Sanjak Long Crower Rooster

If you have never heard of the Sanjak Long Crower, you really need to hear a Sanjak Long Crower.

Many of the long crowing chicken breeds originate from the Balkans from the Ottoman period.  "The name comes from the ability of roosters to prolong a crow for an exceptionally long time, which distinguishes them from all other domestic and wild chicken breeds. Within the group, breeds differ with respect to the timbre, crow duration and power. Usually, the crowing itself lasts from 10 to 20 seconds, while in some Denizli and Kosovо Longcrower roosters–up to 60 seconds and more.  It is believed that this mutation in chickens emerged in Asia, approximately 2000 years ago. The first reports on longcrowing roosters are from Ancient China, and several centuries later in Japan."

Source: http://www.aviculture-europe.nl/nummers/17E03A11.pdf

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Relationship Between Mustang, Barb, and Arabian

After the filming of the movie Hildago, Viggo Mortensen commissioned a report on the origins and the relationship between the mustang, Barb, and Arabian horses, the breeds involved in the making of the movie. Dr. Deb Bennett researched and wrote the article, which also mentions gaited horses. Here is a link to the article.

http://media.wix.com/ugd/d9e31f_1501543a3f73a163f02226c7439fcee5.pdf

Valentino's Renaissance Collection

As I am trying to develop more historically accurate garb for SCA events, I came across Valentino's
fall collection inspired by the Renaissance--tied on sleeves, Elizabethean collars, Harlequin treatments, velvets, brocades, puffed shoulders--amazing!!!

http://aeworld.com/fashion/fashion-women/trends-women/a-poetic-renaissance-collection-at-valentino-haute-couture-fall-2016/

Another Icelandic-Quarter Horse Cross

I am not advocating crossing Icelandics with any other breed.  I am interested in what said cross looks like.  Pyrite or Pie is an Icelandic Quarter horse cross.  He seems to have inherited the best from both sire and dam, including a copy of the gaited gene. 

PS I know nothing about this trainer or horse other than what shows up in the video.

Yarrow's photo of White Horses in Iceland

In this video, David Yarrow explains how he captured this dramatic photo of a white Icelandic horse running in front of the whitecaps on the beach in Iceland.  The weather was so bad that his team was almost unable to get off the plane but such contrasts, as he explains, can make for the most dramatic pictures.

Greg Lake--Moonchild Looking for His Sunchild

Greg Lake was lead singer of King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer and a soloist; He wrote the popular Christmas song "I Believe in Father Christmas. Lake died last year after a long struggle with cancer.

Here is a link to Moonchild. Here's hoping Lake found his sunchild.

"Dropping circle stones on a sun dial
Playing hide and seek
with the ghosts of dawn
Waiting for a smile from a sun child."

Gudmar Petursson Training

You may be familiar with Gudmar Petursson through his appearance on the Rick Lamb TV show, Knights of Iceland high speed riding demonstrations, involvement with Fakasel (think Cavalia) Icelandic Horse Park near Thorlakshofn. Or his competitions rides at national and international levels. Gudmar and his family began importing Icelandic horses to the US in the late 1990s. Gudmar selected Blessi for import 12 years ago (thank you Gudmar).

Gudmar is also well know for his training. For those of you who want to know more about how Gudmar trains to see if you can take advantage of Gudmar's quality elearnings on how to train, here are some links:

Stan Hirson has capture some of Gudmar's lessons and put them up on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a9n8H2SUCE&list=PLu3XNly5-4bWeR4RNXhGKlXUMbu3JOPqP

Gudmar TV:

http://www.gudmar.com/gudmar-tv

Socatra Isle of Dragonblood Trees

Here's another destination on my bucket list--Socotra, Island of the Dragonblood Trees, in the Arabian Sea. One third of the plant and animal life is unique to this island which results in some of the most fantastical scenery on earth. Beaches are amazing. Interior tours are done by camel or jeep.

Icelandic Horses in Slovenia

Here's a lovely video of a father-daughter ride on Icelandic horses through the forests and mountain meadows of Slovenia.  How lovely to be accompanied by the Pyrenees mountain dog Zir.  I am glad to see that it is not just me and even riders in Slovenia have difficult preventing their horses from leaf browsing along the trail. 

Stomp Your Feet to Raudi Riddaurin -- The Red Knight

Emmaus High School Chorale sings "Raudi Riddaurin," which is translated as the Red Knight.  This folk song was written by Hreidar Ingi.   The singers stomp their feet to sound like the "din of hooves" of proud Icelandic horses.

Here is a translation:

"Svo einmana verður enginn,

No one is ever so lonely,

að ekki sé von á gesti,

That they can't expect a guest,

riddara í rauðum klæðum,

A rider (knight) in red clothing

sem ríður bleikum hesti.

who rides a pale horse

Riddari í rauðum klæðum,

A rider in red clothing,

með rjúkandi sigð í höndum,

with a smoking sickle in hand,

hleypir, svo hófana dynur

rides, so the din of hoofs

heyrist í öllum löndum.

is heard in every land.

Riddari í rauðum klæðum,

A rider in red clothing,

með rjúkandi sigð í höndum,

with a smoking sickle in hand,

hleypir, svo hófana dynur

rides, so the din of hoofs

heyrist í öllum löndum.

is heard in every land."

Blessi and I had a wonderful day this week.  My day was better than Blessi's since Blessi had his teeth floated. After the vet left, I sat in my lawn chair and read to block Blessi's access to the outside and grass as he recovered from the sedation.

Blessi always lets me know when he has recovered.  He walked over to the chair and started flipping pages in my book.  If he has enough fine motor control in his lips to flip a page without ripping it, he is ready to eat. 

When I got up from the chair, I moved it away from the exit.  Blessi surprised me.  He started experimenting with the chair.  Do I earn a treat if I shake the chair?  How about if I knock it over?  Did Pam leave some peanuts on the seat?  

 

 

 

(I had some peanuts in my pocket so I am convinced that some of the odor must have transferred to the seat of the chair.  He doesn't usually spend a lot of time sniffing seats.  Boy, would Blessi do well if he got to work the entry line at US Customs and he got to check for peanuts, apples, and oranges.)  

 

In between experiments, he moved closer to me to determine if he had achieved the threshold of innovative behavior required for a treat.

I didn't want to chance feeding a treat but I did take Blessi out for a long walk in search of the greenest grass.

Blessi Dressed for a Wedding

To take your mind off the political situation, here is a photo of Blessi dressed for his role of carrying a bride in her wedding.

Moab, Utah, on Icelandic Horses

I've posted a bunch of videos of trekking in Iceland through its unique landscape. Here is an interesting and uniquely American trek on Icelanidc horses through Moab, Utah, posted by Sueanne Clark. The landscapes are very different but the smiles of the riders are the same. And I did not know Icelandic horses wear feathered hats in the desert.

Pignon Liberty Training Methods

Here's a very interesting video of Frederic et JF Pignon demonstrating their liberty training methods. 

You can turn on the subtitles by clicking the "Settings" button, which looks like a cog wheel, and selecting English as the subtitle.

Jean-Francois talks about the importance of being the horse's leader and making it move; whereas Frederic discusses the importance of play and physical contact but always returning to a place of calm. It is notso much being dominant but fullfilling all the horse's needs. The basis of work should be pleasure. The challenge is how to create that sense of pleasure without creating a sense of discomfort.

I am picking up so many other good points, in addition to just watching these beautiful creatures dance for joy. Enjoy.