Too tight

I'm so glad she loves her horse. Oh the beauty of it all.

Maybe she'll get off him and actually LOOK at him and realize he's in distress over that noseband.

Does anyone ever look at their horse's expressions anymore?

What is a cantle..? AND what is a loin?

If you can imagine...the woman depicted in the colour photo was actually teaching a clinic on 'cantle sitting'. I hope her students didn't pay a lot for this advice. I wonder how many horses went home with sore kidneys that day?

This is where a LOIN is. Stay off it.

Teach Your Children Well

Okay, I don't like picking on kids...I'm picking on the adult behind the camera.

Who taught this lovely little girl to manipulate gaits? Who taught her that it was correct to cantle sit and hold a tight grip on those reins? Some adult should be very ashamed.

Children are such talented riders that it's an absolute crime that someone told this impressionable young girl that this was the correct way to ride a gaited horse. It's too bad, I think she might actually be a fairly decent rider if she could unclench her jaw, and relax a bit, and put her behind where it belongs. Just imagine how lovely she would look if she were taught to ride with her seat and legs?

Teach your children well,

Their father's hell did slowly go by.

And feed them on your dreams,

The one they picks, the one you'll know by.

Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you will cry,So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

Let go

Hey! The pony has stopped. You can let go now.

More LIttle Lick

Little Lick

So what direction is the Icelandic horse world going? Here's a picture of some loin sitters riding a few high action horses.

Here's an example of two Big Lick Riders.

So what's the difference? Just missing the long feet and the padded hooves?

Here's a pic of a top stallion in Europe. I guess the Icelandic show world is at the 'Little Lick" stage.

Tight Reins

Hey...when you are just standing around relaxing with your horse... LET GO OF THE FREAKING REINS! Learn about the value of 'release' in horse training. That pony isn't going any where, and if he does...teach him to stand when you ask.