Iceland 2015 Day 9 Riding at Gauksmyri

I found out I was not alone in this years round up. It was sad to hear most regulars that slowely become acquintances to me could not come this year, as a big group of Norwegians, like 20 people, decided to book this trip and filled up all the seats in one order. Glad I always book in advance, but this wasnt really the best combination either, you feel left out quite easily. But Gauksmyri is a lovely place and there is always people who come join you with the meals or enjoys a talk with you.

This year instead of herding the horses from Hvammstangi to Gauksmyri and then to the sheep corral was changed into two riding tours of each 2-3 hours. The weather didnt look very promising and despite that, I decided to not go for my more waterproof ridingclothes. But what we didnt know straight away is that we would be crossing some rivers today.

We drove off to Galtanes farm where our horses were waiting for us. From the Norwegian group about 8 people would join the round up, and then we had some girls and a guy who would be there to help out or just ride along for some time. I was reunited with my regular horse Thorri who was in fact Thorra. It was a she! I heavy rely on a horse that I know and trust, and despite of her being quite old and rather slow, I prefered that over another case of last years struggle with Auma. A nice horse to ride but too nervous for me to ride on rough grounds.

Thats Thorra, it has been raining a lot before leaving and my girl enjoyed a good roll just before she was caught. Yay!

In the morning we just did a ride around in the area without the herd, a relaxing part of the trails we would ride in the next days as part of the round up. We started already with crossing a river, the Vididalsá. Not too deep but enough to make sure you keep your legs up a bit. No wet feet at this stage yet. We continued to ride up north on the riverbed, easy smooth ground and then we had to cross the ringroad. But this time we went underneath the bridge, partly into water and when we reached the other side, a small bridge awaits us, one used by horses to cross the river Vididalsá. We never use it with a herd as that is quite unsafe, we also had to get off our horses and walk beside them to cross the river.

The bridge in the distance

Made it to the other side. Left you see the bridge of the ringroad which we crossed underneath.

The we rode on and our guide suddenly decided to go down a steep way towards the riverbed. The direction he was going didnt look promissing, the trail here became smaller and smaller and the river looked so deep! Suddenly the guide turned left and started to cross the river. Ai... this can make me so nervewrecking, sometimes I am really a scared chicken with horses. It was a nice view to see the line of horses cross the river and great to see it wasnt THAT deep. Still enough for wet socks!

Crossing Vididalsá river

Finally my turn and it looked like taking forever to reach the other side, it was like 20 meter and the river has a strong flow. Many times I just close my eyes and let Thorra find her way. But the next challenge awaited us, she had to jump onto the river bank. You can see the darker parts on the picture, thats what we had to jump on and then a few meters climbing steep up to the dry riverbank. Quickly I grabbed as many manes as I could and gave her space to find her way up. I really need to find a way to get more comfortable on horseback. But thanks to holding on her manes we made it safe up the hill and the rest of our ride would promise no more river crossings. But in the afternoon.... lots of them!

We rode back to the bridge we crossed and after the guide closed its fence again (we didnt cross it as we crossed the river this time in the water) we followed our path back underneath ringroad 1 and the riverbanks.

After putting the horses out again in the meadows we returned to Gauksmyri for a delicious lunch. Beg me pardon I dont know anymore what it was. We had something with fish and lasagna but on which days or what times, I have no clue!

In the afternoon it looked like nice weather would be our share, but at Galtanes farm we were overwhelmed by some fierce rainshowers, we saddled our horses inside and waited for better weather. Thankfully this is Iceland, so after 15 minutes we could get ready to leave, with a herd this time. We left a bit earlier than the herd, so they would follow us. Now we were going to the sheep corral, and if it was last year mainly over roads and the regular horse and sheep herding roads, now we would go over rough terrain, rivers and in the last part the area we start with the round up.

I have no idea how many rivers we actually did cross this ride, but it was a lot. Of which one time at a risky point where we strictly had to follow the horse in front. Well with loose horses with you thats a challenge, they push you out of direction, and thats why we always have to keep distance from the loose horses. But this river was deep and gosh adrenaline kicked in in huge amounts, while Thorra fought against the streams and stumbled on big boulders below the surface, one time almost loosing her balance. Fast streaming, big boulders and water up to my knees... thats adventure. Until that moment you feel your clothes cant hold back anymore the water, and a stream of icecold water flows into my boots. As they are waterproof until my ancle you can imagine the feeling the rest of the ride. Strangely adrenaline avoided me to feel cold for even a second. It didnt bother too much.
The following rivers I naturally couldnt care less to get wet feet, didnt take any effort anymore to life my feet up, and this was also good for my anxiety to be honest. Sitting now more sturdy in the saddle, less risk to fall off.

All this adrenaline made me mentally tired, which means my riding and keeping balance gets less. Just at the moment we had to cross the lava field. I couldnt make Thorra fly in a nice tölt over this area like all others did. I just couldnt manage that, and I was far behind together with Eva. But the great side of this is that I get this feeling to be alone in the world on a horse. A feeling that bliss me. Surrounded by waterfalls and beautifull autumn colors. The world can be such a beautifull place and I really didnt feel the need to be at our destination as fast as possible. I liked it the way it is, slow and steady. Using your senses and enjoy the moment you live.

I must say after this ride I seriously had doubts if I wanted to go ride tomorrow. Somehow anxiety had kicked in with me, and I had to sort this out for myself. I every once in a while get this 'mood' that fear takes control over my life and especially over things I love to do. I did not want to surrender. But on the other hand, this ride we did was not a piece of cookie. It was daring and challenging. It is what riding in Iceland is about. And back home I ride way too less horses, and then its always on flat grounds. But the response of Icelanders if I say that is usually that flat grounds give space to the horse to flee, to run as fast as it possibly can. It looks safe but its not. This rough area in Iceland holds back the horses, they are carefull with their legs. But in my case it is not the speed that concerns me, but my own balance. I only seem to get worse in keeping my balance, and thats what I need to learn, I need to ride horses focussing on keeping balance. Basicly said, more in Icelandic circumstances.

Well, back home we had dinner either the lasagna or the fish. :-) In the evening I relaxed a bit, got my riding boots a bit dry by putting the hairdryer in them. I first had them standing upside down to get all the water out, but the fabrics were so absorbing that it took forever to see water coming out.

Tired after today!