Reykjavík Grapevine - 06.08.2008, Page 33

REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE | ISSUE 11—2008 | 33
DESTINATION
Peering out the window on route to the Snor-
rastaðir farm, I quip that English horses must
be photo shopped, as the ones I spot outside all
look rather small. “Shh”, my friend whispers. “The
Icelanders are sensitive about their horses”. They
have a right to be; ponies in Iceland are extremely
beautiful (if a little short). With heights from 1.20
to 1.45 metres, they perform five distinct gaits in-
cluding the ‘tölt’ and ‘flying pace’.
The Icelandic horse originates from Scandi-
navian and European breeds during original and
subsequent settlements and has been bred purely
for centuries. Often called ponies they are consid-
ered a “horse” and to call them “ponies” is likely
to offend many breeders.
Snorrastaðir’s Cottages are open all year
and when my companions and I arrived we were
immediately focused on which horses would be
chosen for us. Like buying a car, they were scru-
tinised for their beauty, steadiness and reliabil-
ity, and how they suit their respective riders. My
friend, mounted on a beautiful Palomino, quipped
he would be riding a hot Icelandic blonde all day.
Mine was swapped for my companion’s much
more active number, ‘Fantasy’, who had been
slightly adamant about not leaving the paddock.
Going horse riding is a lot about your co-
riders – office types in riding hats, kids begging
parents to let them come, and the trusty sheep-
dog constantly threading in and out of the pad-
dock, eyes on the horizon, occasionally trying
to herd cars. We rode in and out of rivers, with
Snæfellsjökull Mountain in the distance. Our small
city-slicker group ended up on the beach: the tide
out, a huge expanse of wet sand and sunlight to
one side of us. Our horses resting, I fixed Fantasy’s
saddle which had come loose from a heavy trot
and it seemed that she, much like her rider, was
only stubborn when hungry. Stuffing her face with
grass, she calmed as we watched another group
gallop out like lightning across the wet sand, like
some romantic motion picture – ‘pure freedom’. I
asked our tour guide ‘when we ride better, will we
do that?’ ‘Maybe next time’ she said.
Snorrastaðir Farm Holidays
www.snorrastadir.is
Tel: 435 6628
Icelandic Ponies
By stevie warD — photo By JaMes wyLD
Fly and discover
/ tel. 570 3030
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