Click on a picture to go to a video story
MEET THE ICELANDIC HORSE!
I thought this would be a good introduction to the horse and riding in Iceland. Friends get together and go off with a herd.
It's also an introduction on how to use this website. Click on the image at the left and it will take you to a story. Once there, click on any picture and it will turn into video.
HOW TO PICK A HORSE: A VISIT WITH LUKKA
Many of you have heard of Lukka and many of you have even bought horses through her! Here is a chance to go with Lukka as she travels to a farm to evaluate a new horse for her sales list.
This video can also be a guide in what to look for when horse shopping.
Okay, you've got your dream Icelandic horse, but now how do you take care of it? What are the special needs of the gaited
Icelandic horse? What expectations do we have about the longevity of
their riding lives?
George Gullikson, saddle maker, makes one of his periodic visits to a dressage barn where he will meet three new clients and share his knowledge of the bio-mechanics of the horse with us.
NEW
LANDSMOT 2006 LOOKING FOR A STORY
My version -- unofficial -- of the Landsmot 2006. I had to find my own story in this crowd of people and horses.
It was not easy and until I found one I was rather desperate.
This is the story of my finding a story and about Landsmot and a lot about Icelandic horses and horsepeople.
Just keep following the images!
Part One: Landsmót
This is the story I finally found at the Landsmot! And it is truly an amazing story. It's about the great stallion, Dagur frá Strandarhöfði, and the men from Dalvik who kept him in Iceland to make it to the A Five Gait Finals at the Landsmot.
But it's really about so much more...
Part Two: Islandsmót
And then a couple of weeks later, Dagur is back in competition, this time at the Islandsmot.
And finally, I get a good explanation of the differences between the popular competitions in Iceland and Europe.
The results are surprising!
Part Three: Home in Dalvik
We all meet back in Dalvik: Stebbi, his father Friðgeir, Hilmar, and, of course, Dagur.
There I was able to film a ride that I will never forget and one that I want to share with you and that I doubt that you will ever forget, either.
And Stebbi goes back to work.
KOLKUÓS: HORSES ARE RETURNING!
That famous line of horses originally came from the farm, long abandoned, called Kolkuós. Through the efforts of some farmers in Skagafjörður led by Valgeir Þorvaldsson it is being restored and is becoming a home for horses once again.
Valgeir tells us his personal reasons for wanting to restore Kolkuós.
This story is so much more than about horses. A visit here is to a very special -- even spiritual -- place.
FLUGUMÝRI: A FARM VISIT
A video visit to the well-known breeding farm, Flugumýri, in Skagafjörður to see how horses are bred and trained.
We will get a chance to meet some hot young stallions, and prize breeding mares.
We also go with the horses to the pastures as they are bred.
OUR FAVORITE LITTLE RIDER!
A series of videos about a young girl and her great stallion, Hágangur. It's about the different ways she learns to ride -- on the farm the old way, and taking dressage lessons from Mette Manseth who teaches and trains top horses and riders at Hólar.
MILL FARM EVALUATIONS 2006
This is a story about a girl and her horse, the only amateur at a very professional breed evaluation in the United States to show and ride her own horse.
The quality of the Icelandic breeding horses in improving in the United States. And with it, the quality of riding and knowledge of the breed keeps getting higher. This series of 3 videos proves it!
LÖNGUFJÖRUR -- THE LONG BEACH
There can be many arguments about just which is the best riding in Iceland. But in any grouping, no matter how small, a contender is always the Long Beach, Löngufjörur, on Snæfellsnes. It certainly is one of my favorites, and I made this video to show why!
As you will see, though, I am not alone in this opinion. Those little dots in the thumbnail image are riders... just a few of the many who tölt by on a good weekend.
I am unbelievably lucky to have a friend, Trausti, whose farm, Skógarnes, is on the choicest part of the beach. Well into his 70's, Trausti still guides groups of riders on the beach. He often takes 2 horses, ponying one for a fresh ride home!
A stay at Skógarnes means great riding on the tidal flat and being part of a moving landscape of Icelanders enjoying their country and their horses.
PEANUTS ON PARADE
Who says they don't give Icelandic children riding lessons?
Well, in this case, the horses steal the show. Here we get a chance to see about 20 kids, no older than 5, go on a trail ride!
THE YOUNG HORSE: WHAT COMES AFTER THE "FRÁ"?
Video visits to some farms to find out how Iceland is put into the Icelandic horse.
We look at the question: Is a horse raised in Iceland different from one raised in another setting?
Life in the herd.
THE CLUBS 
The club is at the heart of the riding culture in Iceland. We visit to the Dreyri club in Akranes on a Saturday afternoon.
They are having a training show for children of all ages and abilities. The one thing in common are some really nice horses. Caretakers!
MY FIRST HORSE TREK
Wondering what it's like to go on a horse trek in Iceland? This is a video I shot during my first trek, the one that really got me hooked on horseback riding.
WISCONSIN EVALUATIONS 2004
This was so well organized that I decided it needed to be preserved so that others could see what is involved in putting on a breed evaluation. There are behind-the-scenes vignettes as well as some educational discussions of breed lines.
VERMONT SHOW 2000
Some fun classes -- costume, trail obstacles, and a beer tölt to enjoy a summer day in the sun.
Yes, that is a stein of beer the rider is holding while she is tölting!
