1. KENTUCKY 2013
To go or not to go? That was the question. There were four options
to choose from on the same weekend:- Thanks-giving with the family,
Sigrun’ s schooling show in glorious Vermont, the Erin fair where we
have been so warmly welcomed and catered to, or Kentucky and their
annual show where we also have so many enthusiastic friends. David
Suzuki summed up the autumn years as the downward slide and as I am
looking at winter just around the corner, I opted for Kentucky. The
Annual show is held at the home of Marianne and Jim Welch. With
enthusiastic encouragement from Brian Wendy and Sydney Horas I also
decided to take my ‘back yard horse’ Röskur for the experience he is
badly in need of. The drive is long in time but pleasant for horses and
humans with frequent stops and an excellent driver. The border need not
be a problem unless, both the regular vet AND the federal vet miss the
micro check square stating that this is a temporary visit! Fortunately
Sydney had hers checked and we were allowed to leave with a warning
that he could have held us for eight hours. This was three in the
morning! Phew.
Both horses travelled extremely well and soon settled into their new
quarters. We Canadians were warmly welcomed in style and were
presented with a large Canadian flag with which to decorate our stall.
Thursday and Friday were filled with ½ hour lessons given by Guðmar ,
Carrie Lyons –Brant and Laura Benson. The lessons were held on the
track and conducted by the three coaches at the same time using
individual communication systems. This proved to be MOST interesting
for Röskur. He did not mind horses coming from behind but wanted to
defer to all horses coming towards him especially at a gallop. I was very
glad I had signed up for this experience.
We had a clinic in Canada with Guðmar six weeks before the show
and so had been working on more Tölt. We had achieved some more but
on the track Röskur found his balance better even though his head is still
carried too high. A slight bend helped us to be a little more correct but
even this is not competition ready nor is it the best for Röskurs comfort.

2. We have to go back a few squares and strengthen other parts of my back
yard athlete. (Since starting to write this story, I have had an Equine
chiropractor take a look at Röskur as I had noticed a definite one sided
stiffness and head tilt. His teeth have been passed by a dentist. Cervical
spine locked at certain points and the left shoulder affected by the poll
tendon on the Left side. This is the simple lay explanation. We have
exercises to work on and already I am seeing a difference with a return
to ground work and the long lines. ) This was Röskurs first experience
with everything and I was not at all disappointed. I put us into four
classes. Green Horse and Novice, three gait and four gait. Two classes on
Saturday and two on Sunday and all classes put us on the track with at
least two other horses. This meant that we did not have to observe sides
points for transitions etc. I expected ‘exuberance plus’ from Röskur under
these circumstances but he surprised me. For the first class I think he
was totally bugged out and only tried for the 18”high out gate once. By
the fourth class on Sunday and with a lower more pleasant temperature,
he was completely at ease. So much at ease that when I asked for a leg/
seat Canter, he gave it to me immediately and then some! Yahoo!
Altogether it was a great experience for both of us and I feel that we
have an attainable goal and a year to work on it. The social experience
was also very positive. We Canadians were welcomed and encouraged by
everyone at the show. There were sixty horses registered and probably
twice as many people. The biggest decision was to make the trip to
Kentucky particularly as we were missing an opportunity close to home.
Competition is not for everyone but it does seem to be what the younger
generation want. Perhaps we will again see the return of the
fun/schooling shows of the past when we also had fun. FEIF has
recognised that the leisure riding Icelandic horse owners are many and
they have formed a Leisure committee at that level. The CIHF web site
has a leisure/trail heading under Newsletter. Perhaps your Leisure /Trail
experience could be helpful or engaging for someone else if you send it
to the web site? This trip to Kentucky was for me altogether a positive
experience. This, especially as I got to be another Grandma in the Horas

3. Family  Sydney had her own unique experience with her own horse
and I am sure can tell her own story 