Networking Among Ancient Icelandic Homesteads

Combining archeological evidence and written land registers from the 1100s to modern times, Gisli Palson investigates connectivity among homesteads and tenants.  Such connections could be quite complex since a homestead could own grazing or fishing rights on other properties. These complexities often lead to conflict and even violence as suggested in the Icelandic sagas. 

New Neurological Disease in Icelandic Horses? Or Bad Ponies?

In 2011, several horses in southern Iceland were exhibiting strange neurological symptoms.  "These included shaking, poor coordination, and a vastly increased appetite. The matter was brought to the attention of several veterinarians, none of whom were able to determine a cause..."   They were concerned that the horses might be showing signs of a new neurological disease in horses.  The clue in solving the mystery was the symptom "increased appetite" since sick animals usually don't eat.

Veterinarian Mia Hellsten shared the case with the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP).  One of its members had seen similar symptoms in a dog. 

Blood work came back positive for marijuana.  Evidently the horses has encountered some plants growing outside and indulged.

Can you imagine an Icelandic horse with increased appetite?

  https://grapevine.is/news/2019/07/23/mystery-solved-icelandic-horses-probably-ate-cannabis/

2019 New Zealand Icelandic Horse Youth Event

Here are some hightlights from the Icelandic Horse Youth Event held in New Zealand in 2019.  Both horses and kids are having a great time.

Carl Sandburg--Riding Horses in the Rain

Francisco Castro Vedella reads "Horses and Men in Rain" by Carl Sandburg.  You can be like the heroes of old if you ride in the rain.

 

"Showdown at the Strand" is a Podcast

Axe versus whale rib. Sword versus blubber. “Showdown at the Strand” is a retelling of one of the Icelandic sagas using American Western motifs. I wrote this story in honor of the heritage of my Icelandic horse Blessi. I planned to re-enact hunting stranded whales in Iceland by horseback around 1020 AD in a Society for Creative Anachronism event. But something happened so I wrote this story instead.

Chris Herron created an amazing podcast out of this story.  You can listen to the whale of a tale at Tall Tales TV, which one of the finalists for a 2018 Parsec Award.

Painting Humans to Look Like Animals

Amazing! Humans as canvases.  Johannes Stoetter paints bodies to create the most stunning animal artwork.

Model Matt Harnacke Rides Flying Pace

Matt Harnacke is dressage rider and professional model.  One of his video series is about experiencing horses of different breeds.  This is his first encounter with an Icelandic horse.  He has a lot of fun riding flying pace and tolt for the first time. 

Although Matt says there are no Icelandic horses in Australia,  FEIF, the international registry of Icelandic horses, records 262 Icelandic horses in Australia in November 2019. 

Playgrounds as Bomb Proofing for Horses

Iris, who lives in the Netherlands, has been training Roos, a 6-year Icelandic mare, for a little over two months.  What a unique but effective way to train by using playground equipment, having drivers feed treats to the horse to let it know cars aren't  scary things, and taking advantage of urban bridges and tunnels to get the young horse prepared to face a wide variety of obstacles.   I wish Blessi was stabled within walking distance of a school.