The Horses
Olsen fra Ketilsstooum b. 1986
5-gaited red bay gelding, imported in 1986 by Edda Hestar. Olsen was our first Icelandic horse and he has tackled everything in the IHSGB calendar over the 8 years in our care, including; Performance Show, Pleasure Rides, Le TREC, Dressage, Many shows and courses. Olsen has also been my mount on training courses with 'Normal' riders like Lady Elizabeth Joicey and Mary Wanless. Olsen is the epitome of the versatile Icelandic horse and he is now in the North of Scotland teaching someone else all that he taught me.
Reisn fra Sandholaferju B. 1990
Reisn is chestnut with a lighter mane and tail and she was our first mare to produce a foal. She was selected to represent GB at the World Championships in Germany in 1999 with Tim. She is five gaited and was assessed as having 8.0 for conformation when she was judged at 8, having weaned her foal. Ran had a colt foal in 2000, Reifnir and Reisn had another filly foal in 2000. Reisn was often seen suckling both foals at the same time.
Hersir fra Hala b.1989
Hersir is a five gaited bay gelding whom we first met in Iceland on holiday in 1996 and imported in 1998. In May 1999 he had a keratoma removed from his left front foot. In order to rebuild the muscle he was taken swimming. Hersir is extremely forward-going (or 'willing' as the Icelanders say) and has exceptional flying pace. He is also proving to be an impressive dressage horse as his gaits are fluid and expressive even though he is barely 13HH. Hersir was judged in Iceland and attained a conformation score of 7.73 and a ridden score of 8.24, giving an overall score of 7.98. Not quite enough for First Prize status and so he was gelded and he came to us.
Riddari is a five-gaited black gelding, however I ride him as a four-gaited horse and have not tried to produce his pace. He is a complicated character who has taught us a great deal about patience. He is extremely talented, however he is not a pushover and it has taken years to nurture him to encourage his talent without blowing his mind.
Mona going out
Mona (b. 1993) is a black, five-gaited mare. She has bred three foals, though sadly the first one was born dead. Her two surviving offspring are also colts and both are very special horses: Flytir b. 1988 and Fleygur, b. 1989. Mona is herself a very special horse. She has a bold character and she does not suffer fools gladly. She is extremely loving and biddable and was one of the easiest horses I have come across when it comes to training. It is a privilege to know and work with her. She is also extremely well-balanced and talented and never mixes her gaits or loses balance. Also, in common with many very good Icelandic Horses, Mona is not much more than 13H.
Lotta is a brown five-gaited mare. She was picked for her temperament and also was extremely easy to back and train. Not as bold as Mona, she nonetheless is loving and biddable and rides out with ease. She has already produced a colt who has inherited his mother's loving temperament. We have called him Tryggur, which means Trusty or Faithful, because that is his nature. Lotta is due to foal again in 2001.
Our latest mare is Freya. She is red chestnut and is five-gaited. She was judged in Iceland as a first prize mare and we are extremely proud and privileged to have her as part of our breeding programme. She is due to foal in 2001. Her conformation score was 7.98 and riding score was 8.49, giving her an overall score of 8.23.