The next ride Grif and I enjoyed was a quick jaunt to the West Fork rail trail outside Glady. I park on a USFS road in a wide place I can turn the trailer around. It means I've got 0.6 miles of riding on the road to get to a connector trail to the rail trail, but I rarely see cars so it isn't a big deal.
As with our other fall rides, the weather was perfect. Low humidity, lovely breeze, sun and clouds. The drought sucks for many reasons (and I'll be grateful for precipitation if/when we ever get it again), but the reliability of such stunning weather for riding is lovely.
Grif and I set out from the trailer and made quick work of the road section. When we reached the connector trail, I turned on my audiobook and we walked along toward the rail trail. I took a moment to ponder how Grif would be with the small stream crossing, but didn't dwell on it much. I knew I could lead him over if he was having an I-hate-small-stream-crossings moment - something he does entirely too frequently for a trail horse with the miles and experience he has.
Unfortunately for me, this was an I-hate-small-stream-crossings day for Grif. First, he eyed the bridge that he hates more than all bridges - a bridge we don't cross anymore due to it's slickness wet or dry. I don't wholly know if it was the presence of the bridge (about 15-feet from where we'd cross the stream) or something else entirely, but Grif plum refused to walk within 15-20 feet of the stream crossing. It was like an invisible forcefield propelled us away. Each time I'd ask him to walk forward, he'd hit the invisible barrier and spin around. I executed Kate Little's 4-second rule with my asks so he could think, but it didn't result in a different outcome.
With exasperation, I dismounted. I unclipped his reins from the bit and clipped one end to his halter and took the other end and led him forward. I trudged into the water and Grif planted his feet firmly on the side of the creek. Cue more 4-second asks and nothing but firm "NO" answers from Grif. Around the third ask and tug on the rein, Grif did his signature head toss of defiance (always his go-to refusal move in ground work) and my reins broke.
Cool.
Cool, cool, cool.
Griffin and I shared a split second of staring at one another in disbelief before he whirled and trotted away from me.
COOL.
COOL, COOL, COOL.
I called the dogs to come with and swiftly set off after Griffin, calling him intermittently, but not trying too hard because I knew he wouldn't listen.
Fortunately, he quit trotting after 200 feet or so and picked up a brisk walk. He maintained this bubble of distance from me as I trudged after him muttering under my breath and pondering how this was going to play out.
Where the trail met the road, he paused for a moment and let me get within 8 feet of him before darting away at a trot again. -_-
At this point, all I could do was hope he had the wherewithal to stop at the trailer. The treats were in there! And that's where the saddle went to live so he could be done with "work"! And it was the magical vessel back to his friends!
I trudged along after Griffin - who was now a solid 500 feet or more ahead of me - continuing to mutter under my breath while I pondered how this would play out. The way I figured, if he didn't stop at the trailer, the dogs and I would hop in the truck and drive after him. Once we could get in front of him, I'd stop and jump out and hopefully catch him. If that failed, there were plenty of folks out enjoying the day in Glady and someone was bound to catch him for me.
As we approached the trailer, Grif paused at another trailhead. This trail headed toward home, but would be quite the trek. It would also take him into a wilderness area.
"Don't you dare you, asshole," I threatened him.
He turned and continued down the road at a trot. And continued right on past my trailer.
Motherf---er...
About this moment, a F150 pickup came down the road behind me. They saw this all unfold and came up beside me. It was two older gentlemen who had spent the morning fishing.
"You wanna hop in the bed and we'll take you to him?" the driver asked me.
I sighed, smiled, and told him, "That'd be great."
I dropped the tailgate, had Taiga jump up, and grabbed Gidget before plopping on the tailgate and signaling I was ready.
Off we went. As we passed my trailer, the driver sped up to 25-30mph. I couldn't see ahead, but his acceleration told me Griffin must have really boogied down the road! Asshole.
About a half mile from my trailer, the truck slowed as it came alongside my now walking horse. As the truck came to a stop, I hopped off and grabbed Griffin. He seemed a little disappointed to see me, to be honest.
I thanked the fishermen and wished them a good day before turning to lead Grif back down the road to the trailer.
"You thought that'd get you out of work, but guess again, buddy! I've got more reins in the truck. We're still going to do 10 miles today," I told him as we walked.
And that's exactly what we did.
With the addition of a riding crop and two smart smacks at the stream crossing on our way to the rail trail, it was a complete nonissue the second time. The rest of our ride on the rail trail was completely (and blessedly) uneventful, and the crossing on the return was a nonissue, as well.
All in all, we did 10.5 miles - including the miles we were separated. It ended up being a really good day, and I'm really glad I didn't let the beginning of the outing deter me from making the most of another beautiful fall day.
With Q out of commission for the remainder of the year, I quickly pivoted to getting miles in on the geldings. Thank goodness for three horses!
However, I was swiftly thwarted by Stanley's feet.
See, I had planned to glue fronts on both boys for the autumn. But Stan has decided he'd rather grow a different hoof now than he had when I measured him earlier in 2025 for shoes. Which, honestly? Fine. Good for you, Stan. It's a better hoof than it was before. I'll take that. Unfortunately, said "better hoof" means he doesn't currently fit in the shoes nor in any of my boots. Womp womp.
Knowing that I'm only going to bust out miles in the next 3-4 weeks before the days get darkest and the weather [probably] turns wetter and colder, I opted to not buy new boots or shoes for Stan. If his feet are transitioning, we'll just wait for spring to commit dollars to something that will work for him. Spending money on something for only a few weeks just seems silly.
And thus, Griffin became the first string horse for all my autumn miles!
Who, me?!
I glued fronts on Grif on the 6th and then glued hinds - the shoes that were originally for Stan - on the 11th. A perfect fit.
The shoeing process went super smoothly each time. I've really got my process down for these - and that feels so good! The "work" phase of prepping the hoof and getting the shoe prepped, applying glue, and wrapping immediately after glue application takes me about 30 minutes for two shoes. After that, it takes another 30 minutes to "finish", but this period doesn't involve any hard work. I wait 15 minutes or so for the acrylic glue to set, then remove the plastic and seal the acrylic glue areas with super glue and wait another 10 minutes or so for that to dry.
I've always booted Grif, but it wasn't until my first ride on him with four shoes that I realized how much this horse really prefers to be shod all the way round vs in boots. The shoes give him more protection and comfort than boots can and he is So Much Happier. We were both absolutely giddy with excitement about it our first ride. I will 100% be glueing shoes all the way 'round on him next year.
Ready to rock and roll
Our first ride out was to the Seneca Creek backcountry with Sonya. I planned a casual 10.8 miles for us, but included trails neither of us had been on much - if ever.
Per the usual, we parked at Johnny Meadows and took Swallow Rock trail up to Allegheny Mtn trail to access the other trails. On this day, we did a little lollipop loop from Allegheny → Leading Ridge → North Prong → Allegheny and then back down Swallow Rock to our starting point.
It. Was. LOVELY! After Swallow Rock, everything else was lovely grass/loam footing. Wide trails that you could really move out on. We didn't on this day because Sonya's mare is out of shape, but I will 100% be going back to enjoy some zoomy rides up here.
Bonus, we didn't see a single human! AND the high mountain meadow openings were absolutely gorgeous. Landscapes like those are some of my absolutely favorite in all of West Virginia.
Questioning life
Up Swallow Rock
Leading Ridge
Leading Ridge
Leading Ridge
North Prong
North Prong - one of many high elevation meadows
Allegheny
A few days after the ride with Sonya, Grif and I headed to a USFS road closer to home for a solo ride. I've ridden this road before, but had turned around before really exploring the closed gate portion of it. On this day, with no time limit and no real expectation beyond enjoying some miles in the beautiful weather, we were able to explore all the way to the end of one of two gated sections of road. It was just a simple out and back, but was enjoyable all the same.
Grif was AWESOME. This was our first bigger ride really moving out in ages. I could tell he was really having fun. He was so eager to move forward down the trail and easily maintained a 6+ mph pace on everything except the steeper climbs (and "steeper climb" is generous because this entire route is really mild and chill).
I was delighted to discover that the gated section of road was overgrown with grass making for super lovely footing. Griffin was also thrilled based on how much more he moved out for these miles! I found myself cruising along with a smile for most of this section because my horse was just so happy and content. It was also a delightfully pretty section with patches of spruce and hemlock and multiple headwater stream crossings.
We reached a dead end of the road at exactly the 6 mile mark from the trailer at the 1-hour mark from our start. Because we'd have more climbing heading back, I didn't expect we'd complete the whole ride in 2 hours, but Grif surprised me and really moved out through bits of the return. All in all, we completed 12 miles in 2 hours and 2 minutes! Bravo, Grif!
Road ridin'
The grassy section that was new to us
Such a lovely day
Ample red spruce
I couldn’t be more grateful for Griffin stepping up this fall. While it’s never ideal to have plans derailed (the nature of horses, it seems), it’s been such a joy to have Grif feeling his best and loving the miles as much as I do. His enthusiasm has been infectious and has made these autumn rides extra special. With Q on the mend and Stan growing out his new kicks, I’m soaking up every good-weather mile we can snag before winter settles in. Stay tuned, I've got multiple rides sketched out to take Grif on in the coming week!
After signing my furlough papers on the morning of October 1, I put Q in the trailer and headed 35 minutes down the road to the Johnny Meadows campground/Swallow Rock trailhead. What better way is there to curb crankiness about things I can't control than multiple hours and miles in the backcountry where there is no digital connection with the outside world?
Q, Taiga, Gidget, and I spent almost 4 hours traveling 12.2 miles (Swallow Rock → Allegheny → Tom Lick → Seneca Creek → Bear Hunter → Allegheny → Swallow Rock). We only saw one person and their dog the entire time (on Seneca Creek, of course, the only trail I ever see people on out there). While autumn colors are a total bust this year due to the drought, we did enjoy bits of color here and there amidst what was otherwise an absolutely GORGEOUS fall day.
The prettiest mare and husky
Heading to the trail
Trail access involves crossing the stream first thing
Up Swallow Rock. The rockiest and slowest part of our journey
Tom Lick was so delightfully gorgeous and wide!
All of the planted red spruce were so pretty; there are lots of patches of red spruce that were planted in the early 1900s after the virgin forest was cleared
Had to take a token photo of the spruce tunnel on Seneca Creek
I saw a lot of native brook trout in Seneca Creek on this day
Junction with Judy Springs trail heading out right
Another year of drought has Seneca Creek looking LOW LOW LOW
Up Bear Hunter
Of this day's route, Tom Lick trail and a 1.3 mile piece of Seneca Creek were new for Q and I. Both were absolutely gorgeous and I will absolutely ride both of them again. The only caveat is that the creek crossing at the junction of Tom Lick and Seneca Creek is slightly tricky because horses can't safely use the washed out bridge and must cross the creek with it's incised banks. Not impossible or dangerous, but does take a little bit of careful consideration to select a path.
All in all, it was a really lovely ride. And I'm especially grateful it was because before I could enjoy another ride with Q she presented with persistent soft tissue swelling on her left foreleg. While she wasn't lame, the swelling was enough for me to call it a year for her. Better safe than sorry! We played this game almost a decade ago when she suffered a soft tissue injury on her left hind (also in the pasture vs on trail and also sans lameness), and I feel confident that she will bounce back just fine with ample rest! Still, the timing sucked and boogered my plans of fitting in lots of mileage with friends this fall. C'est la vie! We'll just enjoy 2026 all the more.
Since returning from Iceland, my motivation to get miles and time in the saddle has been higher than it's been in years. That trip was just what I needed to reignite my drive to ride. Coupled with the Kate Little clinic in August, my drive and enjoyment to pursue things with my horses is back with vigor.
I made a quick pivot for three days of work travel immediately upon my return stateside. Once that concluded, I hopped right into the saddle.
The first big ride was 10 miles on the West Fork rail trail with Q where we lay down the fastest 10 miles I've done in years, averaging a modest 5 mph. Part of my motivation to keep the momentum? My hydration bladder had leaked on the drive, leaving me without water. Womp womp. But most of the drive came from Q herself. She was in such a happy, easygoing mood, trotting through sections where I’d expected we’d walk.
Q was calm and content all day. She wasn’t exactly charging down the trail with enthusiasm, but she was as forward and agreeable as she gets, a quiet, “ho-hum, sure, let’s beebop along while the dogs run.” The weather couldn’t have been better: upper 60s, sunny, low humidity, and a light breeze. Perfect riding weather.
In recent years, I’ve stuck to ½-mile trot sets with ¼- to ½-mile walk breaks, depending on how the horses feel. Our trot work is slow, not an endurance training trot, rarely breaking 6 mph. Usually, when they’re ready for a walk, they make it clear; when they’re not, we just keep trotting a bit longer before trying again.
This ride, though, Q happily trotted between ¾ and 1¼ miles before asking to walk. She was such a pleasant, willing partner. I hadn’t had a ride like that with her in ages.
When we turned back toward the trailer, she picked up a bit more pep (as they all do when heading “home”). We kept our trot/walk intervals, and I decided to ask for a canter, which is something I’ve mostly avoided on rail trails with her, since she’s been known to teleport me right out of the saddle when something startles her. (Something about the wider line of sight historically makes her spookier than a single-track trail.) But she was so calm that I had to try.
And she stayed calm! Completely chill and relaxed. We added a few short canters on the way back, and she only grew more relaxed with each one. I even felt comfortable filming the last canter. I'm not sure I've ever done that with her!
The whole ride was wonderfully uneventful, and I mean that as the highest compliment. For a mare who’s spent years being looky and spooky on solo rail trail rides, this quiet, steady outing felt like a huge win. Thirteen years together, and at approximately twenty years old, Q just keeps showing up and shining in new ways. What a good girl.
One final Iceland post and then it's back to business as usual over here!
After six unforgettable days riding across Iceland’s Snæfellsnes Peninsula, I’m still replaying the rhythm of tölt hooves against black sand beaches, the sweep of mist across volcanic hills, and the dramatic light and clouds of Iceland. This series has been my attempt to capture a little of that magic — the horses, the landscapes, the weather that changes by the minute, and the sheer joy of being part of it all. Whether you hope to plan your own adventure, dream from afar, or just see what riding Icelandic horses is all about, I’ve gathered everything from daily ride logs and maps to gear notes and travel tips in one place below.
The Week’s Ride at a Glance
Thanks to everyone who followed along on the entirety of my riding adventures in Iceland. In case you’re landing on this post and/or missed some of the adventure, all six days of my Iceland riding tour with Stori Kambur can be read/viewed at the following links:
And as a throwback to the days of yore when I was competing in endurance and was keeping track of mileage and riding stats, here’s a short summary of what this week across the Snæfellnes Peninsula entailed:
Total mileage: 78.73 miles (126.7 kilometers)
Average speed: 4.33 mph (6.96 kph)
Total elevation gained: 4,931 feet (1,503 meters)
All 6 days of riding on one map. Note: Google Earth makes the roads yellow, which makes it a touch confusing at first! Look along the southern coast and use the legend to see our days' tracks.
Zooming out a bit on the peninsula to get a better grasp of the areas we traveled.
And just for fun, here's a super zoomed out view. Look to the western peninsula to see where we were!
If you want to ride Icelandic Horses in Iceland…
If you’re interested in pursuing a similar adventure after reading my account, Stori Kambur is the way to go if you want to have an incredible experience on Icelandic horses in Iceland. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it is a family business with people who truly care about the animals and know the land and its history. You’ll enjoy not only a riding experience, but a chance to truly learn about this place, its people, its heritage, its culture, all while seeing and experiencing many of the unique environments that make up Iceland’s landscape. Stori Kambur will pick you up and bring you to their home base from Reykjavik, feed you three meals a day with locally-sourced ingredients, and provide incredible accommodations. I seriously don’t think there is a better value or experience in the rest of the country.
If you'd like to visit Iceland and experience non-horse things...
Reach out to KristÃn! She has her own company called Ad Astra and can help you plan your perfect adventure to Iceland. She's a native Icelander and an incredible human, not to mention she's a horse person!, and I can guarantee you'll be in great hands.
An opportunity you may not want to miss - and honestly it has me wanting to dart right back north! - is the chance to witness the 2026 full solar eclipse. KristÃn and Ad Astra with Stori Kambur look to have an incredible opportunity in the works! Someone go so I can live vicariously through you! The 2024 total solar eclipse was one of the most incredible things I've ever seen. Go to Iceland and witness it in 2026!
Siggi and KristÃn
Tips and Recommendations
Clothing that made it all easy
Icelandic weather is unpredictable at best. Temperatures are very likely going to be cooler than you anticipate or experience at home and the wind is its own beast. Despite this, I remained very comfortable (and if anything, I was too warm due to poor choices in layering) the entire time. I attribute my comfort to breathable, wicking baselayers of merino wool and wind and waterproof outer layers with various combinations of middle insulation as needed. My tall boots were perfect - and waterproof! Here is a list of clothing that lent to my comfort on the trip:
Top and Midlayers
Kerrits Coaches Coat (as a top layer to beat the wind and wet) I loved that the length of this jacket + my tall boots kept me covered head to toe in the saddle. I was dry and comfortable even in the downpour we experienced!
Patagonia Down Sweater (I wore this maybe once? I run warm with the right layers and didn’t need the extra insulation it turned out)
Fleece lined riding tights (my two pairs were purchased at a mad sale price from Horze years back)
Summer weight riding tights (I had one pair from Horze (another sale) and a pair of Kerrits Ice-Fil - now “CoolCore”, it seems)
What I had but didn’t end up using: a Patagonia 3L Goretex jacket. The Kerrits coat does a commendable job, but nothing beats 3L Goretex in wet weather. Fortunately, we didn’t have any super wet days where I thought I’d need this, so it remained packed.
Let me get on my merino wool soapbox a moment, merino wool is a GAMECHANGER baselayer if you’re pursuing any outdoor activity. Solidly beats synthetics in my opinion. And of course beats cotton. You want something that wicks moisture and provides insulation against your skin. It is not itchy. And it doesn’t hold stench like synthetics. And if you buy quality, it will last you decades. And in my experience, Icebreaker outperforms Smartwool every time. Watch for sales - hell, search for sale pieces. Buy a little at a time. You won’t regret building a merino arsenal if you spend time outside. On my sweatiest summer days, I reach for my thin merino clothes over other layers that touch my skin directly. For winter pursuits, merino touches my body in first and second layers all the time. I add a new piece or two each year.
Wool in general is fabulous. There is a reason so many Icelandics and other folks who live in the Arctic circle wear wool sweaters all the time. It is absolutely unbeatable. For me personally, I need to have something less itchy directly against my skin than traditional wool; I cannot cease scratching areas where traditional wool touches. I try all the time (and will continue to because I continue to hope my skin will just spontaneously get over its sensitivity), but alas, it just isn’t for me. Fortunately, it isn’t difficult at all to throw an intermediary layer between traditional wool sweaters and my skin!
One final — and very important — note on riding gear and clothing: used riding equipment is strictly prohibited from entering Iceland. This includes saddles, pads, bridles, whips, and riding gloves. Any clothing that has been in contact with horses outside Iceland must be thoroughly disinfected or purchased specifically for your trip.
As a biologist who works with bats, a group of animals devastated by disease spread via contaminated gear, I deeply understand why this rule exists. For my part, I washed all of my riding clothes in Lysol (the same disinfectant I use for decontaminating cave gear to protect bats) before traveling, and I purchased new boots and gloves for this trip.
Why all the precautions? To protect the Icelandic horse. No other horses may be imported into Iceland, and any Icelandic horse that leaves the country can never return. These strict biosecurity measures preserve the health of Iceland’s uniquely disease-free horse population. As Siggi explained to me, Icelandic horses are not vaccinated. They simply don’t need to be, thanks to the absence of introduced diseases and even common vectors like mosquitoes.
(And if, like me, you find yourself starry-eyed at the thought of a country without mosquitoes, just remember: Iceland trades mosquitoes for unpredictable weather, bracing winds, and a healthy dose of North Atlantic wildness;not exactly for the faint of heart!)
Thanks to Jacqueline for this photo!
Miscellaneous Tips
If you want to see lupine in bloom, come in July.
If you want a chance to see the northern lights, your best chance is September through March. However, there is caveat to this, keep in mind that the sun has an ~11 year solar cycle. While the northern lights appear throughout this cycle, there is a noticeable peak to the cycle where they are more likely to appear. We are in the peak of the peak of that cycle right now. It’s why so many of us have seen the aurora at mid-latitudes in the last year or two. So while the darker months (Sept-Mar) are best chance for seeing the northern lights, the solar cycle may affect your chances, too.
If you drink alcohol, keep in mind that it’s quite expensive in Iceland. The best deal is at duty free in the airport before you go through customs. There is a limit to how much you can buy before you need to declare it in customs, so look that up. Both Kate and I purchased the limit for wine on our way through so we could enjoy it during our stay without further purchase.
What Iceland Left Me With
I’m endlessly grateful to Stóri Kambur and to the wonderful people who made this adventure what it was: equal parts riding, learning, and awe. This trip was everything I’d hoped for and more, not just because of the scenery or the horses, but because it reminded me how adventure can still feel new, even after years of riding. Between the long miles, unpredictable weather, and the stories shared around the table each night, I came home with a deep appreciation for Iceland’s people, their horses, and the care they take in preserving both.
If you’re even thinking about making this journey yourself, my advice is simple: go. Bring layers, bring curiosity, and bring a willingness to be changed by wind and weather and wide open space. Iceland will meet you there. There’s something extraordinary about seeing a place from the saddle and the Icelandic horse is the perfect partner for that kind of exploration. I know I’ll be back.
To everyone who’s read along — thank you. Writing these posts has helped me relive it all: the rides, the learning, and the adventure. I hope these stories inspire you to find your own version of this adventure wherever the trail leads.
The final tale of my time riding in Iceland is here! This post wraps up the story of my time riding in Iceland. Thanks so much for those who have followed along with my story. I hope you've enjoyed it and found some beauty and inspiration along the way! I'll follow-up with one final post with links, general tips, tricks, and recommendations for traveling to Iceland in the coming days before transitioning blog content back to the usual ho-hum adventures in West Virginia.
Rounding Up the Horses
This morning, like the others, started slowly. I wrote, enjoyed breakfast, prepped lunch, and readied myself before joining everyone in the shuttle for the hour drive to the day’s start/end point. Today’s weather promised to be much milder and the ride would be our final - and longest! - of the week at 30 kilometers.
The drive from Stori Kambur to the northern coast of the peninsula was uneventful. Once we arrived, Siggi asked for 6-7 volunteers to help gather the horses, cautioning that it’d take quite a bit of walking. The pasture they were in was something like 100 hectares, so gathering them up was going to be a bit of a task! I happily volunteered alongside others.
After five straight days of riding, the horses weren’t exactly thrilled with the prospect of being gathered up for another day’s ride. While I didn’t observe any of them flat out running away, they did Very Purposefully walk away from the gaggle of two legged beings trekking toward them across the open area.
With Siggi’s guidance, we formed a straight line and followed the horses, pushing them to the farthest corner of the pasture where the fence narrowed and we could catch them. In writing, I make this sound simple, but the size of this pasture coupled with the grassy-boggy-hummocky ground made it much less simple in actuality! All in all, it took us an hour to capture and lead all of the horses back to the other riders and we walked 5 kilometers in that time! Warm up: achieved!
As we slowly bridled all of the horses, I asked Siggi about the freezemark brands on several of them, curious if they were farm markings or part of a greater system of keeping track of individual horses. It turns out, both were true. As he and Lele bridled horses, he pointed out which brands were farm brands and which brand - which was only on one older gelding - was part of an older system that kept track of all horses. He also shared how all Icelandic horses are microchipped and a record of their life and achievements can be tracked online through their unique microchip code. Basically a life’s report card of each horse! I thought this was super cool because from what I’ve learned of many other breeds of horses, the systems are quite varied and often a complete mess. It can be so hard to learn about a horse’s history depending on their breed. I love that Icelandic horses don’t have that problem at all!
Each volunteer led 2-3 horses from the field to the point where everyone else was waiting. Once all humans and horses were present, each person sought out their horse and led them away to be tacked. I led in one of Siggi’s mounts for the day and ended up holding onto both Visa and this gelding through the tack up process. Siggi and I took turns holding the horses while the other tacked up.
Heading out to round up the horses
Horses walking away from us
Pushing the horses to the far corner
Reaching the end
Visa mean muggin'
Visa sweet muggin'
Visa and Siggi's mount - bit of a size difference!
The First Miles
In due time, all horses, riders, and hand horses were ready to go. Siggi mounted up, gestured us to follow, and we headed off at a strong tolt, just like the prior day. I giggled with glee, sharing my smile and amusement with Jan who was riding alongside me as we followed Siggi.
Initially, I’d thought I would settle myself and Visa mid-to-back of the line on this day for the sake of photos (the line of riders on the landscape lends a different perspective, as you saw on my photos from earlier days), but Visa quickly vetoed that idea. As she’d done toward the end of the ride on the prior day, she was magnetized toward Siggi and happiest locked in right behind him. It became a bit of a laughing point for me and others later in the day after various breaks when I’d not even pick up my reins, opting to cross my arms and let her choose. Every time she’d hustle to a spot behind Siggi in the lead much to the amusement of myself and others in our immediate vicinity.
The day’s ride began much as the one the day prior had ended. We backtracked much of our prior day’s path through Siggi’s family’s land winding first along the river and then through the field of lupine. Our first stop of the day was where the final stop had been the day prior. However, after about 6 miles, once we reached the decommissioned highway, our path veered into a new direction - a road through lava fields.
Ran my GPS in two parts for this final day.
Backtracking the prior day's path more or less
Happy folks!
The best drinker!
I loved Lele's sweater on this day! I'm quite motivated to finally learn to knit a sweater after this trip. I've knitted since I was a teenager, but never desired to pursue a sweater because of the time it takes. Now though, I think I'd like to try my hand at it after seeing so many beautiful ones in Iceland.
Plotting my Future
As we traveled along the first 6 mile segment, Siggi and I chatted about my job, differences in land conservation approaches between our countries, the amazing versatility of the Icelandic horse, and all things Icelandic horses. I shared with him that these animals had been a curiosity of mine with regard to a breed I’d make my own one day, and now having experienced them the way I did on this trip I was bound and determined to make one my own one day.
What I love to do most - move at speed down a trail and travel across rough terrain without having to look at my own feet thanks to the surefootedness of my mount - these horses do better than any I’ve ever ridden. And they do it with a calmer demeanor to boot! The tolt especially feels more adapted for rough terrain than a trot.
Siggi noted that if I’m really serious about an Icelandic horse, that I should import one from Iceland. Getting a horse that was raised and started in Iceland would guarantee a very surefooted animal. He also shared that when I’m ready, he’d be happy to be my broker and help me find the perfect horse. He said that I could give him my list of desired qualities and he’d find a few candidates, and then I could come for a few days and try them all out.
I thanked him and told him I would absolutely be in touch. However, it probably wouldn’t be for at least five years. At that time, Grif will be 20, Q will be ~24, and Stan will be 29. I know I’ll want to have a new solid riding horse by the time Grif is 25. I feel fairly certain the horses that will carry me into my later years will be a Welsh cob and an Icelandic; the order of their appearance in my life is TBD.
Berserkers & Riding into Mordor
As our conversation about future options to bring home an Icelandic horse came to a natural pause point, we reached the place where we’d take our second break of the day near the beginning of the road through the lava field. I took advantage of the break to catch up with Kate for a bit (her horse preferred the back of the pack while Visa preferred the front). She asked if I was getting lots of fun history from Siggi, and I let her know that no, not really, we’d just been nerding out on Icelandic horses.
At the end of the break, we set off at a smart tolt, occasionally accelerating into a hand gallop as we winded along the road through the lava fields.
What a *wild* landscape, y’all! I seriously felt like I was on another planet. It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The only thing I could compare it to is Tolkien’s Middle Earth in the area approaching Mordor. I voiced this aloud to Siggi as we rode, “Siggi, I feel like I’m riding into Mordor!” Siggi turned in his saddle with a big grin, “Did you know Tolkien was influenced heavily by Iceland when he wrote Lord of the Rings?” I shook my head no. Siggi continued, “Tolkien never visited Iceland, but he had a nanny who was from here and told a lot of stories about the country and it’s folklore. The hobbit homes were inspired from some of the early settler’s homes here!” My eyes grew bigger and my smile widened as he shared - what a COOL thing I never knew!
Look at this wild landscape!
The brand on the far hand horse is the old style that marked individual horses. Told what year he was born (2001, I believe), where, and what number he was.
Not long after this anecdote, Siggi shared a story about the first road built through this lava field, Berserkjahraun. The road, the remnants of which we could see on and off throughout the ride, was the first road that connected farms in the area. It was built by a Viking berserker who fell in love with a beautiful young woman who was the daughter of a local farmer. Well, that local farmer didn’t want his daughter to marry a Viking berserker so he gave the berserker a seemingly impossible task to win his daughter’s hand. The task? Build a road through the lava field. Well, the berserker moved stones and made an easily crossable path through the lava field, working day and night for many months until he was successful. When the berserker went to claim his prize, the daughter’s hand in marriage, the farmer and his friends ambushed the berserker and killed him.
Ouch.
As this tale came to a close, I concluded that men from Iceland’s past were tragically romantic and went to wild ends to win over the women they loved only to get shafted. You see, Siggi had told an equally tragic tale of love the night prior to Kate and I about a man who loved a woman and was ultimately forced to choose exile or death instead of life with the woman he loved. He chose exile (and very well may have beaten Leif Erikson to North America based on records that exist, however, the history isn’t thorough enough for us to know for sure).
We carried on through the lava fields, zooming along at a tolt and canter. It was SO fun. Coupled with the wild landscape, it was definitely another core memory in the making.
Another world!
Approaching the place we'd stop for lunch. A farm used to be down in this area
A Break and One Final Gallop
When we reached a spot of open grassland along a stream nestled against the wild stones that made up the lava field, we paused to take a saddles-off lunch break. I took Visa straight to the stream to tank up on water before untacking her. The little mare had been working hard and I knew how much she was capable of drinking based on prior days, so I opted to let her drink before losing her saddle. I know when I’m hot from a workout I usually reach for water before anything else! And sure enough, she drank long and deep from that stream!
Once Visa drank her fill, I walked her to the grassy area with the others, untacked her, and let her graze while I enjoyed my sandwich (she got her daily PB treat, too).
Gorgeous landscape
I'm so glad I took the time to get photos with this little girl
Just two redheads looking off toward Mordor
Note the brand on Svartur Svanur here, this is a farm brand vs. the brand on the gelding in the prior photo.
Thanks to Lola for helping cue up this photo of Kate and I. It's one of my favorites of the trip!
Following the break, we sped along the lava field road for several more miles. The surreal landscape continued all the while.
Eventually, we reached an uphill section that was wide with amazing footing and Siggi let his horse rip into a gallop. Jan was alongside him. Something unspoken passed between them and the next thing I knew, Jan loosed his horse into the lead while Siggi held his mount to a slower gallop. Fractions of a second later, KristÃn roared past me on her horse, passed Siggi, and quickly caught up to Jan, their horses matching stride as they galloped alongside one another. I quickly urged Visa to follow.
As Visa powered after KristÃn and Jan, I let a whoop of excitement out, dropped my reins and spread my arms wide as Visa galloped beneath me. What a feeling! What a moment! The horses and this place!
We carried on for a time, others surging up behind us, grins huge on everyone’s faces. Eventually, we pulled the horses up, patting them our thanks as they blew heavy and caught their breath.
Not long after this, we came to the end of the road through the lava field. We paused here for our penultimate break of the day to give the horses a few moments without riders. Siggi pointed out a mountain across the road and shared with us that if you climbed that mountain all the way to the top without ever looking behind you, you’d be granted three wishes at the top - so long as those wishes were kind and not mean-hearted.
Looking across the land where farms once stood.
So peaceful
And back into the lava fields
Leaving the lava fields
The Final Miles & Turning the Horses Out
The final 6 miles of the ride followed along paved and gravel roads. They passed quickly enough and were relatively uneventful. We made one short pause along a stream to let the horses have one last drink before pressing onward for the final miles back to the pasture.
When we reached the pasture, we made quick work of untacking the horses and turning them out. It was a pretty big moment for these animals, though I don’t know that they knew it. As the final week-long tour of the season for Stori Kambur, when we turned the horses out on this night, it marked the beginning of their vacation. They’d be out to pasture in this field until late October when they would be moved to winter pastures.
While untacking Visa, I gave her her final little PB treat and then led her to pasture. She didn’t linger alongside me this evening. She happily accepted her freedom, taking a moment to scratch her face and shake before meandering away. “Bye, little girl,” I said to her, “Thank you for an incredible few days. Enjoy your vacation.”
A couple more photos with my girl
One final drink!
Siggi enjoying a quiet moment doting on his gelding
The final stretch. I could definitely feel that Visa was tired by this point!
The Final Evening, Northern Lights, and an Invitation
We loaded up the saddles and bridles, then loaded ourselves into the shuttle to head back to Stori Kambur for one final evening together.
Dinner this night was leg of lamb with many sides. It was a perfect way to cap off an incredible week.
Following dinner, we enjoyed more music, singing, and drinking together. The aurora, while faint, even made an appearance! The cherry on top to a perfect week.
During conversations with Siggi and Jan, I extended an invitation to visit West Virginia. Jan expressed interest in experiencing deer hunting season and Siggi hoped to meet and network with horse folks with the goal of eventually selling a few horses a year to folks in the States; both were interested in seeing West Virginia, ideally from horseback. To you both, and anyone else from this trip who has an interest, I want you to know that my offer to visit stands and is genuine. I would love to show you the place I call home. I can’t promise 120+ kilometers of riding, but we can certainly tackle a good many miles and see some incredible places.
What a spread!
Northern lights as captured on my DSLR. I could have sat outside fussing with settings to improve it, but the companionship and time spent with people inside was more interesting to me on this night.
Cell phone capture
Cell phone capture
Siggi doling out homemade liquor - Icelandic burning wine - from his wedding a few week's prior that was leftover.
These little bottles would be my demise on this night lol! I hadn't drank that much liquor in years and years and years. My hangover the next morning was the worst I've had since 2018.
Regaling us with Icelandic songs
Learning and singing Icelandic songs together with folks from five different countries
One Final Reflection
As the week ended, I felt a deep mix of contentment and wonder. This trip was everything I’d hoped it would be and more - a week of breathtaking scenery, sturdy little horses with enormous hearts, and people who welcomed us like family. Each day brought something new to marvel at, and by the end, I felt both exhausted and completely alive.
I’ll be thinking about this week for a long time - the sound of hoofbeats over lava rock, the dramatic sun rays dancing over an even more dramatic landscape, and the stories and laughter shared over meals after long days in the saddle. There’s something about Iceland that sinks quietly into your bones and stays there. I came here chasing an experience, but I’m leaving with a piece of this place tucked firmly in my heart.
More than anything, I’m grateful. I’m grateful to Siggi and his team for sharing their land and horses, to Visa for carrying me so faithfully, and to this incredible country for reminding me how small I am in the best possible way. What a gift this week was.
