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RE: ICELANDICS AND KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN SADDLE HORSES

Swing_Away111 — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:21:40 GMT

kewpalace (10/20/2009)

My post doesn'tadvise a beginner to "learn on" any 3-4 yo horse (although some people will say some youngsters are fine for beginners which I disagree with that; won't stop beginners from doing what they want though). Notwithstanding anyones perceived breed stereotype, you can find horses w/in abreedthat don't conform with those stereotypes which would be fine for beginners, including Icelandics, which my no-confidence-as-a-rider friend rode on a 3 hr. trail ride. And we talked to many Icelandic breeders when trying to find her a horse who would disagree with your assessment of their being flighty, hotter or more intimidating to beginners.Bottom line is if you find a horse in any breed which is a good beginner's horse, who cares what the stereotype is?

Bravo! More people need to feel the way you do.
I especially love the last sentence.
To the OP, like Kewplace previously said, temperment and breed are =/=. If you like Icelandics and KMS horses, look for one with a good temperment and willing attitude. Good luck!

RE: ICELANDICS AND KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN SADDLE HORSES

sunny06 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:22:45 GMT

Of course, of course!

I wasn't stereotyping, I did say some not all. Or 'can'. And that 3 year old I mentioned previously must have slipped your eye?

But for the OP, I just chose to mention that some can be intimidating. Nothing wrong with that.

RE: ICELANDICS AND KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN SADDLE HORSES

kewpalace — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:45:31 GMT

My post doesn't advise a beginner to "learn on" any 3-4 yo horse (although some people will say some youngsters are fine for beginners which I disagree with that; won't stop beginners from doing what they want though). Notwithstanding anyones perceived breed stereotype, you can find horses w/in a breed that don't conform with those stereotypes which would be fine for beginners, including Icelandics, which my no-confidence-as-a-rider friend rode on a 3 hr. trail ride. And we talked to many Icelandic breeders when trying to find her a horse who would disagree with your assessment of their being flighty, hotter or more intimidating to beginners. Bottom line is if you find a horse in any breed which is a good beginner's horse, who cares what the stereotype is?

RE: ICELANDICS AND KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN SADDLE HORSES

sunny06 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:33:19 GMT

^ I will throw in though, that gaited breeds tend to be flightier than most.

You wouldn't advise a beginner to learn on a 3-4 year old Purebred Arabian would you?

So although it DOES depend on the individual horse, gaiteds DO tend to be a bit hotter than most. I'm actually glad OP asked because Iceys can be a bit intimidating speed and movement-wise to a beginner or one new to gaited breeds.

Walkers get sweeter with age ;)

RE: ICELANDICS AND KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN SADDLE HORSES

kewpalace — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:57:02 GMT

It's not the breed it's the individual horse. If you like those breeds, just look for an older (9+ years) been-there-done-that horse in that breed. Take someone with you that has loads of experience with horses (trainer, etc.) for an honest opinion of whether it would be a good fit for you. If you find one, then go for it! A quick dreamhorse search popped up a few:

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_list.php3?form_adv_search=Y&form_breed_id%5B%5D=19&form_breed_id%5B%5D=68&form_distance=&form_zip_code=&form_area=0&form_name_position=CONTAINS&form_name=&form_words=&form_position=CONTAINS&form_bloodline=&form_generation=1&form_skill_id=152&form_gaited_yn=0&form_warmblood_yn=0&form_days=0&form_gender%5B%5D=Gelding&form_gender%5B%5D=Mare&form_min_age=9&form_max_age=0&form_year_foaled=0&form_color%5B%5D=Any+Color&form_other_color=&form_min_height=0&form_max_height=0&form_min_weight=0&form_max_weight=0&form_min_price=0&form_max_price=0&form_min_temp=0&form_max_temp=0&form_sale_type%5B%5D=0&form_sold_only=N&form_at_stud_yn=0&form_sort_by=NEW&form_rows=60

RE: ICELANDICS AND KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN SADDLE HORSES

sunny06 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:40:35 GMT

Iceys, seem to have a flightier movements, which may intimidate a rider, but Kentuckys just seem to be like TWHs. TWHs are very good horses to learn on. Typically a mid-aged one to older-aged one, but I knew a 2 year old (2 years old!) who was THE sweetest most docile thing. He would lay down in his stall for a nap daily, walk, walk, walk, etc. Very nice horse. So I guess it just depends.

ICELANDICS AND KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN SADDLE HORSES

debkcolbert — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:25:15 GMT

Shopping for my first horse. Will need to be mature and well trained for a novice western rider. Wondering if Icelandics and Kentucky Mountain are great all around breeds to learn on.