Thursday, April 21, 2011

Icelandic horse doing dressage: Yet again "I want one!"

Love the color, love the big handsome head, love the judge's spot on scores...


10 comments:

  1. ValApril 21, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    That was cute! I am happy to see a well-trained horse win, regardless of his breed or size.

    There are some dressage classes written for gaited horses, which include movements in their natural ambling gait or pace. I have had the pleasure of riding a couple Icelandic horses (I am short enough!) and the toelt is something that every well-rounded horse person should experience. Fast and smooth as glass!

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  2. JeanApril 21, 2011 at 4:57 PM

    What fun. I know two people with Icelandics. One is a little girl's horse and is just the sweetest ride.

    By and large, everything I've heard about the breed is positive, especially disposition.

    This one put in a lovely test and well deserved that score. Nice!

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  3. AnonymousApril 21, 2011 at 7:19 PM

    So cute! I'm all for variety in the dressage arena!

    Fjord doing dressage: http://www.superguus.com/menuenglish.html and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVb-DFI7G1k

    There is a lovely Clydie x doing Grand Prix in New Zealand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23GL-FhEN0c

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  4. DressagerApril 22, 2011 at 3:11 AM

    I want that pony. Absolutely adorable and he looks like fun to ride!

    @Anon: Guusje and Jolanda are simply amazing and probably the best team I have ever seen and known!!!! I believe Jolanda is training under Marlies van Baalen now and rides a warmblood named Rembrandt DVB for training, but she still does a lot with Guus. Guusje is a wonderful example of a non-warmblood breed in dressage.

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  5. BeatrixApril 22, 2011 at 2:44 PM

    I really appreciate the commentary, I've never tested in dressage, and seeing exactly what they're looking for and when you're supposed to do it is handy.

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  6. AnonymousApril 23, 2011 at 8:49 PM

    WOW! How great to have my horse featured in a blog! My dressage instructor is riding Blessi. I didn't start riding until my late 40s and Blessi is my first horse. I am so lucky to have him. And he has a fast, smooth tolt. Iceys tend to have super dispositions. Here is another friend riding Blessi in his first attempt at cattle sorting. Cathy rides Western and Blessi rides English but they managed to communicate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4aA7zIzmsk Pamela

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  7. Achieve1dreamApril 24, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    What a great little video! I really enjoyed hearing the judge's comments and scores. Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Abbie Senesac LopezApril 24, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    I guess I'm the only one who isn't a fan of Icelandics :/ Nothing personal against the breed, they are lovely animals. But I don't think this dressage test deserved a score that high. Both canters were 4 beat-y for about half the duration, the down transitions were not clean, and he seemed to break into an amble at one point...other than that he is wicked cute and was nice and on the bit the entire time with little fuss, but he needs a lot more impulsion from the back in the canter for me to give scores like that.

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  9. AnonymousApril 25, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    Abbie, You have a sharp eye. This was Blessi's second ever dressage competition. After about two years of tolt and lateral training and two years off (I broke my ankle requiring 3 surgeries and Icelandic instructor moved out of area), this video represents about 9 months of dressage training, with Blessi getting ridden by a dressage trainer 3 to 4 times a month. She is working hard to get him more 3 beaty at the canter this year and he has shown quite a bit of improvement. Due to his individual conformation, Blessi works harder at this. Icelandics can vary in their conformation; some find it naturally easier to collect up. Check out this videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFVo1VcYKDY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQg22Kkhp3Y And Blessi did tolt during the last part of the test--the fun of having an Icelandic!!! Thanks for the comments, Pamela

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  10. AnonymousApril 25, 2011 at 9:31 AM

    For those of you who are not familiar with Icelandics, they are bred for up to five distinct gaits--walk, trot, tolt, gallop, flying pace (some can't do flying pace). Here is a video of the late Bruno Podlech, a well known German breeder, demoing all 5 gaits without saddle or bridle on one of his stallions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCc3baGSf5s&feature=channel And here is a well known stallion Jarl frá Miðkrika competing in gaits at the Icelandic world championships http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rxx-i3YppY&feature=related Note Icelandics horses are judged in Icelandic competitions on speed and fluidity and not collection. Regards, Pamela

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