Horse's

[bluerug]

I just have a few questions as with regards to horses.

Has anyone heard of icelandic pony's?

What kind of horse are they if they are even a horse?

How hard are they to take care of?

How big do they get?

I just ask about this kind of horse because i just saw them on the T.V. and thought they looked like the cutest things i have ever seen and now i want one. All info on these kinds of horse's would be great, thanks in advance.

[Sk8r]

I love Icelandic ponies: they're gorgeous, in a pony sort of way---short, and very furry. Unhappily, they don't do well in southern climes. I think they're about the size of a Welsh pony or Mongolian horse---undersized for a grown man to ride, but will carry a man's weight.
The Fijord ponies, too, about the same size, most often for pulling, beige horses with a most curious short mane. They have a black and blond core to the mane, which, when clipped Trojan-square in the traditional way, gives you a neat three-way stripe. Again, coldweather horses. Even in Oslo, once summer arrives, they have to ship the Fijord ponies in the city park up to the north for more comfort.

Someone here in Spokane area has two Fijord ponies, and I hope they run them up to the mountains to pasture during our summers!

[bluerug]

Thank you for the info. I am kind of confused though as to whether they are a horse or really a pony. On T.V. it said they are called pony's because the Icelandic's don't have a name for horse, don't know how true that is though. Are Fijords and Icelandic's the same?

[Nina51]

according to the breed registries, they are both considered horses. however, they are more "pony" sized. i have seen both at the annual horse fair here and they are most definitely adorable little horses.

i'm told they are very easy to care for and hardy but there again, horse emergencies can crop up in a heartbeat. i suspect they are susceptible to the same variety of health problems such as colic and founder, just as any other breed so you'd have to be diligent about feed and hoof care.

i would think, since you don't see many of them, that they have a pretty hefty purchase price.

[bluerug]

Thank you very much nina for the info. Could you please tell me a bit more about colic and founder please.

[Sk8r]

The Fijords have pretty thick body hair. We do have them here, as said, also Highland cattle, quite a nice little batch of them, which are another breed that needs to keep cool. Cold spring-fed water and ample shade from small woods probably figure in our ability to keep these critters.
The Icelandics are more often paint or piebald [same difference] like the Gypsy Vanners in Nina's beautiful myspace clip [Lord, those are beauteous]. The Fijords that I have seen are all blondish, uniform in color, which is probably a breed standard.
See, Bluerug, you're going to have to move up north, learn to pry ice-balls out of pony hooves, and enjoy furry ponies and long-haired cattle. ;) What can get along in your area, because I have known one in NC, is the Frisian. Seen Ladyhawke? THAT is a Frisian.

[Nina51]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11446015#post11446015 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bluerug
Thank you very much nina for the info. Could you please tell me a bit more about colic and founder please.

condensed version...colic is simply a horsey belly ache. there are as many reasons for colic as there are horses. colic isn't a disease, it is a symptom. moldy feed, sudden changes in feed, too much icy cold water given to a sweaty horse on a hot day, even weather changes can cause colic. many times, it's a mild case and could pass without you even knowing it was there but other times, it can be life threatening. it is one of the scariest things to have happen to your horse. treatments can be anything from simply walking your horse till it passes to having a vet out to pass a stomach tube and pump a gallon of mineral oil in to move an impaction along.

founder (laminitis) is a systemic condition that affects a horse's feet. the race horse, barbaro, was euthanized because of a bad case of founder. you've probably seen fat ponies out in a lush pasture with their feet growing out like snow skies. that is what founder can look like. it's an extremely painful condition that will render a horse useless unless it's treated aggressively and even then, it may still lead to permanent lameness. most often, founder is caused by too much lush spring grass, concussion on hard surfaces, injury. again, there are as many reasons for founder as there are horses. sometimes a mare will founder if she retains a placenta after giving birth.

hmmm, that was s'posed to be a short answer but really, when you're talking about those things, there ARE no short answers!

sk8r, if i can't have a vanner, my next choice would be a friesian!

[bluerug]

Thank you both very much and I have some good news. We just bought an Icelandic this morning. Don't worry this horse is kept up in the Blue Ridge mountain area where we have our cabin. So it is pretty darn cold during the winter and does get slightly warm during the summer months. I am going to post pictures once we get him in the pasture. We also have a racking horse that we previously had so it will be fun to see how they get along. Pictures to come very soon.

[bluerug]

Oh by the way the racking horse is called Bella and our new addition is called Fabio.

[Nina51]

congrats on your new addition, can't wait for pictures!

when you introduce these horses to each other, if possible you should keep a STURDY fence in between them for 2 or 3 days until you are sure they will get along. if you don't have any way to keep them separated, you should at least put halters and lead ropes on them and CAREFULLY let them sniff noses and check each other out before you turn them loose together...

just be mindful of where their feet are in relation to your body. there's bound to be some kicking and squealing and maybe even some rearing up at each other until they establish their pecking order. even with only 2 horses, one will be dominant and it'll probably be the one who has lived there the longest.

good luck and have your camera ready. when you introduce a new horse, that's one of the BEST times to get some really good pics of flaring nostrils and flying manes and tails. :)

[Sk8r]

COngrats indeed!

[bluerug]

Well here are just a few pictures of fabio.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j281/blue_carpet/DSC01870.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j281/blue_carpet/DSC01876.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j281/blue_carpet/DSC01880.jpg

Don't laugh at his cute haircut either. That was my moms idea to cut a fringe. :lol: :lol:

[amcarrig]

:lol: I've never seen a horse with bangs before. He's awfully cute!

[Nina51]

well now, he's just as cute as a bug in a rug! he looks to be young, how old is he?

get that hay up off the ground and into that rack!!!

[bluerug]

He is 4 years old, and the hay is in now in the rack. How do you like his hair cut, I think it looks a little girlish if you know what I mean.

[bluerug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11449334#post11449334 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by amcarrig
:lol: I've never seen a horse with bangs before. He's awfully cute!

Thank you, and he is a character as well.

[Sk8r]

Aww, he is cute. I miss my old Cody. He was a Heinz 57 Fencejumper by way of pedigree, but he was a character.

[Nina51]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11450387#post11450387 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sk8r
Aww, he is cute. I miss my old Cody. He was a Heinz 57 Fencejumper by way of pedigree, but he was a character.

i'll e-mail you tuffy if you want a character. won't be long and you'll be sending him back to me!

bluerug, cute haircut but let his forelock grow out. he'll need it to ward off flies in the summer. :)

are you gonna break him to drive? he looks like he'd make a great little cart horse.

[bluerug]

I told my dad about letting the forelock grow out and he said no problems with that as it would make him look more like a man. I would love to see some pics of tuffy and have no problems with you emailing me. I think we are going to break him in to pull a cart. My mom is going to have him tolt though as she says its the coolest thing she has ever seen. Well thank you all for the help and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!!!!

[Nina51]

careful what you wish for. ;)

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/?action=view&current=tuffyheadshot-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/tuffyheadshot-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/?action=view&current=tuffy2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/tuffy2-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

taking a bow

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/?action=view&current=tuffybow1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/tuffybow1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/?action=view&current=tuffydown.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/tuffydown.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

what do you mean by "tolt"?

[bluerug]

This is a tolt, it is a type of gate Icelandic horses can do among 4 others as well. Your tuffy sure looks like he has a personality. :D

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-7rWeWymJDw

[vonodie1]

A horse with a mullet! ;) He sure is a cutie!

My first thought was wow...he's got bangs, but since it's a boy I am thinking more of a mullet! hehe

[bluerug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11459917#post11459917 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vonodie1
A horse with a mullet! ;) He sure is a cutie!

My first thought was wow...he's got bangs, but since it's a boy I am thinking more of a mullet! hehe

Yea lets stick with mullet. :lol: :lol:

[Nina51]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11459866#post11459866 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bluerug
This is a tolt, it is a type of gate Icelandic horses can do among 4 others as well. Your tuffy sure looks like he has a personality. :D

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-7rWeWymJDw

that's pretty cool! do all icelandics do that? i assume it's a natural gait for them? looks much like the way a rocky mountain horse moves. you could hold a glass of water on your head and not spill a drop.

yeah, tuffy is quite a character. he's owned me for 20+ years now and there's never a dull moment.

[FloatingFish]

And the assist goes to.......

[Nina51]

moi'?

[bluerug]

Yep it is a natural gate for them as well as 4 other gates, but the tolt is the most well known by far.

[Nina51]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11460952#post11460952 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bluerug
Yep it is a natural gate for them as well as 4 other gates, but the tolt is the most well known by far.

hmmm, i bet if i held a marshmallow out in front of him, tuffy could learn to tolt. :D

[bluerug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11461734#post11461734 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nina51
hmmm, i bet if i held a marshmallow out in front of him, tuffy could learn to tolt. :D

:lol: :lol:

Do they actually eat marshmallows? Fabio eats apples like they are going out of fashion.

[Nina51]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11463416#post11463416 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bluerug
:lol: :lol:

Do they actually eat marshmallows? Fabio eats apples like they are going out of fashion.

tuffy would climb a tree if he thought there was a marshmallow at the top.

many years ago, i visited a farm in northern illinois. it was a rescue farm for old horses. nothing on the place was under the age of 25 years. many of them had bad teeth and couldn't chew carrots and apples so they gave them marshmallows for treats. i had an aged mare and tried it. she loved them and now that's what all of my horses get. i have NO trouble catching any of them. ;)

careful with the apples. no more than one a day. too many can lead to colic. NOT fun!

[bluerug]

Wow thank you for the heads up about the apples. He has been eating them a lot lately. Hopefully we do not get a case of colic. He also loves sweet corn too.

[Nina51]

i hate to keep bursting your bubble but be extremely careful feeding sweet corn. that, too, can cause problems leading to colic.

everything in moderation, of course. i have occasionally given tuffy a half ear of sweet corn but i NEVER give it to my mini horses. the best treats are good ole carrots. around here, if i buy them whole, sometimes they are far too big (fat) so i buy the little baby carrots. they're more expensive but my horses only get 2 or 3 with each feeding so they last a long time.

as for marshmallows, i buy the jumbo ones for tuffy and the minis get the little bitty ones. again, only a few a day. :)

[bluerug]

Thank you nina for the heads up. Fabio loves carrots but Bella will not even touch em for some unknown reason. I have never known a horse not to eat carrots before.