Ultima Thule School of Vikingr Voltes and Kung Fu Mezairs

Xenophon’s Dream from Seriouspony on Vimeo.
Icelandics at play as coached by Steinar and Kathy Sierra. Move over Spanish Riding School--this is what haute ecole would look like if the horses designed the curriculum. My suggested name for this curriculum is the Ultima Thule School of Vikingr Voltes and Kung Fu Mezairs translated as the Icelandic School of Bad Ass Circles and Kung Fu Leaps.  Kathy could call her troupe the Second City Ponies.

Ultimate Thule is the ancient Greek name for Iceland. Xenophon, who wrote On Horsemanship in Greece circa 350 BC, had this to say about training horses:

"What we need is that the horse should of his own
accord exhibit his finest airs and paces at set signals. Supposing,
when he is in the riding-field, you push him to a gallop until he is
bathed in sweat, and when he begins to prance and show his airs to fine
effect, you promptly dismount and take off the bit, you may rely upon
it he will of his own accord another time break into the same
prancing action. Such are the horses on which gods and heroes ride,
as represented by the artist. The majesty of men themselves is best
discovered in the graceful handling of such animals. A horse so
prancing is indeed a thing of beauty, a wonder and a marvel; riveting
the gaze of all who see him, young alike and graybeards. They will never
turn their backs, I venture to predict, or weary of their gazing so long
as he continues to display his splendid action."