Heading
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On a damp Saturday
in December we joined twenty five other Icelandics and their riders
for a ride in the New Forest.
We managed the three-hour tow in record time (something to do with it
being the crack of dawn!) and arrived at the meeting point shortly after
10 a.m. Tack up, apply tinsel and away we went.
Húni's eyes were out on stalks at the sight of more Icelandics
- how quickly he's forgotten that such things exist! It was his first
time at such a gathering, so he can be forgiven for being a bit over-awed.
We departed at a swift canter, and what a star he was. We have had a little
trouble with the brakes so I was very pleased that I was able to canter
in control with a fairly large gap between us and the horses in front.
The pace quickly became a bit more sed
)
ate,
after the horses had had the itch taken out of their heels, and we proceeded
down a narrowish track through the trees, leaving tinsel behind on the
branches as we went!
)
After about half an hour we arrived at our first resting point, with mulled
wine and mince pies (for the riders) and carrots and apples (for the horses)
and a chance to get our breath back before we set off over the forest
again.
It was sheer bliss, tölting and cantering along en masse - all the horses
were impeccably behaved, and it was very hard to keep from grinning like
a Cheshire cat all the time!
After a couple of hours, we arrived at the pub. We were very well catered
for, a field for the horses (and a beautiful sight it was - twenty or
so Icelandics in a herd, a few people opted to put their horses in pens
which were also available) and a marquee for us, complete with a huge
gas blower thingy to keep us warm.
)
After
lunch it was all back out into the cold to catch the horses and tack up
for the return journey, although we were warmed up again within minutes
of starting the ride home.
More of the same on the way back, although by now Húni had settled right
down and I was able to ride along on a loose rein and enjoy the scenery
whilst simultaneously enjoying his wonderful smooth canter. Graeme spent
the day learning how Hetja turns into a fire-spitting racing machine whilst
ri )
ding
with other Icelandics, and showing off her flashy trot - all mane and
knees flying!
All in all a most exhilarating day, and the rain didn't start falling
until we were within 100 yards of the trailer, so the gods were smiling
on us also.
Many thanks to Bron and Alan for organising it, and to their son, Tristan,
for bringing the mulled wine.
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