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Published: June 17th 2015
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I wake to a new day in Iceland and find that the promised sunshine prompting my booking of an Icelandic horse trek was nowhere to be seen. Instead there are soft, fat, fluffy snow flakes dusting the pavements and decorating the pine trees outside my hostel. I have a lovely lazy morning catching up on blogging, reading, snoozing and after a quick trip to the Bonus supermarket - yes, finally a shop is open! - some treats to trough on.
My lift to the stables arrives and I find it is the owner, a lovely lady in the coolest jumper/cardigan/coat I've ever seen. It is twisted over making a kind of snood, cowl cloak effect - brilliant design effort and something she just chucks on to get from house to car (I asked her!). When we arrive at the farm/guesthouse I find out I'm the only booking but will be accompanied by one of their new interns who is learning the ropes along with my guide for the trek. I am kitted out in a full body suit like the ones we had on the whale watching trip so I know I'll be toasty warm despite the falling snow. I
head over to the stables and meet my horse, a black beastie with a massive fluffed up main that seems de rigueur for all self respecting Icelandic horses. I'm a bit nervous around horses ever since being thrown off one when in Argentina involving a trip to the local hospital but once up in the saddle feel a little better and my basic horse riding knowledge is remembered as the three of us set off out of the farm and into the snow storm.
The wind has picked up and it's actually pretty wild weather, stinging cold snow hitting my face down one side - the only part exposed to the elements. I'm loving it. The whole experience gives an incredible insight into the harshness of life for the settlers whose only means of transport was on foot or riding a horse. I feel I'm miles from anywhere, out in the wilds and totally reliant on the toughness and strength of the sturdy horse I'm riding to get me through the storm. We have a quick session of trotting and I get to feel the weird gait of these unique horses. It's a much smoother ride. I'm not sure
I totally get the whole feel of it as we don't get up to canter, the horses being pretty reluctant in this weather. We have to make sure we are doing it on the way OUT as apparently they would just bolt to home if we tried it on the way BACK so I'm told.
All too soon the farm house comes back into view through the blizzard and my amazing Icelandic horse riding experience comes to an end. A few photos with my horse and I go inside to warm up with a lovely hot chocolate and some birthday cake. It's the owner's daughter's birthday and they are kind enough to include me in their little celebration. She gets a new riding helmet as a present - riding is obviously the family thing. With a quick twist the owner then flings on her fabulous cardigan coat and we get back in her car and she drives me back to my hostel.
I cosy up in my lovely little room and check out the aurora forecast for the next few days - just in case. Obviously it's no good in Akureyri with a snow storm, but Wednesday is
looking brilliant for Reykjavik so I book my second attempt with the company I'd been out with previously - free if you don't get to see the northern lights. Hopefully I'll be lucky this time. I won't find out if the trip is actually on until the day, so fingers crossed.
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