

Judy
http://icehorses.net
http://clickryder.com

Clicker Training to the Clippers

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 23:44:09 GMT

It was so warm today, Christmas, at 80 degrees, and the Icelandic Horse (Pony) filly was sweating!

The Icelandic Horse filly is two and a half years old, a palomino, named Charm, with a short thick dense coat.

I decided to take some time to clicker train her to the clippers and started with the small, light weight Vidal Sasson clippers that are much quieter than the large animal clippers.

We started with targeting (she touched the clippers with her nose, then she gets a click and treat); and the game of "can I touch you here?", where she gets a click and treat if she allows the clippers to touch her neck, back, chest, stomach, etc. Of course, we started with the clippers in the off position.

In a short time, since she was calm and had no problems being touched and touching the clippers, I turned them on, and went thru the same routine with them on. Not clipping, but just letting her get the feel of the vibration of the clippers. Click and treat, and all is well.

Finally, even tho they are very light-weight clippers and they don't cut well, I clipped some of the hair on her neck and chest as a prelude to using the bigger clippers at a later time.

She did very well; stood at liberty, and napped a little.

Subsequently, I brought out the A-5 Oster clippers and trimmed some of the long hairs in her top coat, but the A-5's are not big enough to get through her thick undercoat. The big honkin' clippers will come out at the next opportunity!

Maturation of Horses

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 16:06:16 GMT

Age of Maturity
By Dr. Deb Bennett:

"A normal horse has 32 vertebrae between the back of the skull and the root of the dock, and there are several growth plates on each one, the most important of which is the one capping the centrum. These do not fuse until the horse is at least 5 1/2 years old; and this figure applies to a small-sized, scrubby, range-raised mare. The taller your horse and the longer its neck, the later full fusion will occur. And for a male - is this a surprise? -- you add six months.

And here's another little fact: within the chain of vertebrae, the last to fully "close" are those at the base of the animal's neck (that's why the long-necked individual may go past 6 yrs. to achieve full maturity)."

Icelandics actually mature a little sooner than bigger horses!

Riding an Icelandic Horse Bareback or Treeless

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 01:56:09 GMT

The BareTek, sort of like a saddle, sort of like a bareback pad!

There are no stirrups, but there is a small cantle and pommel.

It's soft, no rigidity like a saddle's tree.

The Icelandic Horses / Ponies love this pad, as they have a lot of freedom of movement, with nothing digging into their shoulders or loins.