Icelandic Horses on Equitrekking

[linoufouine]

I ike these beautiful landscapes. I like watching horses running freely...

[LauraLaureen]

The Spirit is the message in this video.

The transfer between the Icelandic horse and humans are very important.

To feel the horse is one of the goals in our life not only to be a leader...

[iSilversaku]

Íslenskir hestarnir eru bestir.

Sko ég vissi að allir elskuðu hestana okkar :)

[7T9U8R]

I did a 10 day trek in Iceland so have experience with these horses over rough ground. They are amazingly sure-footed and very intelligent. I must admist the Icelanders have a peculiar way of riding with their legs away from the horses' body, and very strong contact with the bit. I discovered that without the strong contact, there was absolutely no control. I guess it is something that just evolved over time.

[Trine418]

@7T9U8R

Hmm I think the strong contact with the bit is just something you experienced when you were there, cause I've always been riding icelandic horses and the contact with bit and legs aren't different really from with other horses. My own icelandic horse only needs very little contact with the bit :) But yes they are a wonderful breed :)

[icehorses]

You said:

"the contact with bit and legs aren't different really from with other horses"

Are you kidding?!?!?

That heavy contact, no release for the horse, is seen in almost all icelandic-style riding. Go to any icelandic horse / islandpferd video on youtube.

If you say different, you have to point us to examples to prove what you say.

[roommateofthekingofi]

@7T9U8R I'm Icelandic and also a rider/horse owner. It sounds like the horses you got on this trek were poorly ridden as the horses for tourists often are. It also sounds like the Icelanders were bad riders! Strong contact on the mouth is something we don't want to see and we DO have our legs close to the horse! For example if you want the horse to stop fighting the bit, you use your legs! Some riders are stuck in old riding styles, have poor knowlegde or just bad riders and lack the touch/feel.

[icehorses]

Of course they are ponies; they are mtDNA'd to other pony breeds.

It's sad to see so many of them fighting the bit. That situation needs to be address. Either the bits don't fit, or contact is too heavy. There needs to be better education about horsemanship in Iceland.

[roommateofthekingofi]

@icehorses In the last 10 years, there has been a really BIG change in the horsemanship in Iceland. The horsemanship association in Iceland made a sort of correct riding campaign. It has worked wonders and the public are REALLY educating them self and learning to ride properly! So we are seeing less and less of bad riders but still there are those how don't have any feeling (not emotionally but this touch you need to be a good rider) and they will never completely disappear.

[icehorses]

We have been promoting better riding and training for Icelandic Horses for about fifteen years now. It was very bad; and I see that there are little changes; but there needs to be great strides to make it better for the horse. It's a whole new paradigm that needs to be embraced for things to make a difference.

[roommateofthekingofi]

@icehorses Well, you are entitled to your opinion but things have and are really changing! Have you been to Iceland for the past 10 years? Have you ridden a very well trained Icelandic horse in ICELAND (since 1997)? I assure you, when the horse has had proper training you have nothing in your hands, you don't need a heavy contact on the mouth! What I think you are aiming for here is some sort of "passive"riding and I think that is a one way of riding if you have no feeling/ no touch!

[icehorses]

Yes, I agree some things are changing... a little. It's like tunnel vision; if you're only in a small pond, you aren't able to see what's going on in big lakes or the oceans.

Personally, I still see the horses fighting the bit in just about every video. Do a search on youtube of the videos posted in the last month, the last week... it's still the same, the poor horse being viced in the mouth with metal.

Thanks for the discussion!

[roommateofthekingofi]

@icehorses I say, come to Iceland! See for yourself! There will always be black sheep among people who are trying to do right. But that is not just among us Icelanders and Icelandic horses.. you can see that with all horse breeds. Do judge everybody because some riders are bad riders.

[icehorses]

Been there. No desire to go back. I can see exactly what is being done on the videos.

I can see from the Icelanders who come to the US to teach riding, what they are teaching and how they ride and much of it is not right, not fair to the horse, nor fair to the owners.

You and I are more on the same team than not, so don't take this as argument; we both want better for the horse.

You are young; perhaps I have more experience in all different breeds than the years you have been alive.

[roommateofthekingofi]

I agree with you that we are both seeking ways that are better for the horses. I just find it really bad that you look at youtube videos. In my opinion most are BAD. A very badly ridden horses by riders with little or no feeling. I can even say that many professional riders are really awful riders.

I may be a bit younger than you but I have been riding since I was 3. I have also been working abroad with Ices and many other breeds so I know a little bit about the world around Iceland.

[icehorses]

To be a horseman doesn't take years, but it takes a certain person, attitude, and how they relate to the horse. A rider is not a horseman.

Yes, the videos are bad, but if there are good riders and riding style, where is it?? You say it's there, but where? If so, wouldn't it be just as easy to see in videos?

My experience with the icelandic-style riders who come to North America shows me that they try to say the right words, but the actions do not match their words.

[roommateofthekingofi]

Well, agree with you there! Many riders are no horsemen! To learn how to be a good and proper horseman and a rider doesn't take years it takes many lifetimes. I think depends on how old your soul is, and I mean it.

Well, about some Icelanders not all but some, think they can go abroad a teach because they are so skilled. But it turns out they are actually so bad they would never be able to make a living of horses in Iceland. There are also good teachers, I don't take lessons from just anyone.

[roommateofthekingofi]

@icehorses I have been watching people take lessons from one of our finest rider and riding teacher, Reynir Aðalsteinsson. There are some who improve and improve and then there are other that have good horses but can't ride the correctly because the feeling isn't there! These people are in a 2 year program, and on the second year, even taking some extra lessons and should maybe have learned something by now but still they don't improve! It is sad, mostly for the horses!

And they are HORSES!

[kolla25]

@icehorses No they are not Ponies!.