Hestakaup! Icelandic Horse Videos

Meet the Icelandic Horse… What It’s All About

The Ride to Holar

Meet the Icelandic horse, the Icelanders who ride them, and Iceland, where they ride them. A group of friends and an even larger group of friendly horses go out together to enjoy each other. That’s what it’s all about and why I’ve placed this video as the introduction to the Icelandic horse and to my [...]

How to Pick a Horse

Lukka Picks a Horse

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.

My First Trek

The start of a ride

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. It was in 2000. I had been taking lessons for all of four months and I was about to go on a 5 [...]

Landsmot — Looking for a Story

Fast Tolt at the Landsmot

Every other year, the best horses and riders from all over Iceland come and compete against each other. It’s called the Landsmot. In 2006 the crowd came for some nice, fast tolt. And they got plenty of it. Everyone was filming and photographing. I wanted to show something original, in my own style. So I [...]

Part 1. Three Guys and a Horse from Dalvik

Thumbnail image for Part 1. Three Guys and a Horse from Dalvik

This is one of those great people-and-horse stories that you could never make up. I only take credit for finding, documenting, and delivering it to you. It has to do with saving a horse that… Let’s start at the beginning.

Part 2. Dagur does the Islandsmot

Thumbnail image for Part 2. Dagur does the Islandsmot

The Landsmot lives on throughout the following two years through constant conversations, second-guessing the judges, comparing riders and horses, watching videos, making wish-lists of breeding stallions and just plain gossiping.

Part 3. Back Home in Dalvik

The mountains behind Dalvik

I delayed my return flight home just so I could see Stebbi and Fridgeir together in Dalvik. Iceland Air, of course, charged me a penalty fee for changing my flight in order to promote Iceland, but it was a well worth the detour. First, let’s orient ourselves. Even for Iceland, Dalvik is way up there…

Landsmot Opening Ceremony

Landsmot Opening Ceremony

Witness 100′s of horses, 100′s of riders and one beauty queen all get along together in the pomp and ceremony of the opening of the Landsmót.

How Iceland Gets into the Icelandic Horse

What comes after the

Is it a horse or a pony? Other than its size, gaits, and hair, is it really any different from other horses? There are some who would argue it is the spirit in this horse that comes from being raised in Iceland that makes it unique. Let’s see how they do it.

Kolkuós: Where Magic, Mystery, and History Come Together

Kolkuós

If ever there was a special place in the world of Icelandic horses, it is Kolkuós. Here, literally, is the beginning of the Icelandic horse. Before that, they were European. And here is where my personal favorite line of horses were bred.

A Herd Returns

Thumbnail image for A Herd Returns

Celebrating at Kolkuos. The return of a herd.

Flugumýri

Thumbnail image for Flugumýri

Flugumýri is famous from the Viking sagas. But it is currently known for the horses that have been bred there.

Training the Young Horse

Training the Young Horse

A young horse has been sent to Flugumýri for training. Elisa Klose is using techniques she learned at Hólar, from which she has recently graduated. I put this video up so that experienced horse people can see how groundwork and suppling are used by one particular trainer. It is not a How To, but rather [...]

The Mare to the Stallion

The Mare Going to the Stallion

It was that time, shortly after foaling, for the mare to go back to a stallion. A short distance down the road from the farm was a large field of lush green grass growing over high hummocks, þúfa. Struggling to walk while shooting with the camera, I could understand how these horses grow up so [...]

Peanut Parade: Tots on a Trail Ride

Tots go Trail Riding

For Americans of a certain age, this could be the Art Linkletter School of Icelandic Horseback Riding! The kids are a riot but these horses put up with it all. In fact, they steal the show. I think that this is one of the greatest selling points for the breed.

In the Joy of Horses: Fun with Icelandics!

Young Rider

This kid found a wonderful horse right there in her dad’s barn. Happened to be one of the top evaluated stallions in Iceland. And one of her neighbors just happens to be Mette Manseth, of Hólar. Ingunn may be on her way to being a fine rider, to say the least, but watch her have fun learning!

Bettering the Breed Through Evaluations

Thumbnail image for Bettering the Breed Through Evaluations

A breed evaluation in Wisconsin 2004. Check pages excerpt.

Mill Farm Evaluations 2006

Carrie in the Evaluation

An Icelandic breeding horse evaluation held under ideal circumstances at Mill Farm in 2006. Lots of young horses were introduced. And so was a young rider!

Stallion Parade, Mill Farm

Stallion Show

In September, 2007, there was a relatively small breeding evaluation at Mill Farm in Ancramdale, New York. I shot very little of it, but I am including the stallion show that took place at the end of the first day.

Löngufjörur, the Long Beach

The beach

Everyone has a “favorite” ride in Iceland. I have a few. This is one of them that I share, as you will see, with HUNDREDS of Icelanders on a weekend.

A Local Competition

Thumbnail image for A Local Competition

On any Spring weekend in Iceland, in any city or town, you will find people at their local riding clubs fiddling around with their horses, riding in friendly training shows and sometimes in engaging in fierce competition. What follows is a video visit to Dreyri, the club in Akranes.

Saddle-Fitting Clinic

Saddle-fitting clinic with Eileen Gunipero

Our regional club had a party. Not Tupperware, but saddles…

Turkey Tölt

The Turkey Tolt

A local American club goes out for a Fall ride. But thanks to the Internet and an international association, we were joined by a rider from far away. She started as a stranger and now is a good friend.

Dressage Lesson

Thumbnail image for Dressage Lesson

An early dressage lesson with an Icelandic horse and a surprise companion…

Sheep Dressage

Sheep dressage

First of all, let me make it clear that this is not Dressage for Icelanders! My experience is that dressage may be coming to Iceland, but it lies becalmed offshore. I do not consider suppling exercises such as shoulder in, leg yields, etc., dressage. Perhaps an onshore wind will blow. I think a pretty good [...]

A Visit to a Dressage Barn

Visit to a Dressage Barn

I had so much fun at Shinto doing piaffe on this huge and well trained Grand Prix horse I thought everyone should do it! Well, not everyone, but at least some of my friends who ride Icelandics and have an appreciation for dressage. Trish and I designed a little “Introduction to Dressage” clinic at Shinto [...]

The Big Kids Show Off

Thumbnail image for The Big Kids Show Off

When they say someone trotted out their wares are they always referring to a dressage barn?

An Icelandic Dressage Clinic

Thumbnail image for An Icelandic Dressage Clinic

A chance to get some dessage instruction on the Icelandic horses. The first volunteers were Sarah Jones on Pilatus and Becky Hartman-Berrier on Landi. Click to Play Video Then, next up were Amy Goddard on Moli with Andrea Buengerner on Randver. Click to Play Video Martina Gates on Stigandi and Nicki Esdorn on Klerkur. The [...]

Playing with the Big Kids

It was as if the circus came to the barn!

This was what they had all been waiting for: playtime with the circus.

Rún and Her Puppies

Puppies

Dogs on a horse site? Well, you go riding in Iceland and after a few times you get an Icelandic horse. Or two. And you see these great dogs… One thing leads to another and you have 7 Icelandic horses and you’re breeding Icelandic sheepdog puppies. And they are as cute as grandkids.

Herding Sheep

Herding Sheep

One of Rún’s puppies became the first Icelandic sheepdog to get an AKC herding title. Here she is in the early part of her training herding sheep.

Driving for Training

Driving for Training

The Icelandic horse was meant to be ridden. Occasionally trainers will drive the horse in a sulky for training purposes. Here is an exmple.

A Beer Tolt

Beer Tolt

In 2000, the Vermont Icelandic Horse Club held a show that turned out to be as much regional as local. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day in August, just the kind of day when a cold one is really appreciated.

Costume Class

Costume Class

In 2000 there was a show in Vermont with a great costume class.

Marine

Marine on Breki

Marine rode Breki and then graduated. Discussion….

The Saddle Maker

A Saddle for Somi

Between horse and rider there is a huge gap…

So, Where is Iceland Anyway? (Just in case…)

Just in case you’re not sure where it is, here’s a map of Iceland. It’s a fully functional Google map so you can zoom in and out, pan around, and search on it. I just thought it would be handy here. Just in case… View Larger Map

counter for wordpress