Iceland 2014 Day 7 ~~ Sorting of the Horses ~~

Today it is the day of sorting the horses. After breakfast we quickly went to the sorting, we were with less in the bus this time as some people decided to go in their own ways to there. It can be a long haul and freezing cold to spend whole day there, and if you have been here year after year after year, it might get boring (not for me though!).

We were luckily in time again to see the horses arrive from the meadows, but the sun was not in favor to make a movie so nice as last year. But we cant have it all. When nearly all horses had passed, there was one paint foal who probaly lost its mother in the herd and wanted to join the horses in the field next to the sorting coral. He jumped the barbwire fence but got tangled in it. I must say the guards were really quickly to sort this situation out, but the Icelandic cool mentality let nature follow its own course. The foal got free and was chased back into its herd. The fence was damaged and we helped out to fix it, because as you see, there are horses in it, the good riding horses. In situations like this I am amazed by the calmth of the people involved, no stress no panic no stupidity. Just a steady plan to act. Amazing, Iceland has some really modest horsemanship. On the other hand, it is hard to find an adult horse not having scars on its legs due to barbwire accidents. If you traveled the country you know there is much more km on barbwire fences than roads. You see it everywhere to keep sheep and horses to a certain often huge area, to make rounding them up a bit easier. And also during the many relocations of herds of horses, riding them with your spare horses running loose, and flocks of sheep that need to go from A to B. So besides lots of regular roads, there are many cattle roads and riding tracks as well.

After the herd is settled into the 2 paddocks for the sorting, I went to bring my ridinghelmet and other things not yet needed to the sheepshed. I decided to take my srl camera with me as we wouldnt be crossing rivers and I dared to take the risk. I saw other people doing so as well. And my srl takes much more beautifull pictures than my pocket camera. I only had a problem that I didnt have much spare space anymore on my SD cards, so I couldnt be too wild taking pictures. So I only searched for odd colors, long manes and otherwise attractive shots. I have plenty of brown and black horse photo's at home now.

At lunch it was my first time ever to eat an Icelandic pylsar, hot dog. They say they are the best in the world. And despite my rejection for such sausages and sausages in general, I tried it and liked it. It even gave a ticket for the lottery to win a horse. :-) I also took money in case I wanted to buy a lopapeysa here as there are very cheap at this place. But the one I liked was just sold right in front of my face. One with nice autumn colors.

I did not win the horse, nor anything else. Sooner than last year, the sorting was finished and our herd was quickly ready to go. So we hurried back to get our horses. They wanted to have me Auma again. But since Crystelle got another horse, I asked for Thorri. Both Thorri and Auma didnt want to be caught, they sticked together in a field with no options to isolate them. It took almost half an hour before we finally got them, and I could quickly saddle Thorri as the rest was already waiting to go. We rode off to the sorting coral of Vididalstunga II the horses which we herd home every year. I noticed that Eva was riding Auma this time and had a hard time with her waiting for the herd to be ready. I was so happy I didnt change my mind, because at first I thought it was no problem to ride her again today, her energy pleased me and if we could just go go go it would sure not be a disaster. But looking at miss bouncy I felt good I took steady Thorri instead. He may be slower but relaxes me a bit more.

We rode off and we of course had to ride on the ringroad again with our herd. Which is always so amazing. Where in Europe can you ride with 100 horses on a 'high' way? In Iceland! But we had too less guards with us, or they did not spread well enough, as the herd decided to split and go to the Vididalstunga II farm, their home. And to make the mess complete, again a horse got tangled in the barbwire not carried away well enough and spread it over the road, so the whole herd ran over this flat barbwire fence. And really that is nervewrecking to watch because there isnt anything at all you can do than just watch a possible disaster evolve in front of your eyes. But luckily no horse got tangled or injured and in a quick moment a group of left behind horses could be lead away from it.

And then it was everybody for itself. wide open spaces, a horse track on the river bed and just go as you please. Thorri of course isnt the fastest, however I am sure he could, but I felt no need to exhaust myself by pushing him to go faster. Instead I enjoyed another moment of happiness when at a certain moment the herd disappeared behind a mountain and I had a hundred meter completely empty in front of me. In complete silence I just felt so incredible happy, everything so perfect and so blissfull to be here on a nice horse in such surroundings. My calling. I wish it lasted forever, but on top of the hill it was glorious to see the herd finding their way over the meadows to their winter pasture in the distance. Stable was calling. And a tear of sadness rolled down my face. It probably will take a whole year before I sit on or even touch a horse again... Why cant luck be on my side, why cant I find the job I want so badly, why cant I have 2 or more horses. Why is life so cruel on me, besides my happiness to be here. I hope I am wrong....

I say goodbye to Thorri, as he vanishes and when we drive off, I nowhere see a horse. I really have no idea where they went so quickly. They cant be far, because Eva and Steini will work hard tomorrow to take their shoes off before they really go to their winterpastures for their well deserved vacations. Happy horses :-)

Back at Gauksmyri we have the barbeque again. The food is good, but I so miss the kjótsupa, but luckily I took it at the Viking Hotel. Dont have to go without it! Tomorrow my journey back south begins, so I better start packing things and my car a bit. So much sadness to leave the horses behind. But looking forward to my last 3 days 'touristing' around in Reykjanes.

I did not plan to go to the round up ball. It was really not my thing, and someone else told me what I could agree to, it is an Icelandic thing and as foreigner, you are a foreigner there and will probably never understand it completely. No I wont.... and thats why I say I experienced it last year, and that is enough for me, for sure for now.