Carolyn Resnick Method and Icelandic Horses

This video shows use of the Carolyn Resnick Method with an Icelandic Horse.

Bareback Bridleless Night Icelandic Horse Riding

Bareback, bridleless night riding on an Icelandic Horse, in Norway.

From the owner:

This film was shot on a long ride in the darkening Norwegian forest. The moon was full and clear. Happy and safe on the back of my dear Icelandic horse, no bridle, no saddle - just a free, wild run to the top and a slow walk home. This is life, this is love!

Icelandic Horse

Icelandic Horse
Originally uploaded by ProjectDominion

This is an interesting looking Icelandic Horse; coloring and the shape of his head and ears.

Helgi, Icelandic Horse Driving

Helgi, an Icelandic Horse gelding, is re-learning to be driven in a cart; by IceHorse Farm (see their videos and website).

What Gait / Ruby / Icelandic Horse

Ruby, Icelandic Horse mare, ridden bareback, bitless, loose rein; what gait is she doing?

Nosebands Coming Off!

These nordic gymnastic students went to practice in Iceland and had a try at riding the Icelandic Horses. If this video is representative of coming trends in Iceland, nosebands are starting to come off the Icelandic Horses, which is a good thing.

We still see some of the extended bar saddles (the bar digs into the loins), but disposing of the nosebands is a great start in consideration of the horse!

Bridles Without Bits

Are bridles without bits for you? for your horse?

New information and studies will help you decide; articles by theHorse.com:

A New Breed of Bridle (Bitless)

Bitless Bridles Touted as Safer Alternative for Horses

Jessica Jahiel: "Beginner riders often use the reins for balance..." observes Jahiel. "All of this is painful for the horses because by jerking, pulling, and water-skiing on the reins, the riders are putting strong and erratic pressure on the bit."

"Horses in bitless bridles don't have to hesitate for that initial moment of evaluation, 'Is this going to hurt me?' " she says. Quicker response times can be had without a bit.

If a *horseman* is riding a horse, more than likely, he has little use for the reins, communicating with the horse through his body and natural aids. Cook believes that a supposedly simple snaffle in the uneducated hands can be an instrument of torture for the horse.

I ride my Icelandic Horse bitless, and throughout the world, there is a growing number of other Icelandic Horse owners following suit, turning away from the icelandic-style riding and training, in lieu of the more natural ways, which are considerate of the horse.

Icelandic Horses in Portugal

This is a demo of Icelandic Horses in Portugal, using natural horsemanship, operant conditioning (clicker training), and riding without heavy contact on the reins. (There is some fighting of the bit, which may need to be changed out for a bit with a different mouth piece).

Icelandic Horse Castration

Here are several Icelandic Horses being castrated.

Icelandic Horse Self Carriage

From a trainer on a gaitedhorse list:

"A horse must self-balance and have release when he's moving correctly so that he may do so. First I want them to achieve balance and learn to freely move in response to my cues "asking" for particular movement.

Like the toddler that must learn to walk before he can run, jump and skip; the horse must first learn to self carry his gaits with a rider on board, in balance and *without rider support* or framing. If you "have" to hold a horse up in the front to achieve a correct walk then he is dependent on you and not self-carrying."

An Icelandic Horse should be trained bitless, and then move into a small curb with an unjointed mouthpiece or a mullen-mouth snaffle.

I believe that the jointed snaffles are torturous to Icelandics if they are ridden icelandic-style, and of course the shanked jointed-mouth bit (i.e. icelandic bit) compound the problems for them.

Misty in Alaska / Sutton Summer Fest

From Misty and her Icelandic Horses in Alaska:

It has been hot all week and today is like a sauna.

Here's hoping for a thunderstorm.

Duke & I spent all day Friday and Saturday giving pony rides at the Sutton Summer Fest. Today I took everybody down to the neighbor's to help with fire prevention. Here are a couple of pictures of my Removal Squad.

Misty

Riding Icelandic Horses Bitless

Here's another progressive Icelandic Horse owner who rides bitless with her Icelandic Horses.

Icelandic Horse Riding in Neck Rope

This Icelandic Horse is being ridden in a neck rope.

Natural Head and Neck Carriage

These videos show the natural carriage of the head and neck of the Icelandic Horses (versus the forced frame carriage).

Yank a Little More

Yank a little more on the mouth of that Icelandic Horse (Pony).

Is that the only way they gait?

Fighting the Bit

OK, so the horse can lift his front legs... what about the horse fighting the bit?

Can we concentrate on basic horsemanship instead of this stuff?



More fighting the bit by Icelandic Horses:

http://iceryder.blogspot.com/2009/04/yank-yank-yank.html

http://iceryder.blogspot.com/2009/04/unhappy-mouth-icelandic-horse.html

http://icehorses.blogspot.com/2009/01/differences.html

http://iceryder.blogspot.com/2009/04/icelandic-horses-fighting-bit.html

http://iceryder.blogspot.com/2008/12/fighting-bit.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvk7MhR2Z2U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsB0VFeXyW8

Riding Icelandic Horse in Neck Rope Bareback

Riding an Icelandic Horse mare in bareback pad and neck rope.

Christ Lammfelle Bareback Riding Pad

The Christ Lammfelle Bareback Riding Pad sets new standards in terms of riding feel and riding therapy. Tests carried out by independent expert riders and riding therapists have confirmed the positive qualities and the effect of this pad on the rider and the horse.

The bareback riding pad allows a you to ride with the close bareback feel but comfort of this beautiful pad. The bareback pad will help you to form a closeness to your horse encourage a strong bond and unique partnership.

An innovation engineered by CHRIST of Germany.

The pad in the picture is the "premium" model, with the knee rolls. There is a model without the knee rolls, and also a western model with a pommel and cantle.

Christ Lammfelle Bareback Riding Pad

Icelandic Horse Saddle and Tack Fit

This video allows us to view the fit of saddles and tack on the Icelandic Horses in Iceland. Take some time to view the video, pause it, check the saddles, how the horses react to the bits, etc.

Saddles should not end past the last rib. Extended panels that end past the last rib are not a good thing, as they can dig into the loins. Also the lowest point of the saddle should be in the center of the saddle, not to the rear of the saddle. If the rider sits towards the rear of the saddle, it can dig into the horse, and the rider is not aligned with the horse's center of mass making it more difficult for him to easily carry a rider.

Look at bit fit, and noseband fit and tightness. A well-trained horse does not need a noseband, and a horse who has a bit that fits, and accepts the bit, will not need a noseband.

Training Horses at Liberty

This gal is using methods taught by Carolyn Resnick. Please read the story about this Icelandic Horse and his owner at:

Carolyn Resnick Blog