Laxnes Horse Farm made a 1981 documentary about the re-introduction of the Icelandic horse to the US in the 1980s and early 1990s. (Icelandics were fairly popular in the US in the late 1890s and early 1900s before basically disappearing as a breed in the US).
Voice over is mostly Icelandic but there are some interviews in English at the end. The actress Jennifer O'Neil delivers one of the best explanations of the appeal of the breed. She describes the horses as "beautiful,..just make my heart laugh" and describes riding them using words like fantastic trail horse, calm, smart, spirited yet sensible.
But then as now, it's all about marketability. O'Neil, who was very involved in hunter jumper world, was asked if she was going to buy an Icelandic horse. Her response was "Are you going to give me one?"
As a little girl, I always wanted a pony for Christmas. Santa never brought me a pony. So in my late 40s, I started taking horseback riding lessons. When I turned 50, I got my first horse, an Icelandic named Blessi (Veigar frá Búðardal). Little did I know how much fun life with an Icelandic was going to be. Blessi has a unique perspective on life. I hope you enjoy reading about it as much as I enjoy Blessi. And you will probably read about my cats from time to time.
Pages
- Postings
- Jules Verne & Icelandic Horse
- Icelandic Pony in William Morris' Kitchen
- Icelandic Horse Books
- Icelandic Breeding Standards
- Best of Blessi Stories
- Is this trotty, pacey or clear tolt or rack
- MCOA Hereditary Eye Defect in Silver Dapples
- Bone Spavin in the Icelandic Horse
- Laminitis
- Velkomin, Bienvenu--How to translate Blessiblog
- MtDNA Origins of the Icelandic Horse
- Icelandic Horse Twins--A Wonderful and Cautionary Tale
- Using World Fengur
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