Iceland 2014 Day 5 Bringing the horses from Hvammstangi to the sheepcoral

THIS BLOG WILL BE UPDATED LATER WITH PHOTOS!!

Finally it was a day to ride horses again. It has been so long, and I was very curious to what all my riding with Katla has lead to. This extra day we were going to pick up our ridinghorses at a stable in Hvammstangi, bring them to Gauksmýri where we have lunch and, on a fresh horse, bring the horses to the sheepcoral where we start on the day of the round up tomorrow.

First we were droven to Hvammstangi, to a horse farm. Many horses were outside in paddocks but our ridinghorses were inside the stable awaiting us. I got a horse named þorri, a what they in Germany would call a black horse. Is it black? No... Its that very dark brown type of Icelandic horse with the faded manes, I have no clue what the color is called, not even in Dutch. Þorri was in a box together with his best friend with the same colors and looks, little less manes. When we all had our horses sorted out, we started to saddle them and after we briefly hopped on (without help hurray) to check the saddle, stirrups and temperment, took them out. After a bit of waiting the five of us went out before the herd was released so we had some time to close fences or block roads to farms or traffic roads. The weather was quite mild for us. A strong gale, but no rain so far.

Þorri was a nice horse to ride, however he sometimes had his own ideas about crossing muddy tracks.He tölted well, but needed a little force in it to not let him be a bit lazy.
We reached Gauksmýri after one and a half hour riding. We put our riding horses separate in a paddock so they could rest here this night, and would be taken by trailer to the round up the next day. After we had a good warm lunch, we were ready for the second part. Unfortunately it had started to rain. But for some reason, it doesnt really bother if you are riding. I got a very light almost white palomino with the name Leirljós. Yup like my friend in Germany. Leirljós is the Icelandic word for palomino. It might not be his real name, because they called him another name, I thought Draumur later.
In the beginning he was stumbling a lot. I almost fell off him a few times. He is what we say 'heavy on forehand' has too much balance forward. It took time to notice that, but it made him stumble less to ride him more from his back hand. Leirljós has a galop from heaven. As smooth as tölting, you feel it is gallop, but you barely move. Really amazing, a dreamflight, as if his feet never touched the ground and if his name is indeed Draumur, he is a dream yes. He used to be a competition horse.

At one point we have to cross the ringroad by a tunnel which is a narrow pipe in which we as riders have to bend foreward. All horses were used to it, except one. We five and a few horses of the herd already passed, and soon others of the herd followed. But the back riders making sure the horses stay before them, did not come out. We waited like 20 minutes and then we saw a loose horse returning to Gauksmýri. This one horse is known as stubborn, because he is young and stayed stallion quite long so is not very socialised in herd living and now decided he didnt want to go into this dark hole. Not even following all the others. But soon enough help came and with 5 horse and riders he had no other choice than to go. Sometimes there are the more complicated horses.
Not much later we had another problem. We had to pass through a section were horses roam free, and this whole herd came to greet us. Nice to see but not practical, so one of our guides herded this group away so we could pass without this herd joining us. This herd usualy blends in with the round up, taking a shorter way than us over the lava. Maybe we will catch up with them tomorrow.

Not much later we arrived at destination. We put all the horses out in the meadow.
The rain had stopped and the wind had blowdry my clothes more or less. But all I wanted was a nice hot shower to warm up before dinner started.

Back at Gauksmyri we saw how 'dirty' we had become, the muddy tracks really painted or riding boots and lower leggs totally muddy. I washed my riding pants off in the bathroom, they dont like me to do this but really I dont want to walk around like this muddy. I left no traces behind and the heater in my bathroom did work to dry all my stuff. Last thing I want is to be wet tomorrow. Because with wet clothes you wont be able to keep warm.

For dinner we had this oh so delicious Gauksmyri food, roasted chicken and pork with mushroomsauce. And lots of vegetables. Something you dont see very often in Iceland. Because vegetables are so expensive here. Luckily many people try and succeed with their own greenhouses to grow lots of veggies. And many will do without a greenhouse too. Someone just has to dare taking the challenge. ;-)