The Icelandic horse is known worldwide for its genuine and welcoming character. The horses are friendly, adventurous, smart, and quick to learn. They are usually very easy to handle, cooperative both on the ground and while ridden, yet also powerful and with a great will to work.
Icelanders traditionally favour horses with great spirit, power and stamina which is no wonder when taking into consideration what kind of long distances on hard terrain these horses needed to travel. However, the horses should always be reliable and treasured companions, ready to give their all in full speed when required, but also stand still for hours and shelter the humans from a snow storm if needed. There are many stories of how horses have saved their rider’s life, by outsmarting them, refusing to go where the path was too dangerous, or finding the way home when the rider was completely lost.
Often the same horse can be used for competitions at the highest level, as well as to safely carry the youngest family member on a ride out. The horses seem to adapt to each task given, knowing when it is time for full power or to tune down. They are an easy-going mount when a youngster or an unstable rider comes along. This versatility is highly treasured among Icelandic horse lovers, and is one of the most important breeding goals. Icelandic horses will reward mutual respect and fair handling with life-long loyalty and friendship.
The horses of Iceland have been the most indispensable servants since the island was first settled and have served that role faithfully through the ages. With no roads, vast distances and rough terrain, the horses were used for anything from carrying goods, transporting the doctor and postman, bringing people to church and to their loved ones across glacial rivers, as well as providing meat, horse hair and even milk.
Although their role has changed quite dramatically in the last 100 years, the horses remain an important part of Icelandic culture, bringing people together, both within the country as well as across borders.
This article originally appeared on The Horses of Iceland and is published here with permission.
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Riding shouldn’t hurt. Unfortunately many women are riding in saddles made for men, which cause discomfort and pain. Many female riders and saddle fitters are not aware of critical differences between the male and female pelvis, which dictate unique saddle design for each gender.
In the female pelvis, the seat bones are much further apart, which means if she is riding in a ‘male’ saddle, she will likely be sitting on the seaming, which is generally pretty uncomfortable. Often, the seat twist and seat width are mixed up, and she may end up buying a saddle with a wide twist when she really needs a wide seat (the twist is the width of the saddle that touches the upper inner thigh; this should be narrow for women). The seat width is determined by the space between the seam running along the outer edge of (at the widest part) of the seat. You need to look at the distance between the seams on the seat, which should be wide enough to allow the female’s seat bones to sit on the padding (if it’s too narrow it feels like you’re sitting on a ridge, or your seat bones are falling off the edge of the seat).
Another consideration is the position of the pelvis itself. The male pelvis has a relatively higher pubic symphysis. When he sits in a balanced position with his spine perpendicular to the ground on the saddle, his pubic symphysis will be tipped upward and not in contact with the seat. In contrast, when the female sits on the saddle with her spine perpendicular to the ground, her pubic symphysis is much lower and closer to the front of the saddle – to the point of contact and rubbing. When a male rider sits on a male saddle he can balance on his seat bones like a bi-pod, whereas in a male saddle the female finds her balance in a tripod position, which means her pubic symphysis will be in contact with the front of the saddle. This is very uncomfortable; usually the female rider collapses at the hip to escape the pressure and discomfort (also because of the lower cantle of a male saddle does not provide adequate support for her pelvis).
Make sure your saddle fitter understands the impact of female anatomy on saddle fit. If the rider is uncomfortable or out of balance because she is riding in a male saddle, this will affect her aids as well as the comfort of the horse. Your professional Certified Equine or Saddle Ergonomist or saddle fitter will evaluate 25 points for achieving optimal fit, balance, position and comfort for the rider.
Read more: Saddle Fit for Women's Anatomy (2:47) - Saddlefit 4 Life
Managing riding lessons, whether you're a novice rider or an experienced equestrian, requires a keen eye for detail and a knack for organization. Gone are the days of juggling paper diaries and scattered emails. The digital era offers tools to streamline this process, transforming how we plan, execute, and reflect on our riding experiences. Keep reading as we delve into the digital revolution, offering insights and tips on harnessing these technologies to keep your riding lessons organized and at your fingertips.
Embarking on the journey to organize riding lessons digitally unveils a panorama of tools ranging from simple mobile applications to comprehensive management software. Each tool is designed to cater to different aspects of equestrian training management, including but not limited to scheduling, progress tracking, and communication between riders and instructors. It is advisable to conduct thorough research into the various options available, focusing on features, user reviews, and compatibility with your devices.
Prioritizing tools that offer synchronization across multiple devices ensures that you can access your schedules and records, whether at home, in the office, or on the move. Starting with a clear understanding of what each tool offers enables you to make informed decisions that align with your organizational needs and riding goals.
Navigating the initial steps of digital organization can be made less daunting by focusing on platforms and apps that prioritize ease of use and essential functionalities. Novice riders will benefit significantly from starting with applications that offer straightforward scheduling and reminder systems. This foundational approach helps track lesson timings, horse assignments, and upcoming equestrian events, ensuring that both rider and horse are well-prepared for their sessions.
To further enrich the learning experience, novices should consider utilizing digital tools for journaling. Recording observations, challenges faced during lessons, and areas for improvement not only aids in tracking progress but also facilitates constructive feedback sessions with instructors. Choosing beginner-friendly platforms that offer step-by-step guidance can transform the daunting task of lesson organization into a manageable and rewarding part of the equestrian journey.
For the equestrian who has surmounted the basics and is looking to refine their craft, selecting digital tools that provide an array of advanced features is key. This entails embracing software beyond simple scheduling, incorporating detailed analytics on performance, comprehensive health and wellness records for the horse, and strategic planning features for competitions. Such platforms are invaluable in identifying training patterns, pinpointing improvement areas, and setting precise, achievable goals.
Experienced riders should seek digital solutions that allow for customization, enabling them to tailor the software to their specific training regimens and objectives. Engaging with tools that offer in-depth analytics can also facilitate a deeper understanding of the horse's performance and health trends, which is critical for making informed decisions regarding training intensity and focus. Integrating these advanced digital strategies into daily training routines can significantly enhance the rider's and the horse's readiness for competitive events, fostering an informed and strategic competitive edge.
A crucial aspect of organizing your riding lessons digitally revolves around managing important documents such as registration forms, lesson plans, and feedback sheets. PDFs emerge as the go-to format for these documents, thanks to their wide accessibility across various devices and ability to maintain formatting integrity. To streamline document management, employing cloud storage solutions allows for efficient categorization of PDF files, facilitating easy retrieval by date or document type.
Moreover, PDF compression tools have become indispensable when dealing with large documents. Compressing PDFs ensures that large files are reduced to more manageable sizes without compromising quality, making them quicker to upload, download, and share. Tools like PDF compressors are essential for equestrians who need to swiftly share detailed lesson plans or feedback sheets with instructors or fellow riders. This approach ensures that all parties have timely access to important information and significantly reduces the time spent managing paperwork.
The digital realm offers more than just organizational tools; it also connects you with a global community of equestrian enthusiasts. Engaging with this community through forums, social media groups, or online events can significantly enhance your riding experience.
Sharing your progress, challenges, and tips contributes to your growth and supports others on their equestrian journey. This digital camaraderie can be especially motivating, offering new perspectives and encouragement when you face obstacles in your riding.
Selecting the right digital tools for organizing your riding lessons is about balancing functionality and usability. Consider what aspects of your equestrian life you need help organizing—scheduling, document management, community engagement, or performance tracking. Tools that offer a clean, intuitive interface are often the best place to start, as they require less time to learn and integrate into your routine.
Moreover, many apps and platforms offer free trials, allowing you to explore their features before committing. Finding tools that align with your needs will pay dividends in the long run, making your riding lesson organization seamless and effective.
The leap from understanding the benefits of digital tools to integrating them into your daily riding routine can seem daunting. Yet, with a systematic approach, it becomes manageable and even enjoyable. Begin by selecting one aspect of your riding life you wish to digitize first, such as scheduling your lessons. Once comfortable with this, gradually introduce additional tools for other aspects, like performance tracking or document management.
Customizing your digital toolkit to suit your unique needs ensures it remains relevant and valuable. Remember, the goal is to enhance your riding experience, not to overwhelm yourself with technology. Regularly reassessing the tools you use and how they fit into your routine is essential for staying on track and maximizing the digital advantages.
The journey to digitally organize your riding lessons offers a blend of challenges and rewards. By carefully selecting and implementing the right digital tools, riders at all levels can achieve a new level of efficiency and effectiveness in their equestrian pursuits. Whether you're a novice rider just starting or an experienced equestrian looking for advanced strategies, the digital world has something to offer. Embrace the change, and you'll find that staying organized enhances your riding and enriches your overall equestrian experience.
You can find more intriguing articles in our section on Recreation & Lifestyle.
Cheerful horse behavior encouraged through equine enrichment, such as toys for horses, social interactions and movement
You love your horse and do everything possible to ensure his health through equine vaccines, horse wormers, the best supplements and more. And of equal importance to horse health, is horse happiness. We asked Robin Foster, Ph.D., certified equine behaviorist and university professor of 30 years, how horse owners can know whether their horses are as happy as they are healthy. She shared with us four key characteristics of happy horses -- engaged, enriched, social and moving -- and explained more about each unique component.
Happy horses are engaged with life going on around them. They are active members in their social groupings and attentive to, and eagerly willing to, explore their environment.
“Enrichment opportunities for horses have really grown dramatically,” Dr. Foster said, crediting positive changes made in zoo environments for large animals in confinement. “Minimizing the effects of isolation, stress and limited movement -- zoos have these same challenges, and the equine industry has borrowed from that,” she said.
Enrichment falls under different categories, such as sensory, movement and feeding enrichment, which offers horses the opportunity to enjoy treats and work for food, such as with problem-solving horse toys. Cognitive enrichment keeps their mind working and burns energy,” Dr. Foster said.
“The first job is to make sure it’s something your horse will work for. Some horses love certain enrichment items, while for other horses, they just sit there. Shop around and experiment,” suggested Dr. Foster. Horses can learn the game rather quickly through their curious nature or by watching another horse. “When they can see other horses, they learn very quickly that food comes out of that thing and they will give it a good try,” continued Dr. Foster.
It’s important that from an early age, horses have social interactions with other horses to meet their social needs. Depending on how horses are housed, they often have limited social time even at a barn with other horses. This is also true in the human-horse interaction.
“No matter how much you care for your horse, humans have very complex lives with many demands -- the horse being only one of many. Your life with your horse is maybe an hour a day. The amount of time a person spends with their horse can be limited, and what does the horse do the remaining 24 hours? If horses do not have a social life with other horses, and a rich, complex environment, you can bet that affects their overall behavior,” Dr. Foster said.
“Horses need the ability to move freely,” Dr. Foster strongly encouraged. Happy horses are free to run, roll, turn wildly, race around and kick up their heels -- not just move in a fixed way, such as lunging. All of this can play a role in a horse’s behavior.
“Horses able to move more freely are usually more physically fit for competition or riding. And mentally, they are more resilient and buffered against stressors,” Dr. Foster said. For example, think of how a barn-kept horse under saddle might react to a large owl spreading her wings to swoop from a tree, compared to a pasture-kept horse or one with intermittent turnout.
Consider these four characteristics as they relate to your own horse’s happiness. Is your horse displaying each of the four signs, or could a few changes be needed? Learn more information at ValleyVet.com to help keep your horses healthy and happy.
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