Freitag, 19. März 2010

My trip to Iceland

Anywhere in Great-BritainThe drive to Frankfurt and the flight were very easy and Ransý came to the airport of Keflavík to pick me up. Then we drove to Mánagrund to have a look at Skinfaxa (which is for sale like I have been told) and checked the riding-hall. Silla picked me up at Ransý's home and after having some coffee and "hestaspjall" we went home to Reykjavík. I met Silla's family and we had a great dinner and some more "hestaspjall" before going to bed. The next day we went to a farm near Borgarnesi to take photos of Sokkadís new home. Fortunately it is the same place where Sæla-Dís - her daughter from 2008 - lives. It was a nice place for getting some photos on my camera. Later at the same day we went to the horse stable to see the stallions of Silla's parents. Glófaxi and Völusteinn frá Kópavogi. The pictures weren't bad but Silla and her horse-trainer Árni decided to try it again the next day.
On Tuesday Silla and me went riding and it was very exciting to ride tölt again after so many years of trot. My performance was rather bad and I am sure my horse was lucky to get rid of me after the riding-tour. Now my plan is to study more about riding icelandic horses in future ;o) After the riding Silla had to work a little, so she throw me out of the car at the 66° North Shop. What a great idea! First I could not decide what I like, short time later I wanted to buy everything in the shop :o)
In the afternoon we went to Árni
again to have a look at the stallions. I got some good shots and we were especially excited about 4 years old Völusteinn who showed incredible movements and a lot of will to run!
The same words could describe another stallion we met the next day in Hárlaugsstöðum. His name is Lindi and he is born in 2007. It was a rainy day and the stallions were more curious then anything else but as we let them run you could see all the talent in them. We also looked at the herd of young or pregnant mares and there were also many beautiful ones. After taking some photos and getting totally wet we were invited to some skýr and coffee and we gladly accepted the invitation. Of course we had some hestaspjall but after few hours we had to say goodbye and drove to Ásmundarstöðum to meet Hekla. It went on raining so I had no fun taking more pictures so we just talked a little, looked at the horses (for example Loki - another son of Sokkadís) and later took a drink of mare's milk. It was a funny experience ;o) Further we also went to Selfoss and said hello to Mona but still being wet we wasn't relaxed enough to stay and went home rather early. As all pictures were taken suddenly the sun came out... It was still rather bright so Silla and me stopped at some places to take photos of icelandic landscape. You can say I have seen a lot of things and people in only three days so I am glad that I made this trip but maybe next time there should be more time. I'm sorry for everybody who have not been visited. Next time you'll be the first ;o)
I had a very good view over West Germany on the return flight. Nearly 30 minutes I could observe the earth from above. After a stopover at my friend and sister-in-law Annette I arrived my home around six o'clock in the afternoon. The next day I could not await to see Baga after sooooooooooo long time and she was obviously surprised to see me. To make an easy start from break to work I used the icelandic saddle and a briddle from anybody else. What a strange feeling to sit in this
saddle again - but it was comfortable ;o) Unfortunately Teresa is in holidays and I would love to get some riding lessons. Hm, no solution available at the moment. Now I have to quit to wrap up somebody's birthday gift and to carry it to the post office immediately. Later I will be in Buchholz to take photos at the sales-show there. It should be rainy the whole day but I'm thinking positive and give the weather a chance to be great for photos. After it I want to see Baga again and ride a small pattern. Have a nice day and keep on smiling! I do :o)

Sonntag, 21. Februar 2010

Febrúar

Hard to say what happened the days since my last blog. It happened a lot, that's a fact. My computer-time is short so I will only use few words, photos, videos or links to describe what's going on ;o)

Photo session at Hestagard, 06.02.2010


Monday the 15.2. we had carnival and I painted Baga for fun :o)

Later we were playing in the snow:

Walking at sunset on 18.3.


Yesterday we were fighting against claustrophobia:


Next weekend I'm having a wellness-weekend and the weekend after (6.-7.3.) we will hopefully work with cows and visit Dimma. On 14.3. I'll fly to Iceland and come back on 18.3. Any more news? Can you never get enough? Ok, on 20.3. I'm on Hestagard again to take photos of a sales-show. The weekend after I'm possibly at Circle-L to take photos of the competitions.
Addition: After my trip to Iceland I will spend some days in Switzerland working.

Sonntag, 10. Januar 2010

New cam

Everything worked like I wished and I bought the Canon Powerhot A480 yesterday, went to Baga, took the sleigh and we played with it. Anytime some walkers came around and took a video with my camera.

Samstag, 9. Januar 2010

More snow

My wish became true and we still have snow (got new one last night). Today my plan is to buy a digital camera with video mode. After it I will proceed to teach Baga how to carry a sleigh. Yesterday we played touch-it with an euro-pallet (pedestal) the 5th time and Baga started to hit the pallet with the front feet. It seems as if she is short before putting the first feet on it. That's a picture of the first time sniffing the pallet.

Dimma-News: The rest of the Seven-Gate-Ranch-herd is now on the same pasture like Dimma, Little Man, Scotty and Chico. This means she can get some new friends and it will not be so hard if Little Man will leave the herd in some months. Then she will play with Boots, Tammy or Kate. Maybe I will visit Dimma tommorrow but it will be a hard driving tour with all the snow, that's why I am not yet sure.

Dienstag, 5. Januar 2010

Happy new year

Great to have snow over many days. Hopefully it stays until the weekend or longer.

I wish you all a happy new year with good health, much luck and joy. May your dreams come true and your plans work with success.

Mittwoch, 16. Dezember 2009

Long time no blog

The last weeks were very busy and only my sickness (tonsillitis, auf deutsch Mandelentzündung) gives me the chance to tell you some words about the last weeks (better to say, last month). Two weeks after carrying Dimma to her new home I went to her again. I was unbelievable happy to see the progress of relationship in her little herd. Now the son of Scotty (he's not yet named, but I'll call him "Little Man" in the further lines) is the best friend of Dimma and both are playing, fighting and running together like brothers and sisters. Dimma is also allowed to eat and stand not far away of Scotty. This was incredible during the first days. But now it seems as if Dimma arrived fine in her new family/herd. Actually she is sometimes a little bit bugged about Little Man who always wants to play but she would like more to have silence during eating time. Then she is showing him who's the boss. But most time she is just following his invitation to play :o)
The same weekend Klaus gave a clinic about ground work with horses. I was not taking part at this clinic and just taking photos but it was hard for me not to have Baga there and playing the same games. Baga had a little break in November because Christiane, my friend and chiropractor for animals, came to set her bones. It was the first time for Baga but essential. There were no chance to bend Baga on her left hand during riding. After this session we started with easy training. I can not yet say how effective the session was but progress have still been seen. But the days after I only did ground work with Baga so I can not tell you more until now. The weather makes riding more complicated at the moment. Either it's dark outside or the riding circle is wet. But what do I tell you???
Ground work is ok for me, I only have a problem with playing something new every day. Baga is very interested and curious about our playing but if I repeat the games too often, her interest is gone immediately. But I try to use my imagination as often as possible to keep the fun. Few days ago Baga circled an eight around barrels in trot! Few months ago there was no chance to ask her about! Same with jumping. Baga is no jumping horse (not like Dimma who managed to jump over an euro-pallet) and she will always go around an obstacle instead of jumping over it. But short time ago I had Baga with me but not fastened on the rope (at liberty) and after her joy-minute (when Baga turns into an extrovert and starts running and bucking like a mustang) she had some concentration to listen to me and followed me loose over many obstacles - also a little jump. This day I could feel after long time again how it is to have a horse which is your partner!

Hm, I have many more to tell and some more funny pictures but this seems to be a nice bottom line for my blog today :o)