The Landsmot lives on throughout the following two years through constant conversations, second-guessing the judges, comparing riders and horses, watching the videos, making wish-lists of breeding stallions and just plain gossiping.
I've never really understood the difference between the two types of competitions, the kind that is done at the Landsmot and the other, done at the World Championships. Fortunately, I met a Elisa Klose, a recent Holar graduate who was working at Flugumyri and who knows Stebbi and had actually ridden Dagur. And she gave me the explanation I needed. Here it is for all to see!
Islandsmot was coming up, but I was in the North at the time, I have asked to borrow the following coverage from Hestafrettir. (This link should take you to their English page.) These excerpts are courtesy of Hestafrettir.
In the sport competition, all the classes are on the oval track. A familiar scene, though, of Stebbi tolting Dagur.
One class you will never see at a Landsmot is the walk. Generally, the Icelanders hate to see or ride horses at the walk. Here, they admire manes...
Notice how the pace is on the oval track. But it does not cramp their style!
And a second chance to see Dagur pace. Just before the judges make their decisions.
It's down to 2, and the last one standing is the winner.
Stebbi came in 2nd place against a horse that, for the first time, won both the 5 and 4 gaited competitions. What odds!
The scores
1 Þórarinn Eymundsson / Kraftur frá Bringu 7,98
2 Stefán Friðgeirsson / Dagur frá Strandarhöfði 7,76
3 Sigurbjörn Bárðarson / Stakkur frá Halldórsstöðum 7,48
4 Mette Mannseth / Kylja frá Stangarholti 7,45
5 Elsa Magnúsdóttir / Þytur frá Kálfhóli 2 7,05
6 Viðar Ingólfsson / Riddari frá Krossi 6,07
Now come back with me to visit Stebbi, his father, Hilmer, and, of course, Dagur, in Dalvik! I have some surprises...
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