Iceland

[hairycob]

We are travelling round the ring road next summer and I would like to do a ride while I'm there but everything I look at is either suitable for beginners or multi day. I don't fancy plodding along, does anyone know of a 2-3 hour ride that has a bit of excitement?

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

We did one last year. Can't for the life of me remember the place that did it but it was one of the big main places. We went a lot faster than we should have done as the ride leader had very little control of her horse at times

 

[Keith_Beef]

We are travelling round the ring road next summer and I would like to do a ride while I'm there but everything I look at is either suitable for beginners or multi day. I don't fancy plodding along, does anyone know of a 2-3 hour ride that has a bit of excitement?

You could try asking @Nicnaclaus, who recently posted a photo.

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/shall-we-have-a-creatures-in-snow-thread.834146/post-15419247

 

[Kunoichi73]

I'm also interested, as I'm going next August and am interested in finding somewhere for a few hours hack.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I am sure the name had Star in it.

Regardless of what ride you book play down your riding slightly! You will get a nicer horse for it when they asked us how much riding we do/have done my oh (and I could have KILLED! him for it!) Said oh she rides racehorses and I used to. Their eyes lit up and off they scooted! Steve got his comeuppance! His pulled his arms out every single step of the way mine was incredibly cold backed but once you had gone forwards 5 or 6 ginger steps he relaxed and was actually a thoroughly delightful ride. They said after that those 2 don't get out very often as they never have anyone good enough to ride them. I assumed mine was a youngster - he was 18yo

So yeah! Play it down a little! It's supposed to be a holiday and an enjoyable experience

 

[windswoo]

I hate it when OH says "oh she's experienced" you know that your going to get the horse that doesn't get out much!!
My friend went to Iceland last month and had a lovely ride out 1 - 1 for a few hours. I think she went to the same place as @Keith_Beef has suggested.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

I did a 6 day trek with Eldhestar, they do day and half day treks too. Can definitely recommend them.

Eldhestar Home - Eldhestar

Eldhestar offer horseback riding in South Iceland

eldhestar.is

 

[HollyWoozle]

Polarhestar and Saltvik

 

[Palindrome]

It was over a decade ago but we did one with Polar Hestar and it was great. Since we didn't have a car, they came to pick us up from the tourism office in Akureyri.
The scenery was amazing and we did most of the hack in tölt which my beginner husband found easy to sit to.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I did a 6 day trek with Eldhestar, they do day and half day treks too. Can definitely recommend them.

View attachment 130216

Eldhestar Home - Eldhestar

Eldhestar offer horseback riding in South Iceland

eldhestar.is

This is the one we have been to a couple of times!

 

[hairycob]

Thanks I'll look at these.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Juliane at Polarhestar is incredibly nice and fast to reply (and bakes the best cakes!)

 

[Keith_Beef]

I am sure the name had Star in it.

I did a 6 day trek with Eldhestar,

Hestar is the plural of hestur, one of the two words for horse, in Icelandic (the other being hross).

The link below finds some riding centres, mostly in south west corner.

Reið hestur

www.google.com

 

[Vodkagirly]

We are travelling round the ring road next summer and I would like to do a ride while I'm there but everything I look at is either suitable for beginners or multi day. I don't fancy plodding along, does anyone know of a 2-3 hour ride that has a bit of excitement?

We just booked at one of tour kiosks on the main street for horse riding then whale watching. When we got there they asked who had experience and 4 of us went on a separate ride to the beginners which was quite fast, lots of tolt!

 

[Nicnac]

I went with https://www.ishestar.is/ a couple of weeks ago. It was a dawn ride so started at 10.00am As we were only there for 5 days with lots to fit in we chose a venue close to Reykavik. The group split up and the experienced riders went off for a much faster ride. It was great fun! Absolutely stunning riding over ice and lava fields covered in snow with a beautiful mountainous backdrop.

If you're going round the ring road, I'd go to Eldhestar as further inland. Iceland is wonderful and I'm also going back in September.

 

[Goldie's mum]

Watching a program about Iceland right now on BBC 4

trying to type with a cat on my arm!

 

[Gloi]

I went on a week long ride with IsHestar in the late 1980s came home and started looking for an Icelandic horse.
Things might have changed since then but still don't big up your experience, they like their horses to be very forward. If they offer you a competition horse beware

 

[Nicnac]

I went on a week long ride with IsHestar in the late 1980s came home and started looking for an Icelandic horse.
Things might have changed since then but still don't big up your experience, they like their horses to be very forward. If they offer you a competition horse beware

I had a competition horse. He was amazing! We had a ball and led the ride half the time chatting to one of the leaders - we were out with a couple of Polish girls, one of whom bought a horse off the Bunns at Hickstead and the other evented. I would love an Icelandic horse - tolt is so comfortable and for my last horse would be perfect as I go into my dotage!

 

[ycbm]

Pointless postt but I've just sold my van and I'm determined not to just leave the money sitting in the bank, so Iceland here we come.


Recommendations for all inclusive tour operators flying from Manchester, 4 or 5* hotel with "inside the volcano" experience please!

 

[hairycob]

Discover The World are probably a good bet. And right now is a good time to go if it's volcano activity that interests. We will be on a more budget option of a camper van.

 

[SEL]

You'd definitely get volcano experience right now! I've seen photos of the latest eruption from stranded airport passengers

I'll dig out who we went with (non horsey trip). I've been 3 times and loved it. Pricey though.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Hestar is the plural of hestur, one of the two words for horse, in Icelandic (the other being hross).

A thought popped into my head.

When I was in Iceland, almost every time I heard or saw the Icelandic word for "horse", it was "hestur". The only time I saw "hross" was on a restaurant menu.

I asked the man who rented a house to us if there was a difference between the two words, if perhaps "hestur" always meant "riding horse" and if "hross" meant a horse bred for its meat. He told me no, there wasn't any difference.

From what I've read, most Icelanders have tasted horse meat but it's not consumed very often; average annual consumption is only about 1.5 to 2kg per person.

But it's perhaps worth knowing that it can crop up on menus.

 

[SEL]

A thought popped into my head.

When I was in Iceland, almost every time I heard or saw the Icelandic word for "horse", it was "hestur". The only time I saw "hross" was on a restaurant menu.

I asked the man who rented a house to us if there was a difference between the two words, if perhaps "hestur" always meant "riding horse" and if "hross" meant a horse bred for its meat. He told me no, there wasn't any difference.

From what I've read, most Icelanders have tasted horse meat but it's not consumed very often; average annual consumption is only about 1.5 to 2kg per person.

But it's perhaps worth knowing that it can crop up on menus.

Foal was on the menu all over Western Iceland on my last trip. I did actually check to see whether it translated as something other than baby horse, but nope.

Lamb was also on the menu so I guess its only my sensitivities kicking in that I'll eat one and not the other!

 

[JackFrost]

A thought popped into my head.

When I was in Iceland, almost every time I heard or saw the Icelandic word for "horse", it was "hestur". The only time I saw "hross" was on a restaurant menu.

What I was told by an Icelandic horse breeder -

'Icelandic horses have good temperaments. We don't breed from the ones that have bad temperaments, we eat them.'

 

[Gloi]

What I was told by an Icelandic horse breeder -

'Icelandic horses have good temperaments. We don't breed from the ones that have bad temperaments, we eat them.'

I told mine that.