Now we let´s see how they put Iceland in the Icelander.
Of course it helps to have a few first-prize stallions hanging around the farm. At the time of the trek to Kolbeinsdalur, Ingolfur's daughter, Ingunn, was about 4 months old. Now, 5 years later and with a lot of exposure to horses...
And now we go out to the round pen for some real work -- on another stallion, Hágangur!
There is nothing I could add to this...
That was the way things used to be done...
And now a real teacher. Meet Mette Mannseth, a trainer, competition rider, and one of the riding teachers at the national equine college, Hólar. And Mette will introduce us to the horse, Hágangur frá Narfastöðum.
The Mývatn Open is one of the top horse competitions in Iceland. It takes place out on the frozen ice of Lake Mývatn near Akureyri. On March 11, 2006, Mette won the Mývatn Open. She was riding Hágangur! Mette and Hágangur tölted away with an 8.45, first place, in the A Tölt
Now let's start the lesson...
Of course, any dressage lesson has to have some serpentines. Even for a five year-old.
And then we must practice our tölt. Of course!
Take away the stirrups, knot the reins, and what do you have? A very happy little rider! And balanced, too!
Three years later:
I understand that at the Landsmot 2008 Hagangur was honored for offspring. I don't know much about it. I was not there and there was no coverage that I could find in the Icelandic press. All know is that there was some kind of parade of the honored stallions and that Ingunn rode her Hagangur for the crowd. It must have been quite a moment. All I have to share with you is this still picture by Martina Gates.
I would have given anything to have shot video of this moment and to share with you the experiences of Ingunn and her family. Unfortunately I could not get the interest and recognition from the Icelandic horse organizations that I needed in order to solicit sponsorship for the rest of the Hestakaup.com project.
My last trip to Iceland, in 2006, turns out to have been my final one.
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