problems downloading .exe file

Hi....
Most people I send these icons to are able to save the .exe file and extract the icon. There are some email programs - as mentioned - that will refuse to allow download of .exe.
I have tried changing the name of the file to ._exe - but when I attach the file, my email program attaches another .exe on the end.
I end up with xyz._exe.exe
Can somebody explain the process of renaming the file, and then the process - in detail - of saving and changing the file back to an .exe file so it can be saved and extracted.
Thanks