Nosebands

This is an image from an old Tolt magazine from Europe. It's disappointing to see the misuse of the noseband on the Icelandic Horses.



For more information about the nosebands, see the following links:

[] Nosebands, Cavessons
[] Leveller Noseband
[] Nosebands Affect Breathing
[] Kapitzke on Nosebands

Snake Bite Preparedness

Riding Icelandic Horses in areas where there are rattlesnakes requires some forethought and preparedness.

There is a story about an Icelandic Horse and a rattlesnake here.

TheHorse.com has an article on snake bite preparedness: located here.

Icelandic Horse Training, Ball and Hoola Hoop

As I mentioned, I bought Charm a nice pink (cheap) ball, to see if she would run and play with it. I doubted that she would run around like a playful gelding. She targeted the ball a few times, tried to bite it, pushed it once or twice, then tried to bite it again, and it popped!

So, the ball is not her friend any more.

Well, we did target the deflated ball, then went on to the hoola hoop :-).

The Back of the Icelandic Horse

The longitudinal back of the Icelandic Horse can be conformed in many different ways. It can be relatively straight, or slightly concave, to very concave; strong, tight, medium tense (essential tension), to very weak, or lax; and / or a combination thereof.

Some backs cannot carry much weight; some are stronger than others.

Some are flexible; some have too much laxity.

It will depend on many different things as to whether the horse's back can support a certain amount of rider weight, and how that weight will affect the back.

Some backs will sag quite a bit and take the horse's back into ventroflexion.

The type of saddle will also have an impact on the back. If you will notice the fourth image: check out the wrinkle of the skin of the horse behind the saddle bars.

No Nosebands!

Om oss
Originally uploaded by Siw S

Hee-haw! No nosebands!!


Icelandic Horses can learn to accept the bit as a tool of communication!

Charm and the Noodle

As part of Charm's groundwork in preparation for under saddle training, we used a pool noodle on her bareback pad, on a breezy day.

Bareback and Bridleless Icelandic Horse

Lotte og Viljar
Originally uploaded by Siw S

In tune with the Icelandic Horse, this rider is bareback and bridleless.

Carved Wooden Icelandic Horses

Icelandic horses?
Originally uploaded by ryangerber

So cute!

Charm, Another Mounting Practice

Charm, who will be four years old next week, had another practice mounting session today. She did very well, standing still for mounting and dismounting.

Birth of an Icelandic Horse Foal

Benny Jumping



and Benny in the water.



Skumur jumping.

Here are some pictures of my Icelandic Horse mares, Cookie and Charm.

Hvuiski, Icelandic Horse Stallion and Clicker Training.

Soring of Horses

The soring of horses includes any breed, not just Tennessee Walkers, but any breed of horse. This includes all gaited horses as well, Missouri Fox Trotters, Paso Finos, Peruvian Pasos, Icelandic Horses, Rocky Mountain Horses, Kentucky Mountain Horses, etc.

Soring is not limited to putting chains or chemicals on their legs, or stacks on their feet. It encompasses many different methods of weights, mechanical aids, and procedures, such as concussive practices (running on hard surfaces).

Cali's Song:

Taking Charm on the Trail, and Over the Bridge

Here are some pictures and videos of Charm, Icelandic Horse, almost four years old, going out on the trail as practice and exposure prior to her being trained to carry a rider.


Free time in the arena.

Practice trailer tying.

Checking out the junk.

Tying to the hitching post.

"I know I can open this gate latch;
just gimme a chance."

TTeam / TTouch

Ttouches are appreciated by Icelandic Horses. It can relax their necks, backs, and tails.



More on TTeam / Ttouch: http://iceryder.net/tteam.html

Join us in the First Annual Natural Icelandic Horse Worldwide Virtual Show!

This will be an on-line video show to share our horses, natural horsemanship, and natural gaits with each other, and the rest of the world!

Many people around the world are interested in natural horsemanship and natural gaits with their Icelandic Horses. Since we are all geographically spread out, this virtual on-line natural video show helps us share what we are doing with like-minded owners. We are able to share with everyone how responsive, intelligent, willing, and attentive, and cooperative our horses are. Also, it may help inspire others who may be interested in a natural way with their Icelandic Horses.

There are no specific classes or rules; good / natural horsemanship and natural gaits are the goal. The virtual show gives owners and horses a chance to show others their two-way communication, good partnerships, not dependant upon tack.

Have someone take a video of you working / playing with your horse (or set the camera on the fence and turn it on!). Capture some of your natural horsemanship and natural gaits to share with other Icelandic Horse owners around the world.

Some of the things you can show are Parelli 7 Games http://iceryder.net/7games.html, any type of natural horsemanship groundwork, such as John Lyons, Bill Dorrance (True Horsemanship Through Feel) http://iceryder.net/future.html, Clinton Anderson; working therapy horse session, horse quietly standing for mounting, bareback, gaiting on a loose rein, trail rides, flexibility and suppling exercises, at-liberty leading, lead-line, jumping, dressage, tricks, trailer loading, obstacle course, vaulting, taking Grandma for a ride around the round pen, etc.

Show off your kids with lead-line riding; show off your horses gaiting naturally! Show off your natural horsemanship. Do you have a new foal? Share him and his introduction to natural horsemanship.

If you've never been in a show before... not to worry! Don't think about attire, or your weight, or your hair. It's about the ability to have two-way communication with the horse, not dependant upon tack. Tossing out the noseband allows for the horse to tell you if the bit is bothering him or that he doesn't understand how to use it as a method of communication (or that your hands are not so good!).

Clicker training? Share it with us!

There will be no judging; everyone wins in this show! Everyone is invited, from novice horse owners, to kids, to non-riders, to professional and / or certified trainers and judges.

There is no limit to the number of videos that you can submit. The more the merrier!

We hope to have people from every country enter the show. There are no fees, no costs; just take a video and upload it to youtube. All of the Natural Icelandic Horse Virtual Show videos will be linked to one page for all of us to share and enjoy.

If you need help figuring out how to upload a video, let us know and we can help you.

Upload the video to http://youtube.com (you will need to create an account before uploading if you do not already have one) by June 14, 2008. In the area for "tags", include this: Natural Icelandic Horse Virtual Show

Send the link to the video to: iceryder @ gmail.com so that the video can be included with the rest of the virtual show videos.

If you have any questions, email us.

Please forward this link to everyone that you know of that has an Icelandic Horse.

The information is also on this page:
http://iceryder.net/virtualshow.html

Please feel free to put the announcement video and this information on your website.

Thanks!