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Re: [RC] [RC] Heavy Riders - now Iceys and other ponies - Jen

Well, it is great to hear about Iceys competing.  I am looking to start 
competing Endurance and Competitive Trail, and I ride a horse similar to the 
Icelandic, I ride the Swedish Gotland.  Built very similar.  (And I also have 
NO hills!)  Good to know I'm not crazy for attempting this.

The Gotland is very hardy, with great endurance.  But they developed on a cold 
island so I do worry a bit about cool down.  We are working on things.  They 
are not gaited, but they do have incredibly smooth gaits.  They are also the 
fastest trotting horse for their size (under 13h) in the world.  Put that 
together, and we can trot forever with no effort.  Not to mention at great 
speed, sitting the trot... so less effort for me!

So while I might not be as competitive as the Arabs, like Susan, I do have a 
lot more hair to play with!  Nah, nah! (Hey, need SOMETHING to brag about!)

Jen 


From: Susan Cushing <5sus@xxxxxxx>
Date: 2008/03/04 Tue PM 01:06:53 CST
To: Mellifluous <brio_gal@xxxxxxxxxxx>,  Dawn Carrie <rdcarrie@xxxxxxxxx>
CC: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: [RC]   [RC] Heavy Riders



 Iceys seem to be pretty well rounded.  They just look like a blast to ride!!!
 
They are a lot of fun.  The tolt is a great gait that is so much fun to ride. 
 I have never ridden the flying pace, but would love to.  They are pretty 
sane, again like any breed you have to look for the right "type".  They sure 
can move for little horses, ok they really are ponies-just don't tell my 
friends that I admitted that.  They do have a lot of hair, even their regular 
coat is thicker than any other breed I have been around.  They also have 
short necks and a lot of them are set up high-does not help in the breathing 
part.  They can have a little higher standing pulse and thicker muscles, so 
harder to pulse/cool down.  But on the other hand, if you don't mind having a 
great ride, hearing they are so cute, clipping and braiding, and a more 
stringent training schedule, you can have a great ride.   We have been 
somewhat competative on the LD's, but I don't know about the 50's.  I have 
only done two, both in Vermont and Lappi is not a hill horse and we have not 
really got any to train on in Mass., so it will be interesting to 

see how we do in Maine this year with the 50.  I am hoping to be in the middle 
of the pack and not the turtle as with VT.

 
Go try them out, but be prepared for the sticker shock.  They can be pretty 
pricey.  But they sure are a lot of fun.
 
Susan 
 
 


 

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