IslandPferde

Halter Training Icelandic Horse / Islandpferd

2010-01-09T10:06:00.001-08:00

From the video poster: "Foal in Germany learning about a halter. It eventually gave up and layed down."

There are different ways to train foals to halter that may be easier on them and avoid this type of strain on their heads, necks, and bodies. Clicker training is a no-stress method of halter training, as well as approach / retreat.

We don't want to give the horse neck problems, rip any muscles, tendons, or ligaments, which may last his lifetime.

Hestur / Islandpferd / Icelandic Horse

2009-12-30T07:34:00.001-08:00

Hestur.
Originally uploaded by diddý

Bits and Icelandic Horses

2009-10-18T07:18:00.000-07:00

The Icelandic Horses in the images are all negatively affected by the bit and the contact on the reins. A horse should have a quiet, soft mouth when ridden properly (no noseband required).

An excerpt from an Eclectic Horseman article:

"That brings up the subject of maintaining a sensitive and soft mouth, which goes back to the school of Naples.

It was then clearly realized that in training a young horse, harsh rein action would occur, either inflicted by the rider, or the self-defense of a young horse, and the sensitivity of the bars would be progressively damaged.

Let's face it, a piece of steel in the mouth that is pulled on unilaterally or on both sides with the connection of the snaffle joint pushing against the palette is no treat.

Also for about 6,000 years all snaffle bits had cheek pieces, so when using one rein, the cheekpiece of the other side prevented the bit from slipping through the mouth and pushed the head in the desired direction.

More recently invented loose ring snaffles are not a step in the right direction."

Read more:

http://www.eclectic-horseman.com/content/view/55/33/

We should think about this in regard to the Icelandic Horses (islandpferd, cheval islandais, ijslands paard, islanninhevonen, islenskihesturinn) and what the bit does to his mouth when the rider's weight is on the reins.

Icelandic horse

2009-05-30T20:20:00.001-07:00

Icelandic horse
Originally uploaded by Runar F

A picture of an Icelandic Horse in Iceland.

The Icelandic Horse

2009-05-30T20:19:00.001-07:00

The Icelandic Horse
Originally uploaded by Styrmir Kári

A picture of the Icelandic Horse in Iceland.

Happy Pony?

2009-05-20T21:34:00.000-07:00

Is this a happy pony (Icelandic Horse)?

Check out his head and neck in the trot.

He's behind the vertical.

Is this a good or not-good thing?

Check out the horse's tail.

What is he saying?

How much contact is required to get gait?

Is the horse fighting the bit?

Speaking Up For The Horse

2009-05-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

Here are a few quotes that guide our journey with horses:

That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong. ~~ William J. H. Boetcker

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. ~~ Martin Luther King Jr.

If we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves share in the guilt. "Black Beauty" ~~ Anna Sewell

All that is necessary for ignorance to prevail is for educated people to say nothing. ~~ Judy Ryder (adapted from the quote attributed to Edmund Burke)

Icelandic Horse Evaluation

2009-04-23T10:16:00.001-07:00

This appears to be an evaluation of non-ridden Icelandic Horses; walk and trot (no gait?), and lead by the bit (not halters?).

Icelandic Horse Neckrope Riding

2009-04-05T07:27:00.000-07:00

Riding the Icelandic Horse / Islandpferd / Cheval Islandais / Ijsland Paard / Island Hast / Islanninhevonen with a neckrope, no bridle, no bit, no noseband!

Icelandic Horses are more comfortable without the bits and nosebands. The move more freely and naturally without the contact.

Fighting the Bit

2009-02-28T12:24:00.000-08:00

This horse is fighting the bit from the first step to the last.

At what point is someone going to do something about it?

Is the horse supposed to put up with the pain from the bit? the hands?

Is the horse supposed to get used to it?

Reasons Not to Ride on Ice

2009-02-21T17:36:00.001-08:00

Icelandic Horses Fall Through Ice Video

We do not support demos of Icelandic Horses riding on ice, either on rivers, lakes, rinks, or arenas. It is too dangerous, and may be detrimental to the horse's long-term soundness.

If a child tries this, we may lose the child and the horse.

Think about it. Just because it may be done in Iceland, does not mean it is right, or good.

Pounding the horse's metal shod foot against the hard ice must be uncomfortable, if not painful to the horse. Additionally, there is the problem of the ice nails grabbing the surface and interfering with the normal action of the foot to slide into place, and putting torque onto the hocks.

Please. Put your thinking caps on!

Playing with the Icelandic Horse / Islandpferd

2009-02-15T08:07:00.000-08:00

Horses like to play games with people. Like kids who enjoy spending special time with Mom or Dad, horses also enjoy engaging with people. It adds to the relationship, and makes a smarter horse, one more willing to have two-way communication.

Icelandic Horses (aka cheval islandais, island hast, islandske hest, island pferde, islenskir hestar, ijslands paard, islanninhevonen, islenskihesturinn, islandisches pferd, hestur, islandpony, icelandic pony) really seem to enjoy interacting with humans in ground work, games, toys, clicker training, or anything in a positive, relaxed learning atmosphere.

Icelandic Horses Resting

2009-02-14T11:53:00.000-08:00

These are my two Icelandic Horse mares (pinto and palomino) resting in the morning sun after breakfast.

For more information about Icelandic Horses, see the Icelandic Horse Connection website.

Below is the pony.

Icelandic Horse in Cart Training

2009-02-06T20:51:00.000-08:00

Gaits That No Other Horse Does?

2009-01-28T19:18:00.000-08:00

A quote from National Geographic, about the Icelandic Horse:

"...the Icelandic horse does two gaits (besides walk, trot, and gallop) that no other horse does."

Is this true?

There are many gaited horse breeds that do intermediate gaits such as running walk, fox trot, stepping pace, saddle rack, and rack (tolt), as well as pace.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/081219-horses-video-ap.html

Riding IslandPferde / Icelandic Horse Bridleless

2009-01-17T14:27:00.000-08:00

Riding Icelandic Horse / IslandPferde bridleless in the snow.

Natural Icelandic Horse Rider

2009-01-10T08:44:00.000-08:00

Finally! A "natural" Icelandic Horse rider! Bareback and bitless!

Forced Frame to Tolt

2009-01-03T14:05:00.000-08:00

Is the tolt natural to the Icelandic Horse?

If so, why does the horse have to be put into an unnatural forced frame to gait?

Why hurt the horse to gait?

Islandpferd Videos

2009-01-03T09:52:00.000-08:00

Je kijkt naar het IceRyder Channel video kanaal.

Icelandic Horse Overbent

2008-12-31T21:55:00.000-08:00

Overbent? Behind the bit? Punishment? Why?

Scooter's Happy Holidays

2008-12-15T13:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from Scooter, the palomino Icelandic Horse gelding from Arizona.

icelandic horse islandpferd cheval islandais ijslands paard islanninhevonen islenskihesturinn islandisches pferd

Sweet Itch?

2008-12-08T14:16:00.000-08:00

One of our readers questions:

"Can you tell me what this is? is it possible sweet itch? It is on my new horse's mane. He is imported. He rubbed his mane off at the previous owners place. His hair is falling out. There is a quarter sized spot on his side. Could it be rain rot? or mange? Vet is coming, but I wanted to ask here for input in case it's sweet itch."

Any input on this subject?

Icelandic Horse Images

2008-12-06T18:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!

Here are some fabricated images of Icelandic Horses:

Icelandic Horse Connection

Icelandic Horse Pictures

2008-12-01T11:45:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of Icelandic Horses:

Icelandic Horses

If Horses Could Speak, Gerd Heuschmann

2008-11-25T08:52:00.000-08:00

Gerd Heuschmann has a book called Tug of War that explains how riding and equipment affects the horse.

See the previous post here:

http://iceryder.blogspot.com/2008/10/gerd-heuschmann.html

Now, he has a DVD coming out, and here is a sample:

http://www.stimmen-der-pferde.com/index/Trailer?STLWEB=en

Icelandic Horse's Mouth

2008-11-21T13:31:00.000-08:00

What's happening with the horse that is being ridden?

Why is it's mouth open?

Icelandic Horse Loves Watermelon

2008-11-16T13:06:00.000-08:00

My Icelandic Horse loves to eat watermelon! It's a hot day, and the watermelon is refreshing and slurpy.

icelandic horse islandpferd cheval islandais ijslands paard islanninhevonen islenskihesturinn islandisches pferd

Icelandic Horses circa 1910

2008-11-09T09:27:00.001-08:00

An old picture from about 1910 of Icelandic Horses in Iceland. At that time, they used regular bridles, no nosebands!

Originally uploaded by ookami_dou

Icelandic Horse Natural Horsemanship

2008-10-30T17:03:00.000-07:00

Icelandic Horses LOVE natural horsemanship. It's almost as if it was made for them!

They are very smart, and can easily learn the two-way communication between horse and rider.

They love to be tack-free! No bits are perfect for them since they have low palates. No nosebands are a great relief!!

Poor Saddle Fit

2008-10-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

Julie Goodnight helps a horse with a poor saddle fit that results in the horse's inability to ride smoothly.

Icelandic Horse from 1963

2008-10-10T13:54:00.000-07:00

Yvonne, 1963, with her Icelandic Horse.

Horse Hoof Loading

2008-10-04T22:35:00.001-07:00

This video shows the loading of a horse's hoof.

Gait Chart for Gaited Horses

2008-09-26T09:33:00.001-07:00

This is the gait chart that shows the different gaits of gaited horses, from trot to pace. Every easy gaited horse, Missouri Fox Trotter, Tennessee Walking Horse, Peruvian Paso, Paso, Fino, Icelandic Horse, will do some type of gait on this chart, either diagonally timed, square timing, or laterally timed, if they are "gaited" (not all "gaited" horses have an easy gait).

Breed Good Legs

2008-09-05T17:26:00.000-07:00

Let's breed good legs on the Icelandic Horses / Islandpferd so that they will not need boots for protection from the movement of crooked legs:

Islandpferde Alaska

2008-09-03T13:55:00.001-07:00

Icelandic Horse in Alaska

Icelandic Horses Resting

2008-08-31T09:24:00.001-07:00

These Icelandic Horses have been riding for about four hours or so. The terrain must be hard on their feet; and perhaps some of them are carrying heavier loads.

Teaching My Islandpferd to Talk

2008-08-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

I am teaching my Icelandic Horse / Islandpferd to talk to me, using American Sign Language cue for "talk" as her cue.

Bits and Icelandic Horse

2008-08-30T17:23:00.000-07:00

These videos give educational information and descriptions of bits which will be helpful to Icelandic Horse (Islandpferd, Ijslandpaard, Islanninhevonen, Island Hest) owners.

http://iceryder.net/videosbits.html

Yourtube Islandpferd

2008-08-26T16:11:00.001-07:00

I am trying to get 1000 subscribers on my Icelandic Horse / Islandpferde youtube page!

Please help me reach my goal by subscribing to:

http://www.youtube.com/user/icehorses

Just go to that page and click onto the "subscribe" button.

Thanks!

Icelandic Horse Mare

2008-08-17T18:37:00.000-07:00

This Icelandic Horse mare and her foal meet a new horse:

Natural and Artificial Gaits

2008-08-16T21:20:00.000-07:00

There are natural gaits and artificial gaits for the Icelandic Horse (Islandpferd). Artificial gaits are obtained by mechanical / manipulated means.

Weight Watchers

2008-08-07T13:14:00.001-07:00

Snerill, Gosi eða Sokkur?
Originally uploaded by brosandi

We have to watch the weight of Icelandic Horses (Islandpferd), as some have a tendency to put on weight easily. This can lead to founder, laminitis, insulin resistance, etc.

More information:

http://iceryder.net/insulinresistant.html

Here is another horse in Iceland that looks to be overweight:

Netherlands:

Janice, Icelandic Horse Owner for President

2008-07-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

Icelandic Horse Islandpferde

2008-07-08T16:35:00.000-07:00

If you belong to the Icelandic Horse email discussion group, called IceHorses at YahooGroups, you can add your name to the new YahooGroups map:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/app/peoplemap

You do not have to give out your street address or any private information. You can input your website address as your profile page.

The IceHorses group is located at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/icehorses

Where in the World Does Your Horse Live?

2008-07-06T17:52:00.000-07:00

icelandic horse, cheval islandais, islandhast, islandskehest, islandpferde, Ãslenskir hestar, ijslands paard, islanninhevonen, islenskihesturinn, islandisches pferd, hestur, islandpony, icelandic pony

IslandPferde IslandHest

2008-07-06T15:18:00.000-07:00

Icelandic horse

2008-06-28T08:02:00.001-07:00

Icelandic horse
Originally uploaded by th.egilson

Beautiful photo by Th.Egilson of an Icelandic Horse in Iceland.

Islandpferd For Sale

2008-06-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

Here is the new Icelandic Horses (Islandpferd) For Sale Board:

Icelandic Horses For Sale

Islanninhevonen

2008-06-18T15:43:00.000-07:00

Rallying the Troups

2008-06-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

Trying to rally the troups (Icelandic Horses):

Natural and Artificial Gaits in Icelandic Horses

2008-06-04T14:52:00.000-07:00

Along with natural horsemanship, many people enjoy riding a gaited horse's natural gaits versus the "show" gaits which can be force or manipulated by mechanical means.

icelandic horse, cheval islandais, islandhast, islandskehest, islandpferde, ijslands paard, islanninhevonen, islenskihesturinn, islandisches pferd, hestur, islandpony, icelandic pony

Islandpferde

2008-05-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

The Islandpferde / Islandpferd generally wears boots when shown. These are allowed in competitions and evaluations, but they are mechanical aids in regard to gait and actually skew the natural gait of the horse.

Let's show the horse naturally, and base his scores on natural gait and not artificially enhance gait.

If the horse needs "protection" because he may hurt himself with his own legs, perhaps he should not be in the breeding pool. Maybe his conformation is not that great. Horses with good conformation, nice legs that do not interfere with each other, and natural gaits should be the goal.