30.10.2006

Today I was only working on the computer to create the page for the sale-foals: http://gaedingur.com/s-foals.html
After that I went out to have a look at Stígur who is standing in the stallions-stable at the moment to get used to people. He doesn't want to be touched but he is eating hey out of my hands ;-) So I was going a little bit on his nerves and tried to make his box clean.

Then we took Biskup and Stígur and went outside with them because I wanted to take some moving pictures. Stígur was first checking the ground and then he started to show us what he can. He looked nice. After about one hour we put both horses into the stable again and I feeded the horses and rabbits with hey. Then I spent long time with Stígur who got more and more relaxed with me on his side. He still don't wanted to be touched but after one or two hours he started to sleep in his box. Only few steps away from me. I think that's a good sign ;-) I will do the same tomorrow!

28. + 29.10.2006

Now I am really confused because I often forget the date of the actual day. I always have to look into the details of my pictures to see which date we have ;-)
I am still (or again?) with sore throat but I am getting more and more bored about it. I feel good if I am taking painkillers, but I don't want to overdo it ... I only want to enjoy my holidays!!! Unfortunately my webmail-page is not working, so I can receive emails but not answer them ;-(
But my problems are nothing compared to the problems of many other creatures. Last weekend I met many wonderful foals which will end up at the slaughter only because they are... too many?! I think it don't need to be discussed if foals should be slaughtered or not, but like every year I try to help some of the foals to get a second chance. So today I only show you foals from few different farms which are available for about 25.000 - 40.000 ISK. You can contact me if you are interested in a foal. Further you can find all the foals on www.gaedingur.com later. But of course you can also only enjoy the pictures.

For Sigrún

Only some pictures of Tangó for Sigrún who is always writing so nice comments in my blog ;-)

24. + 25.10.2006

We went into the North on Tuesday the 24.10. to take pictures of the horses in Háleggsstöðum near Hofsós and to visit my Silfri. We started with a cloudy sky in Reykjavík and it was only luck that we managed to get the bus nearly right by time ;-) But we had very nice weather during our 5 hours drive! We only found more and more snow every meter of the road and it was more cold at every stop!!! In Varmahlíð we have been picked up by Jóel who brought us to Háleggsstaðir. Then we took a coffee and went outside very soon to get the horses. They were in the mountains and Jóel and his son were riding into the mountains to gather them home. Then we took many pictures of them into the paddock but it was snowing so strong and was getting dark so that we stopped soon.
Next morning it stopped snowing and we went outside again to take moving pictures of all horses there. I can not show all of the horses here because it would be too much for my blogpage but soon they will have their own website on: http://haleggsstadir.skinfaxa.net/ You can already found some old pictures of the horses there but soon it will be much more ;-)
Further now I am the happy new owner of Djörfung frá Háleggsstöðum. I just could not resist her! Later Jóel also got the three stallions Silfri, Draumur and Kalsi out of the mountains so that I also could take few pictures of my prince! Silfri's color is still a mystery for me. He is nearly white in the summer but now in the winter he looks like a really really light bay or yellow dun. The half of his head is grey but it always have been like this, otherwise I would believe that he is getting grey now. But I don't think so ;-) As well Silfri will ever stay one of the most beautiful horses all over the world. Never mind his color! He was nice and after some minutes he noticed that I am his owner and has been fondled by many hands! On Thursday we went back to Reykjavík and Ásgarði but it was raining all day ;-(

6. Day

Today we did some moving-pictures of the sales-horses and the foals after we cleaned our youngsters again in the stable. Unfortunately my camera broke down and it's possible that she is broken now! So please keep your fingers crossed that she will go on working tommorrow. I hope it was only to cold for her??? Otherwise I can not take any more pictures until the rest of my holidays ;-((((
Now you can see here the sales-horses of Ásgarði. Please send an email to herbertp@simnet.is if you are interested in any of these horses. Of course you can also ask me about them ;-)
I start with Askur frá Hraunsnefi; he is a 2 years old fivegaited stallion with nice temper. His father is: Stígandi frá Sauðárkróki and his mother: Aska frá Hraunsnefi (daughter of Frosti frá Heiði)




The next one is Iðunn frá Ásgarði; she is born in May this year, very curious and fivegaited. Her father is: Ögri frá Hóli v/Dalvík and her mother: Litla-Löpp frá Galtanesi





The last one is Þór frá Ásgarði; he is born in June this year, curious but shy and fivegaited. His father is also: Ögri frá Hóli v/Dalvík and his mother: Stórstjarna frá Ásgarði

Here you can see Þór with his sister Iðunn:



Þór with his mother Stórstjarna:

5. Day

Yesterday we have been at Grænhóll with Krissa and Gunnar. We saw many very beautiful stallions like Gári, Dalvar and Trúr frá Auðsholtshjáleigu:

Dalvar again:

Gári, Arnoddur and Fákur frá Auðsholtshjáleigu

After visiting the stallions and watching them some time, we went to a photo-safari with Krissa through the land of Grænhóll and Auðsholtshjáleigu. The landscape was so wonderful and we found many beautiful and very friendly horses there. It was a very big fun to drive around there and to look after the horses. I can only say: THANK YOU, KRISSA AND GUNNAR!!!

4. Day

Valgerður from Hrauni picked us up on Friday to show us some things in Reykjanes area. First we went to the Reykjanesviti and the coast and climbed up on the hill where the old lighthouse was standing.

Then we had a look at the Gunnuhver. Here you find a better description about Reykjanes and Gunnuhver then I ever could write ;-) The text is stolen of: http://www.reykjanes.is/english/About_Reykjanes/Places_of_Interests/Reykjanes/


Reykjanes (The Steamy Peninsula) is the name of the southwestermost tip of the country. The area is and looks very volcanic and barren. The most conspicuous are the old shield volcanoes and the crater rows, which most probably were created in historic times. The area is scarred with fissures, there is much thermal activity and the nearby, powerful high temperature area has partially been harnessed to supply energy to a salt factory and a fish processing factory for drying fish heads. The largest, boiling mud pot is called Gunnuhver, named after a female ghost, who attacked people, shook houses and drove the sheep crazy.

Eventually a reverend, who was familiar with sorcery was asked to deal with the ghost. He managed to get rid of it in the mud pot. The many volcanoes of the area are rather low. The most conspicuous are the shield volcanoes Skalafell and Haleyjarbunga and the crater rows Stampar and Eldvorp. The crater rows are much younger than the shield volcanoes, probably created during historical times.

The first lighthouse of the country was built on top of a low mountain in the area in 1778. It collapsed 8 og 9 years later because of great earthquakes. The area was criss crossed with new fissures, the lighthouse keeper´s house was also damaged and other constructions suffered. The present lighthouse was built in 1907-08 about 78 m above sea level. A short distance off the coast a 52 m high rock pillar, called Karl (The Ogre), protrudes from the ocean and further out stands the 78 m high rocky island Eldey, The Fire Island, with the world's largest gannet colony (70.000 birds). In this area three islands have been created during submarine eruptions in historic times. They all disappeared soon after the eruptions stopped. The distance from the capital is about 56 km.

Foal-Colors

Many funny horse-colors are on this picture. From left to right: ljósmoldóttur tvístjörnóttur hringeygt (buttermilk buckskin with star and snip and rings in the eyes), brúnbreiðblesóttur sokkóttur hringeygt (black with blaze and socks and rings in the eyes), brúnskjótt litförótt (black pinto roan) and brúnskjóttur blesóttur (black pinto with blaze).

Iðunn and her mother Litla-Löpp.

3. Day - the evening

In the evening we dewormed the six 1-year-old stallions and we cleaned them a little bit so that they are used to be handled in a stable by people. Further they should learn to be tethered up. Except for one guy all of them were very nice and liked to be touched and cleaned. We will go on with this procedere the next weeks and also always pick up the hooves because there will come somebody to make the hooves of some guys soon.

After this lesson we send the guys out and let them run a little bit. But they were very lazy ;-)

And wanted to eat...

But we made them run ;-)

Here is Glófaxi again. We now are thinking about giving two mares to him next summer. He is one year old and a son of Parker frá Sólheimum.

3. Day

The day started sunny like the other days and we went outside to have a look at Sokkadís,

Skinfaxa,

Eðja, Frigg...

...og Dimon.

I could touch Frigg a little bit on her nose and Skinfaxa was nearer then ever but don't wanted to be touched ;-) Later we went to the beach and spend some time there smelling the great air and looking at the Sea.

2. Day

Yesterday we went to Reykjavík to a veterinary because Busla (one of Ransý's dogs) is sick and she can not move one of her legs. So she is getting a laser-therapy now. After it we went into Kringlan because I wanted to buy a CD of Á móti sól but I didn't found what I was searching for ;-(
In the evening we were going on with deworming the mares and foals and everything went fine. The two foals which have been dewormed on Tuesday were very friendly and cool yesterday and they could be touched all over the body and Iðunn gave her hooves of her own volition as Eygló asked about it. Fengur was also very cool and ate hey out of my hands and I fondled him a long time. Here a picture of Fengur and me on Tuesday:

Iðunn yesterday:

Further Iris and me totally felt in love with Glófaxi - a one year old horse - who is living together with Stóri-Dímon and Hjartan and the other un-castraited boys. Here you can see Iris and Glófaxi:

I also need to show Þór to you. He is such a cute foal but very very shy! I am very excited to see how he is acting today after his deworming yesterday...

First we wanted to drive into the South today but Ingvar is sick and Sæunn has not time today so we will stay in Ásgarði. That's also fine because I am planning to take moving-pictures of the horses here ;-)

1. Day - I forgot...

I forgot to show you this picture of me taken by Iris:

That's Helga frá Hrauni.

1. Day

The flight was ok and we landed good in Iceland last night. But unfortunetaly I now have problems with my ears, I can not hear as good as normal since we landed. I hope this will work soon again... Of course Iris and me have taken many many pictures yet and here you can see some of the pictures from this morning.

8 o'clock in the morning.

Stóri-Dímon frá Markaskarði, 1 year old (born Palomino Pinto, at the moment Dirt Pinto ;-)

Óðinn frá Ásgarði, brúnlitföróttur störnóttur, 1 year old.
Father: Hrókur frá Gíslabæ, Mother: Eðja frá Hrísum
Last year, same position: http://www.hestamyndir.com/myndir/hestamyndir/asgard01/IMG_3882.jpg

Iðunn frá Ásgarði, born 2006.
Father: Ögri frá Hóli v/Dalvik (Son of Glampi Vatnleysu), Mother: Litla-Löpp

Later more ;-)

Iris and her horses

Today we was with Iris horses and it was very cute how Iris is taking care about them. She was cracking nuts and gave them to the horses. The guys loved that ;-)

Good arrival in Frankfurt

Yesterday I went to Iris. It was the longest way I ever drove alone and then also sick. But everything worked fine and I arrived good. Further I visited Ronja in Alsfeld and looked at her horse Stígandi, which she exported in 2004. I never had seen him before but he is a very nice guy ;-) Stígandi is two years old now and the left horse on the picture.

Friday the 13th

Hæ all, I am still feeling very bad but the pain killers are doing what they can ;-) Now I have 4 pieces of luggage in my car and I need to check later what I really can take with me or not. But I hope that I didn't forgot anything important...
I have the camera, my external harddisk, the card reader, the tickets - ok, then I have all what I need ;-)

Now I have to work!

Bara 3 dagar...

Sickness

I really got sick yesterday. First I only had a little bit sore throat but few hours later I could not move any of my bones and the sore throat was getting so hard that I don't wanted to swallow anymore ;-( Of course I was also with big headache...

I could not sleep longer then 2 hours last night because I had nightmares and was in pain the whole time. At 4 o'clock I took a pill so that I could sleep until half past 5.

Now I will drive to my work and do my work as soon as possible that I can drive back home very early (I have to teach a trainee to do my work during the next weeks, so I can not stay at home).

Further there is much to do today because it's my last day at home. I will drive immediately into the South tommorrow after work.

Only 4 days...

My horses

Today I want to present my horses to you because I will surely often mention them in the next weeks and it will be easier for you if you still know who they are ;-)
In 2004 I exported my mare Baga frá Lágafelli to Germany. She lives in North Germany at the http://www.schanzenhof.com

That's Baga! She is the only horse what I have exported until now but I have some more horses in Iceland. My friend Ransý from http://www.asgardur.skinfaxa.net and http://www.123.is/asgardur is taking care about my horses in Iceland and I know that she is always doing her best for them. It doesn't matter if I have a stallion or mare or foal, she can manage everything. She has a stable for the stallions and for the foals who left their mothers at the end of the year, but all horses are living outside as often as possible.
In Ásgarði live my horses Stóri-Dímon (see above) and Sokkadís frá Ásgarði.

That's Sokkadís frá Ásgarði. She gave me a wonderful mare-foal from Glymur frá Innri-Skeljabrekku this year. The name of this foal - my first self breeded one - is Skinfaxa frá Ásgarði. She is movindóttskjótt (silver dapple pinto) and fivegaited and it seems as if she wants to be so famous as her father still is, when she is grown ;-)

I sold Skinfaxa few days after her birthday and the new owner gave her the name Vænting, so please be not confused if I call her Skinfaxa or Vænting in the next weeks. She is the same horse! Further I gave her the nickname "Chicken" because she has a chicken in her coat. Can you see it? I am very excited to see Skinfaxa soon because she is my first "baby".
Now I have to show you my "prince" Silfri frá Lágafelli. I bought him in 2003 as a foal because I felt in love with him. I was not very interested in his gaits or color, I only found him cute ;-) By now he is a three years old big guy and lives near Hofsós on the farm Háleggsstaðir http://www.haleggsstadir.skinfaxa.net where he had some mares this summer.

We will drive into the North next week to visit Silfri there and I am so excited to see how he developed himself since last year. This year Silfri have been a father the first time in his life. Last year he had a "date" with Pamela frá Indriðastöðum and on 20.08.2006 she gave birth to a beautiful son who is now named Pálmi frá Höfnum. Pálmi is yet sold and will exported to the United States if he is old enough. Here you can see Pálmi:

The last horse which have to be mentioned is Tappi frá Lágafelli. I don't have him yet but I am looking very forward to see him soon. He is a half-brother of Silfri, born rauðblesóttur (chestnut with blaze) and is getting grey now. You can see him here:

Now you know the most of my reasons why I have to spend my holiday-time in Iceland and there are many more those reasons ;-))))

Only five days...

The beginning

This is the beginning of my Iceland-diary!

I'm looking very forward to see my horses in Iceland again in 5 days!!!

That's Stóri-Dímon frá Markaskarði. He is one year old and a Palomino Pinto and I have never seen him before personally.