Iceland 2014 Day 6 ~~The Horse Round Up ~~

The weather forcast is amazing for today. Amazing in a way that we will be visited by storm 3 of this week, but this one will contain snow and lots of wind. We were warned to take care of warm clothing and eventually arange spare clothes in case weather would get worse. I was already prepared for cold, since my not working heater even prevented me from hunting northern lights. I just didnt want to leave my warm bed, nor wanted to stroll outside and return to my iglo.

Thorris best friend, who found him back, overlooks the herd during our first bigger break.

After I had breakfast with Nicole, Shaun and Crystelle, we decided to go together to Hvammstangi, because of course I forgot the essential head wear which I barely use but are here a must have especially today. We went to the only supermarket in this area, actually far wide area because it serves all people living in a radius of 100 km around. Maybe a few gas stations will sell some groceries but this is the main one. Not even big, but sufficient. I got the last ear/head band, an Icelandic lady also wanting one, checked on the size I bought, sad for her.... but I probably need it more today, as I assume most Icelanders will have one or more at home anyway.
Of course I also returned with another batch of wool... my 2014 addiction haha!


On our way back to Gauksmyri we also visited the Wool Factory, as Crystelle hasnt been here yet. She was visiting here the way I did last year, by bus. And that means you only see Gauksmyri. So there we went and this time I got recognised by the lady and since I brought in some friends, she gave us a tour through the factory. Which was nice to see. But of course I dont really care for the manufactured stuff. I mean, it is nice it can all be made this way, but to me a wool sweater should be hand made, with all its errors and oddities coming along. A lopapeysa (woolsweater) cannot be made with a machine anyway. The machines only make the Norwegian type of sweaters, which are Icelandic of course but for me are not at the authentic things I look for.

Woolfactory. I had this horse pattern as a blanket in my room, and also as over curtains.

Piles of wool. Here they dont thrive on strict logistics, just drop it here to be found back when need to use.

After our tour there, we returned to Gauksmyri for lunch. Of course it was delicious as ever. And with our traditional pocket sandwich we prepared to go for the round up. The herd might arrive late due to the weather circumstances. But I guess we were in luck today. It was more or less the same weather as last year, but the wind was less cold, and nature around us was white dusted.

It was all a bit different than last year when we had to wait for the herd to arrive and then quickly saddle our horses. This year the herd was perfectly in time. Eva one of our guides was in this herd (lucky her) and came greet us in a hurry. They took a long break. Today I got a new horse named Auma. A chestnut mare with a blaze. I am really not that fancy with an all new horse in this circumstances, but I trust them to match a right horse to me. Both Thorri and Leirljós were taken, Thorri was given to Crystelle and Leirljós to one of the Icelandic girls who come here every year.
But Auma seems like a nice horse to me. Friendly and all.

Me and Auma, I think this was at our first break

The sheepcoral powdered with some snow. I didnt even notice when I was there ;-)

The herd is arriving and our horses are curious to it too!

Leirljós was very curious to me and came to greet me, but soon the grass was more interesting.

I wanted to picture this chestnut horse, because it had a darkbrown blaze. But it didnt want to lift its head high enough

Leirljos ready for someone else.

You cannot go riding without essentials to keep you warm. Beer and whiskey. No it likely is not water in the left pocket!

After a little while we could finally mount our horses, it is so cold to wait on the ground! I noticed Auma was a total different horse than the others I rode so far, much more energy and I really felt her will to go. I was really unsure on the lava fields, Auma just wants to go, but I didnt really trust her to give full reins as she was throwing up her head so terribly, she few times almost hit my face. Not long before I ended up somewhere in the back because I did not feel okay with her in this circumstances. Soon Mausy (I dont know his Icelandic name, as I never heard that one before) forced me and Shaun to speed up, because the herd already caught up with us, and we should have crossed the river before them or else it might be a swimming matter.
So hesistantly I gave her more reins, and it went better but the trust, it was not okay for me, and I sure will opt different next year. Auma is by all means not a horse I dont like, in fact, I do like her spirit because she is so much forward. You dont need to work a lot on her. I just needed a little more time to get to know her. Then we had to cross the river Kolá. It was deeper than last year due to the rains we had last week. All went fine and I magically kept my feet dry. One person had fell off, but I didnt notice. On the photo's I came across after I returned back home, it was amazing to see myself wading there sided by the free roaming horses. I wish I could have this photo for myself. But I dont know how I could contact the owner. I cannot put it up here, as Picasa will add my copyright to it, which I dont want because it is not true. So sorry, you should ask me for this photo if you want to see it.

After 30 minutes we left this lava field, and it was good to know the rest of our ride would be on roads. And that went better. Our first break we even went to the little house to get some coffee and kleinur (Icelandic donuts). When not waiting on Auma mounted, everything is ok. But my energetic horse got really her engine going. It was a delight to have a horse who did not feel like it could drop dead any moment. But after the big bridge we had to wait some time for the other herd to arrive. As we heard later, they had terrible snow storms delaying their round up. We barely had snow so far.
So there we waited a long time. I decided to not dismount Auma, expecting the herd to arrive quickly. But Auma didnt want to wait, she got so nervous, so I dismounted, but I notice my muscles started to get stiff. I am of course not a regular rider and this was really getting a problem. 

At the coffee hut to get coffee and a kleinur (Icelandic donut)

Snow in Aumas manes

Im not sure, but I think these are yesterdays photo's.... in Hvammstangi

Soon our herd was already moving forward, as their overnight meadow wasn't far away. And we had an option to go with this herd already. I did not manage to be in time, but since I finally got on Auma, I decided to walk around a bit, but it was no option either, she only wanted to go to the known direction of the round up. Horses can be just as excited as the people here :-)
Finally the other herd arrived and we could go on. Auma was happy :-) Me too because it started to snow HUGE snow flakes, and we had a small snow storm in which we had to rely on our horses as we barely couldnt keep our eyes snow free. It lasted only a few minutes and then we had another stop. I decided to wait for the others but Auma was so terrible now, she reared up, jumped, threw her head and didnt want to stand still for even a second. So I decided to go on, and took the right way instead of the road. On our way the horses go to the meadows, and as soon as the herd was diverted to the meadows, there were moments me and Auma were merely riding alone. I tried to take it easy, waiting for the others, but in the end I decided it was better to just go to the sorting coral and see what would happen there. I had no clue where our horses would stay overnight.


I simply enjoyed the feeling of riding alone here in Iceland, how amazing that must be having your own horse and feel on top of the world. Auma was of course with only one thing on her mind, and you barely cant control your horse here. So just like Vinur last year, I let her go... and I have the idea Auma is a five gaiter. I never rode the skeid (pace) but I think this either was a very pacy very fast tolt or a straight pace, with that odd feeling you are running on a horse (left right left right motion).

At the sorting coral I decided to not dismount her, but her energy didnt left her, wat a nervewreck! Luckily we didnt have to wait long, and all we had to do was going to the sheepshed next to the coral. I could even walk her if I would. And you can imagine I was quite happy I could finally dismount her for today. Like I say it is not at all a bad horse, but for me a bit too nervous, it could be a lethal combination. I can deal pretty well with such horses and in most cases I like this will to please kind of nerves. But if I ride more horses and not really for leisure. It was a good thing though she had such incredible stamina. The first horse that didnt almost fall dead. And no feeling of guilt toward the horse this time. You know I am not really a person who likes it to force a horse to work hard, I'd be better off with an Auma like horse than one that will take advantage of this.

Our horses 'stored' in their meadow next to the horse sorting coral (also used to sort sheep by the way)

When the horses were all in the field and our tack was stored in the sheepbarn (with inside one ewe with a late season lamb (sooooo cute!) we returned to Gauksmyri. It was big fun in the bus, Hrund daughter of the owner of Gauksmyri always knows how to raise the spirit during this trips. So for every nationality there had to be sung a song. For some countries it was quite a challenge, she didnt even mention Netherlands thank goodness because I am not at all a singer. Hehe. But it could be worse when they came up with bieber for Canada. Ohhhh noooo.... luckily they changed to Celine Dion, lets get better. They didnt opt for Brian Adams.
The fun made the ride a quick one, and so we returned to Gauksmyri to finally get rid of our muddy and for some wet riding clothes. Not everybody kept his/her legs dry during the cross of the river. A nice hot shower and waiting downstairs for dinner. And I hoped and counted for the delicious Kjötsupa. But instead we had the delicious goulash, of which Crystelle 'proudly' told me after dinner it was made with horse meat.... Last year it was cow, I asked that especially. So I was a bit sad, but the knowledge the horses here had the best lives a horse can have and Icelanders care extremely well for their animals I could not really feel guilt, just sadness. But if I knew it was horsemeat, I wouldnt have eaten it. Simply because I cannot eat it fully aware. I only eat lambmeat in Iceland for same reason. There doesnt exist cruelfree, animalfriendly or humane kept meat. Its true... But Iceland is one of the few countries were they produce meat in a way it should be (personally I dont want any animal to die for our so called wellbeing, but its hypocrite to think why predators can eat animals, and humans not while they have done for ages, so I simply dont cling to the vegan slogan that it is healthier to be vegan. In this age it might be, but solely because the way we get to find the meat on our plates is completely wrong. But not going to discuss that here). And in Iceland and especially here in the middle of nowhere you have a hard time being vegetarian. However the store in Hvammstangi had a full 2 meter store shelve full of powerfoods and possible substitute materials (quinoa, amarant, beans, chia, seaweed etc.). But I cant cook in Gauksmyri ;-)

And after dinner it was time to close the day and prepare for tomorrow, when the horses are being sorted out and taken to their homes. Since it still was so cold in my room, I just popped into bed, hoping for a glimpse of northern lights, but clouds.... that wont disappear before very early in the morning. Too early as I woke up only to see the sun rising. There is not really the spirit to search for the lights here this visit....