Haldane Icelandic Horses

10/10/2026

The horse world is full of people with opinions! This is a great round up of the confusing advice horse riders and owners get dished out to them.
We got sooo much well meaning and conflicting advice when we first got into the Icelandic horse world. Each horse has taught me a little more about the pointlessness of one fits all thinking.
🌸

20 Ways to Ruin Your Horse, According to Someone on the Internet🍿
A comprehensive guide to being wrong about absolutely everything.

I recently asked horse people to share some of the conflicting advice they've received about caring for, managing and training their horses.

And holy moly, what a magnificent collection of mutually exclusive certainties we've accumulated.🤯

It turns out that almost everything you do with a horse is wrong. Not just mildly wrong, either. We're talking morally reprehensible, scientifically indefensible, spiritually bankrupt and quite possibly a violation of the Geneva Convention.😱

The really impressive part is that the person telling you you're wrong is invariably absolutely certain they're right.

So, in the interests of fairness, inclusivity and offending absolutely everyone equally, I've compiled a collection of 20 ways you can apparently ruin your horse.🔥

How many of these arguments have you encountered?😜

1.Shoes are cruel. Barefoot is cruel. Boots are unnatural. Glue-ons are cheating. Traditional farriers are dinosaurs. Barefoot trimmers are cult members.

2.Treats are scientifically proven training tools. Treats are bribery. Treats create dangerous horses. Treats build trust. Food rewards are essential. Food rewards are manipulative.

3.Bits responses can be well trained into communication. Bits are medieval torture devices. Bitless is ethical. Bitless is dangerous. A snaffle is gentle. A snaffle can be severe.

4.Horses need rugs. Horses don't need rugs. Rugs destroy thermoregulation. Not rugging is neglect. A clipped horse must be rugged. A healthy horse can regulate its own temperature.

5.Unlimited hay is essential. Unlimited hay causes obesity. Restricting hay causes ulcers. Obesity causes laminitis. Horses must eat constantly. Horses must not overeat.

6.Ride into the contact. Never ride into the contact. Contact creates balance. Balance creates contact. The horse must seek the bit. The horse must never feel the bit. Your hands must be soft. Your hands must be effective.

7.Round pens create communication. Round pens are the best place to start a horses training. Round pens create learned helplessness. Sending a horse away establishes leadership. Sending a horse away is emotional abandonment. Turning to face you is respect. Turning to face you is avoidance.

8.Be the leader. Don't be the leader. Be a partner. Be a guardian. Be a friend. Never be a friend. Establish boundaries. Never impose your will. Earn respect. Respect is a human construct.

9.Nosebands. One finger. Two fingers. No fingers. No noseband. Anatomical noseband. Cavesson. Flash. Drop. Loose is kind. Loose is dangerous.

10.Dental tools. Power tools are dangerous. Hand tools are outdated. Sedation is essential. Sedation is unnecessary. Equine dentists are experts. Only veterinarians should touch teeth. Horses survived millions of years without dentists.

11.Start riding at two. Start riding at four. Wait until seven. Early exercise strengthens bones. Early exercise destroys joints. Young horses need work. Young horses need to be left alone.

12.Stabling is cruel. Paddocks are dangerous. Track systems are revolutionary. Dry lots are essential. Small paddocks are prisons. Big paddocks are injury factories. Horses must live in herds. Horses need individual management.

13.Feed magnesium. Feed turmeric. Feed salt. Feed oils. Feed herbs. Feed gut supplements. Feed joint supplements. Don't feed supplements because supplements are unnecessary.

14.Your horse is naughty. Your horse is frightened. Your horse is traumatised. Your horse is testing boundaries. Your horse is expressing its truth. Your horse is reflecting your childhood wounds. Your horse needs a stronger leader. Your horse needs you to regulate your nervous system.

15.Never accept no. Always accept no. Wait for a genuine yes. Let the horse choose. Never force anything. Teach the horse to comply. Honour its autonomy. Respect its boundaries. Get some help to learn to train properly.

16.Chiropractic. Osteopathy. Massage. Acupuncture. Craniosacral therapy. Myofascial release. Masterson. PEMF. Energy healing. Bodywork is essential. Bodywork is a waste of money.

17.Train every day. Train twice a week. Train for five minutes. Train for an hour. Always finish on a good note. It doesn't matter if you finish on a good note. Rest is essential. Consistency is essential. Repetition builds understanding. Repetition creates boredom.

18.Hands wide. Hands narrow. Hands high. Hands low. Inside rein. Outside rein. Never pull. Always maintain contact. Open your rein. Never open your rein.

19.Pressure is communication. Pressure is coercion. Escalating pressure is essential. Escalating pressure is abuse. Rewards create willingness. Rewards create dependency. Never punish. Always correct. Be consistent. Be flexible.

20.Horses need leadership. Horses need connection. Horses need attunement. Horses need autonomy. Horses need boundaries. Horses need freedom. Traditional horsemanship is outdated. Natural horsemanship is unnatural. Science-based training is the answer. Science doesn't understand horses.

AND THE WINNER IS...

Absolutely nobody.

Because whatever you're doing with your horse, there's someone on the internet who is absolutely certain you're doing it wrong.🙄

Of course, some of these disagreements are legitimate, some depend on circumstances, and some are complete bo****ks. The trick is learning to tell the difference.😎

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN!

What's been missed from the list? Add your favourite contradictory horse advice to the comments. Let's see how long we can make this ridiculous list.😆

Collectable Advice 312/365. 🤓

Don't confuse conviction with competence.

One of the most useful things you can learn in about working with horses is that the answer to many questions is "it depends." It depends on the horse, the circumstances, the skills of the person involved and what they're trying to achieve. Terribly inconvenient for anyone selling the one true way.🫣

Of course, that doesn't mean every opinion is equally valid. Sometimes the evidence is clear, and sometimes people are MSUing (ie Making S**t Up).The trick is developing enough knowledge, experience and critical thinking to recognise the difference, rather than outsourcing your judgement to whoever sounds the most confident.✊

IMAGE📸: Most likely a internet expert🙃

08/10/2026

Yesterday I went to a Mustad clinic - focus on shoeing for harness racing.
Always keen to learn more about anything hooves and trimming, especially from people whom have practical world experience. It was super interesting to see & hear how conformation effects gait in the harness horses and how much impact hoofcare & shoeing can contribute either negatively or positively to the way the horse moves.
Makes me curious to continue to study and learn all I can & improve my tool /trimming skills.
Mustad also have amazing tools and an app EQUINET which help farriers and owners keep track of their hoof trimming.
Thank you Mustad and the Terang Harness Racing Club for a brilliant day.
Also great to meet up with other hoof care providers and horse trainers.

02/10/2026

When they have to help with absolutely EVERYTHING! The green tractor is obviously treated as a friend that brings them food occasionally but also must be followed, licked, inspected ( closely … very closely) and supervised when it does stuff. 3 loads of dirt later we had some trenches filled and spread some gravel in gateways.

01/10/2026

Always helpful when horses point out when things are broken.

01/10/2026

If you’re passionate about the health of horses and curious to learn how great hoofcare can be part of a whole horse approach to management - I can highly recommend this course.
Last year I made time for 6 weeks away at the college to fully immerse myself in hoof nerdery!
The hands on, practical approach is SO good. Paired with the extensive theory so that the why “we do things” makes sense. Delivered by seriously experienced and knowledgeable lecturers.
Not only did I learn a lot I inherited a wonderful group of friends, community and supportive mentors.
I wanted to do the course because I have 60+ horses of my own - makes total sense to do that myself since I’m the one training them for the farrier anyways. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.
I’m now doing my case studies to finish my qualification.
Reach out to the college if you think you’d like to enrol next year.
Amy 🌸

Would you love a career working with horses in barefoot trimming and equine hoof care?

Applications for the 2027 Diploma of Equine Podiotherapy are open!

The 2027 Diploma of Equine Podiotherapy is not an on-line course! It is delivered on–site at May field Farm in Yarck Victoria. The course offers extensive hands-on practical training and an in-depth education in equine hoof care, created by genuine experts in the field for students wishing to develop a thorough understanding of the equine hoof.

The course is delivered in six residential blocks (over 34 days of contact time spread over 12 months!). Students develop their practical trimming skills, knowledge of hoof function, anatomy, biomechanics, pathology, nutrition, environmental influences and rehabilitation and work hands -on with a wide range of horse breeds and hoof presentations.

A strong focus is placed on understanding why a hoof presents the way it does and developing an individualised approach to hoof care.

Our qualified Equine Podiotherapists are in great demand! Our students may already be barefoot trimmers or they will establish their bare foot trimming business as they build their skills and progress during the course.

A career in barefoot trimming and equine hoof care remains outside the scope of AI!

If working outside with horses and understanding the science behind healthy, functional hooves is something you’re passionate about, 2027 is the year to take that next step.

🎓 2027 Diploma of Equine Podiotherapy places are limited so please don’t miss out!

For more information please visit https://equinepodiotherapy.com.au/

Email [email protected] or call the College on 0461 371 779 to commence the enrolment process today!

27/09/2026

Sunday snuggles with Ruby while waiting for trough to fill. Should have worn a different top - impossible not to get covered in fluff at this time of year. 😂🌸

19/09/2026

Had the best day yesterday with Priscilla Cuming getting some case studies done at my place. Priscilla took some fun photos of me ( Amy) and some of the realities of life in a herd of Icelandic Horses. There is a lot of stopping to kiss horses amongst trimming feet. Weather was beautiful, glitter cap felt like the mood for the day & raspberry snacks perfect. Very thankful to have the support of Priscilla who did the ACEP course a few years before I did & encouraged me to go do it. One of the best things I’ve ever done.

18/09/2026

It’s all lovely to have trees but when they come smashing to the ground in the middle of the day it’s a bit scary. Luckily none of the horses were under it & it also missed the fence. The boys were rightly pretty startled by it. It’s “September Gales “ here and we tend to lose quite a few limbs and trees this month. Bonus is the firewood - downside constant checking of fence lines.

09/09/2026

It will be interesting to see who is the oldest in the world now.
Here in Australia our title belongs to Estelle and her mare Grauna at 33yrs. Imported from Germany to NZ then brought by Estelle who imported her to QLD, Australia.
We still have two of our 9
original foundation herd horses Saela (32) and Blika (31) both imported from Denmark in 1996.
Who knows how long we’ll have them for but hope to keep them in good health for as long as possible.
Not all make it to grand ages, injury, illness and breeding can shorten their lives. Also there comes a point where PTS is the kindest tribute to a life well lived. Every day is a blessing with any of our four legged friends.
🌸Amy & the herd

We are looking for the oldest living Icelandic Horse!

🇩🇪 Man erzählt sich, dass das älteste Islandpferd, das jemals gelebt hat, 57 Jahre alt wurde. Aber wie alt ist das älteste lebende Islandpferd heute? Auf dieser Suche brauchen wir eure Mithilfe! Wenn ihr also ein besonders altes Pferd kennt, dass in Frage kommt, so schreibt bitte gerne an [email protected] und erzählt uns ein bisschen was dazu. Wir freuen uns auf eure Antworten!

🇬🇧 It is said that the oldest Icelandic Horse ever was 57 years of age when it died. But how old is the oldest living Icelandic Horse right now? To find out, we need your help. So if you know a horse that is especially old (and hopefully still doing well), please send an e-mail to [email protected] and tell us a little about it. We are looking forward to receiving your messages!

https://www.eyja.net/wir-suchen-das-aelteste-lebende-islandpferd/

08/09/2026

Everything is social with Icelandic Horses! They are VERY helpful with woodcutting, making sure the chainsaw is working properly, trying to replace the windscreen wipers on the truck & supervising the wood stacking! Good training as they aren’t afraid of the noise.