Canine Free Style that will save your life

Lusy Imbergerova

Lusy Imbergerova

Lusy Imbergerov

Lusy Imbergerov competes with her faithful canine Deril represent Italy in the 2016 World Dog Show in Moscow.  Their routine will both amaze you and make you cry!

The Killing of Basque Whalers in Iceland

Also there is a historic connection between Iceland and Basque. Basque whalers started coming to Iceland as early as the 1600s. They were also the victims of the only government sponsored mass murder in Icelandic history.
http://icelandreview.com/news/2015/04/27/killing-basques-now-banned-west-fjords 

Pottok Ponies

If you are unfamiliar with the Pottok, this now rare pony is native to the Basque area between France and Spain. Genetically Pottok ponies have lived in these mountains for thousands of years. Semi-feral herds still roam the mountains. They are related to the Asturon and Galician breeds. Traditionally they were used to carry goods, especially by smugglers. Today they are popular as children's ponies.

The first photo features an 1872 photo of a Potok pony used in Third Carlist war, a rebellion in Spain. Notice the coat of arms from Zestoa, Spain, featuring the Pottaks in power poses. I still don't understand why the SCA won't let me feature an Icelandic horse tolting on my personal coat of arms. ;-)

Both photos are from Wikipedia. The coat of arms was supplied by Antxon Gomez.

Ponies Mules and Penquins at the Poles

There should be an Olympics designed for the "power ponies"-- Fjords, Icelandics, Yakut, Mongolians, Pottok from Basque, etc.--compact, powerful, thrifty creatures that carried men and goods through fire, ice, desert, flood. I have been "researching" a posting as to what such a event would look like based on historic equitation events.

Obstacle number one would be penguin herding at the poles. Here is a photo of Himalayan mules, a gift from India to to Britain, for Scott's Antarctic exploration. The same journal describes how Russian ponies were offloaded from the ship onto ice, which broke up, and the ponies and handlers had to jump from floe to floe. Later, one handler and pony were out on a floe and a pod of killer whales started hunting them. The whales had a technique of ramming the floes to dislodge seals. Earlier the whales had tried this method on handlers and dogs. Luckily the later attempt on man and pony failed due to the whales coming up on the wrong side of the ice.

Icelandic horses were one of the few breeds involved in polar explorations.

Let's face it--none of the horses currently in the Olympics would pass the first event in the Ninja Warrior Power Pony Olympics.,

Snaffle Bits in Haute Couture

Ever wonder what to do with your old snaffle bits? How about adding some class to your attire? I've often seen bits on belts or handbags. But how about adding them to skirts or coats? You don't have to sew, just enhance. Here are some examples of vintage clothing. The green skirt is by a well known designer but I have forgotten his name since I have a vintage brain. Wait! When I captured the image I named it Gucci. Could be a hint.

2017 World Championships Preview

Here's the trailer for the 2017 Icelandic Horse World Championships.  Recognize the singer?  She's from Iceland.
World Championships Icelandic Horses 2017 | Video from WK2017.nl on Vimeo.