Day 3 at Gauksmyri

Breakfast is very good here at Gauksmyri. The group of Ishester is with lots of people, thats why at first I could not stay this night here. But I'm glad I could go in the end.
After breakfast, the Ishestar group prepared to leave, which caught my attention as I would love to see this unusual way of riding with a herd of horses. As well I took my chances to picture some of their horses. For me the terrible feeling crawled to me that I so badly wanted to go riding... And it got worse with seeing this group leave.

After they all had left, the paddock was filled with a new group of horses. These were our ridinghorses for tomorrow. They have been out in the fields for some time, and needed to be checked for their shoes. Many of them had lost one or more, or outgrew them.

 At this farm you are welcome to help around with caring for the horses, but there were two German women, of which one has worked here 2 years ago for a few weeks. And they helped around a lot. I just spoke to the guy who runs this place more or less, as he was the one who needed to check the 55 horses which can be a drag of a job.

When he nearly was finished I got offered to go out for a little ride, because the German girls got to ride in exchange for helping out. I could join them. But I got a terrible horse. She may not be terrible herself, but once I sat on her she started to throw her ass in the air, and running off, as if she was in discomfort with her back. I asked for the saddle to be replaced a little bit. But when I got on her again, she didn't want to move anymore. I felt like a day one beginner on her in stead of someone who has over 25 years of experience.

We went out for a little ride after a few rounds inside the hall. But I didn't do anything there because my horse Smaralind or something like that, refused to walk. But outside it got slight better. At first she didn't want to tolt, but only trott. One of the girls lend me a whip, to only have it already helped. But then she started to buck again. Not badly but enough to not make me comfortable to ride her. If she would go on with this, I would step off and walk back. Because I think she has a back problem. It was not needed, we could only go for a short walk, and so we turned around. And then she performed a very smooth, nice and comfortable tolt. Back at the stable I told them I wouldnt like this horse for tomorrow. It would not feel right, but it seemed they didn't appreciate my opinion. :-( Smaralind would anyway not go to the round up, not even as a spare horse. So I think they knew she was not ok, and maybe I just had to test her. Well, not going to complain about this free ride ;-) I of course thanked the horse and took care of it. Always stay thankfull if a horse worked for you, no matter if you liked it or not. It lend its legs for you to not walk for yourself. Never forget about that one.

Today the riders for the round up arrive, so tonight also dinner was included in the package. We got a very delicious horsemeat free goulash. The American couple who also took photo's of the horses invited me to stay with them for dinner (and so I did for the rest of their stay).  The food is really amazing here :-) However I am normally vegetarian, I am typically not in Iceland. Not because I like to eat meat, but because vegetarian food is not very common, and side dishes without meat will be too poor to stay healthy (no beans or other things important to substitute meat) as it would only be potatos, carrots and luttace. Since Iceland is not involved into cruel meat factories (not to say it is ever ok to slaughter) and all meet is free range/antibiotic free I am not too fuzzed. But no horsemeat! Ever.

Again no chance for northern lights, the sky is dense clouded :-( It even snows a very little bit. Too bad... so I went to bed early to be fit for tomorrow. The big day :-)