What a World Class Tolt Looks Like

The 2013 World Championship of the Icelandic horse was held in Berlin this month. The Icelandic horse world is abuzz about the ride of Johann R. Skulason on Hnokki fra Fellskoti in the T1 (fast and slow tolt) preliminary rounds. The judges awarded Skulason a 9.2 which was almost 1 full point more than the next highest rider at 8.3. Note earning a score in the 9s in Icelandic competitions is just as rare as a dressage rider earning a 90+ percent at international levels--almost never happens.

You'll see fast tolt around minute 3:37. Note the combined weight of the shoe and any protective hoof boot must weigh about what a normal keg shoe weighs.

Skulason and Hnokki went on to win the 2013 World Championship in T1.  In an interview with RUV, Jóhann Rúnar Skúlason  talked about the demands of the T1 competition on Hnokki:  “'The horse has turned ten years now. The tölt final is the toughest final ever. Actually, you need to have a bodybuilder, sprinter and road runner all in one, and it takes a long time to bring out these qualities,' he explained.  It will not be possible to continue demanding such efforts from a ten-year-old horse, Jóhann went on. "

Source:
http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/icelandic_horses/T%C3%B6lt_Champion_a_Bodybuilder,_Sprinter_and_Road_Runner_0_402224.news.aspx

Here is a short video of a V1 test in which Hnokki and rider demonstrate slow tolt, fast tolt, trot, canter, and walk. Hnokki's canter is just a shade less good than his trot and tolt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzkwnusFaEo

Hnokki is 10 years old. He was bred in Iceland but exported to Denmark. He is considered a first prize stallion and has around 250 offspring. He is 5-gaited meaning he has a flying pace but it was not evaluated very high (7.5 for flying pace, 9 for tolt, and 9 for trot). He has also competed quite a bit in sports competitions. His conformation is considered as being very good but his leg quality is evaluated as being just average. I looked him up in the Icelandic Horse Registry Worldfengur.

Blessi and the Plum Festival

Yesterday, I gave Blessi a bath. I spent extra time on his mane and tail--even used Cowboy Magic.

Blessi and Jett are good friends despite the
age and size difference.

As I was leading Blessi back to the pasture, I fed him a ripe plum. Blessi will chew on a plum for 5 minutes getting all the juicy pulp off the pit before spitting the pit out. I put him back in his pasture and Blessi still was chewing on the plum.

Jett, a 4-year old, 16.3 hand paint built like a tank, comes up to the gate to welcome Blessi back. Jett is still young and is sometimes overenthusiastic in his greetings.  Jett immediately approached Blessi and  started nipping at Blessi's mouth--which was a bit rude and too forward for a proper horse greeting.

Blessit started ramming his chest into Jett's chest to force Jett back a few steps. You should have seen the look in Jett's face--it was like "Sorry, sorry, I was rude but I was so glad to see you." Jett was then allowed to nip at Blessi's nose. In fact, Jett somehow sucked the plum right out of Blessi's mouth! After the proper greetings were concluded, Blessi immediately rolled in the dirt and became a mud pony.

Blessi's Rules of Team Penning--The Icelandic Version

Team Penning is a western competition.  Two circular arenas are put together.  There are 6 calves with numbers on them from 1 to 6.  The timer calls out a number from 1 to 6, let's say 5.  Two riders attempt to move the cows from one pen to another  in the order of 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 4.  For the beginning riders, chaos now begins as all the calves want to stay together.  You spend a lot of time waiting your turn at this event so Blessi came up with his own amusements.

1. As you walk around the outside of the arena, be sure to nuzzle and/or pull down any abandoned jackets or sweaters draped over railings to check for treats.

2. Make sure your owner apologizes profusely to clothing owner  when you knock said item on the ground.

3.  Also, pause before anybody you know and see if they have a treat.

4. Just to make sure, pause in front of complete strangers, in case they have a treat.

5. Repeat all of the above as needed as you circle the arena waiting your turn, in case you missed a treat.

6. Approach all children gently—they always say “What a cute pony!”

7. Position yourself in front of a cute mare as you stand in line for your turn at the cows so she can nuzzle your butt.  If it’s a gelding, that’s OK too.

8. Stand by the arena fence, and try to get the youngest calf to approach.  Just don’t act surprised when the calf starts to clean your face with her tongue.

9. Be especially slow and pokey in the arena for your owner so she feels safe.

10. But try to get your owner  to find a nice rider so you can go  
       faster in the arena and really chase those cows.

11.Be sure and volunteer a tolt for the nice rider so they know
      what they are missing.

12. When the nice rider dismounts and acts surprised because
        the ground was so close, don’t act too smug.

13. When that green horse spooks and slews by you, don’t do anything since you calculate that the horse is going to miss you by ten feet.  Your owner may startle but be calm and patient with her—she’s only a human.

14.Let your owner know you are enjoying this event when she is leading you by gently putting your head on her shoulder and giving her a horsey hug.

15.Let your owner know when you are bored by raising your upper lip and giving everybody a big, horsey grin.  Repeat process when everyone laughs.

16.Be sure and tell your owner to proudly tell the stranger who asks that you are a chestnut  Icelandic and not a Haflinger.

17.Make sure that when the team sorting event is over, that everyone thinks Icelandics are awesome.