Set the Pace December 2018 Issue 81

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CONTENTS A Word from the Editor Warm Welcomes

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Achievements

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Brave Pants Cup Brave Pants bring Rosettes Endurance Achievements Dressage on Ice(landics) I’m going to see a Doctor… What better way to remember? Young Riders – Winter Update Art at Mill Lane Halfkey Icelandics Monthly Challenge… Introducing Tölt.Club

Maria Freestone Luan Crawford Colin Gibson Ann Savage Helena Levett Mo Hall Shona Stewart

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Winter Fun

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Christmas in Iceland Knowledge base Artists (of the Icelandic Horse) Event Organisers Trainers Articles Index Dark Days of Winter Hobby Horse Social

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What’s on

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Winter Pictures Gallery

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SPRING EDITION DEADLINE 15th February 2019 Front Cover: Lesley Dellar on the Hoofbeats Christmas Fun Ride Photo: Event to Event Photography – used with permission Back Cover: Dorothy Thomas’s Christmas xxx Photo: Nannie D’Onofrio REPRODUCTION PERMITTED WITH PERMISSION OF ARTICLE AUTHOR/PHOTOGRAPHER

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A Word from the Editor Things have moved very rapidly over the last couple of months. It’s been a really tough time with human and horse illness, personal changes to our Oakfield family (which means we are short handed), machinery breakdowns and horrible weather. We have achieved little beyond the absolutely necessary aspects of the farm maintenance we planned, such is life at times. We have undertaken four times as many events & courses this year as last and the balance between maintenance and events needs thinking about. The future looks positive though. Nick is acquiring more machinery to do some of the heavier work which will relieve me of some really heavy labour and hopefully that will get things back on track (literally – on the last day of our last course the furry visitors who undermined our track previously have done the same thing again so more stringent measures are required, thankfully no horses or people were hurt!) The school is set for a surface makeover – just to level it up, nothing fancy, but to make it more available for arena work and our ditches are in dire need of attention so a mechanical flail, a wacker plate and a second log splitter grab for the retired mini digger are all on order. Once they are in place we should be able to make some progress and we will both enjoy working with the machines rather than our hands and backs! We had a fantastic final riding weekend of 2018 to Horton Tower, a local historic monument. A great crowd and some great grins. Nick spotted this monster below and then found some great video of it on the farm for those of you who are fans of extreme farm machinery; it gives you an idea of the lovely place we live in as well.

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I have filled some more of the spare time I acquired when I was no longer required to print Sleipnir with a volunteer admin role with Tölt.Club. Over the last couple of issues and in Sleipnir I have referred to a project in the pipeline where we would be creating a searchable article archive and somewhere to store historical and future rider development data from our shows and courses. This was originally called Hestaskola and has become Tölt.Club. Shona Stewart kindly offered me space and a shop front for Set the Pace on her website which I was happy to accept. Shona has written more about her aims and aspirations for Tölt.Club later on in the magazine and I am thrilled to be working alongside her even though it meant brushing off my somewhat rusty website creation skills. It’s still a work in progress as we go to press and we hope to go live on the 1st Jan 2019. Click on one of the links (in blue) and go have a look-see. Once the website is live I will be discontinuing the Set The Pace website as it was only ever intended as a stop gap until this project was underway, the facebook page will continue as it is the original source for most of the articles people share along with the chat group. Horse wise on the farm, the youngsters are coming on well and we have two girls nearly ready for sale with a few more hours under the saddle. The two newest arrivals are doing well and are spoken for. Most of our horsey holiday visitors (four legged) have gone home and we are thinking of making Holidays Our new girls for your Horse a new service we offer at Oakfield next year. More of that once we have done our own end of year review and decided on what we want to concentrate on next year. It’s time for some fun now and in this issue we are going to share some of the best moments from the year, some amusing Icelandic related articles, some fab Christmassy horse photos and Fi has written us a Christmas story in her own inimitable style. Thank you all and have a good holiday. 4


Remember anything that is blue and underlined is a live link, click on it for more information (right click or equivalent if you want the link to open in another window on your browser). February’s magazine will be a trip down memory lane, looking at old Set the Pace magazines, sharing photos Nick has scanned through the winter (his winter evening activity while I browse the internet for Icelandic horse history or weave or felt alongside him, very companionable) and any nostalgia you would like to share. After Liz Phillips’ article in the last magazine I would like to do some more “where are they now” articles for some of the Icelandic horse community who have moved on to other things and other places. I know of quite a few so I will be contacting them myself but if you are one or you know someone who is appearing in Nick’s scanned photos, put them in touch via messenger or email or ask them for a few words on the path their life has taken since we last saw them at an Icelandic horse event.

Warm Welcomes It’s good to see the chat group continue to grow with familiar faces joining in and new people from all over the world with an interest in Icelandic horses in the UK asking to join. If you are interested in who is joining the group, anyone can look at the member’s link on the facebook page on the top left hand side. We invite everyone to add themselves to our map following the instructions on the next page or just use it to find out who is around you with an interest in Icelandic horses. If you get stuck or want me to do it for you message me with your postcode. Since the last issue, we welcome in order of joining, most recent first: Natasha Saunders, Hannah Emmerson, Gemma Jackson, Manda Corcoran, Gina Irving, Lauren Crawley-Moore, Sarah Gallopp, Camille Cailloux, Margaret Ferne, Michelle Phizacklea, Sarah Vicary, Anne Kathrine Carlsen, Sharon Duggan, Johan Häggberg, David Cooke, Stewart Miller, Angela Auker, Rhona Watson, Sami Holmes, Laura Webber, Tracey Anne, Julie Richards, Emily Corcoran, Dawn Fazackerley-King, Auður Ásbjörnsdóttir, Laura Jane, Mel Spirit, Annie Sun, Tracy Taylor, , Heather Giffin Dominique, Eva-Marie Drees-Coninx, Laura Jennings , Kate Harrison. Back to Contents 5


We maintain a community location map which you can access and if you like you can add yourself to the map: (PC, Mac & ipad only, you can view and edit on a phone but not add yourself.)    

Click here Enter your postcode in the search bar Click add to map Click on the edit icon (pencil icon) change postcode to your name, add details you want in the box below (add photos with the camera icon) click save.

You don’t need to do any more than that but if you want to change your icon from a teardrop to a horse or something more interesting you can do that by clicking the paint pot. If you get stuck, just drop me a PM and I will help you out. To open the map to add yourself or to explore click here. 6

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ACHIEVEMENTS We like to celebrate all the achievements people on the chat group share with us. Some are nationally and internationally significant; others only mean anything to the people involved. Regardless of their wider significance, it’s great to share them and celebrate them within our Icelandic horse Community, most of them are related to our horse activities but a few are significant in other ways.

Brave Pants Cup Helena has kindly allowed us to use her Brave Pants cartoon to make a Set the Pace Brave Pants Cup. Actually, it’s a personalised mug, more practical, but cup sounds more trophy like. We award a brave pants mug for each issue to the person the editorial team thinks has stepped out of their comfort zone in the bravest way. (Editorial team are Mic, Lu & Mo) You have to be in it to win it which means talking about your challenges on the chat group or your personal or group pages (the ones we belong to or are friends with). Back to one cup this time. Maria Freestone ventured into the world of TREC competition and came first, first time out. Maria will tell you that it was because she was the only one in the class but we disagree. No way of knowing how many people have entered and it is still possible to be disqualified. Not to mention the four perfect and only two failed obstacles. Read on for her version of what Brave Pants took for her. We search for “Brave Pants” in your posts as well as just taking an interest as we usually do, so tell us about your adventures. Back to Contents 7


Brave Pants bring Rosettes

Maria Freestone

After an hour and a half of scrubbing my little muck monster we were finally ready to load and travel to our first TREC competition. I always get nervous driving the box with our precious cargo inside and this time it was an hour’s drive to the venue with a late class time meaning a dark wintery return journey. To say I was nervous would be a complete understatement! Meanwhile Parker was super chilled out. He always loads first time and is fine travelling without his pal. All of a sudden, we were on our way. On arrival at the venue I ran down to look at the course layout. I nearly turned for home then. Ten obstacles. Remembering the right sequencing of the obstacles, led or ridden? All of this was overwhelming and on top of this I also had to try and work out what I had to do at each obstacle! I tacked up quickly after finding out they were running half an hour early: I’m so glad we arrived early! My super-groom daughter Mylie coaxed me to do the practice jump a few times in the outdoor arena giving me a bit of coaching and encouraging me to get to the same height as the one in the TREC arena. A quick practice of rein back which we had only been taught by our instructor three days ago before we were asked to go in. (Nice video and photos of the day here, and please note Maria scored a 10! Mo) I arrived in the arena a shaking mess. The steward allowed me to look at the course layout again but I took absolutely nothing in. The only thing I could remember was red flag on right and white on left and to go through the Finish markers. So off I went gently guided by the steward. 8


First a walk through The Corridor (10/10) then on to a terribly skinny jump. As we approached I could feel Parker saying yes I can do this whilst I was thinking no no no. We stopped at the fence due to my lack of commitment but I asked and he went forward with his front legs dropping his back through the top pole (7/10). On to the S bend which was a perfect 10 and we had lots of lovely comments about how nimble Parker is. A break into tölt on the bending cost us 3 marks then I messed up completely on neck rein and mounting. So despite Parker being perfect I circled him round the wrong obstacle on the neck rein and circled him round on the mounting. Zero points for both. Then on to a perfect neck rein before the immobility which wasn’t scored just an added option. Again perfect performance from the boy. Then the led ditch, S bend and corridor again before remembering the Finish. I was in shock as I left having had an overload of information. I fed the boy and then went back to get my notes fully expecting to have got nothing due to my two errors but there was a First rosette waiting for me. Our first together and I think my first First ever. 24 hours later I feel so proud and happy but on the night I was just overwhelmed by the whole experience. I found lovely people; a supportive atmosphere and a new challenge. All in all a great way to spend my weekend. If you’re thinking about trying TREC do it! The Icelandic horse is built for this: they’re so clever, willing and most definitely nimble. 9


Endurance Achievements #Hack 1000 Miles Challenge

Elaine Rannie has done just that and in only 7 months on her Icelandic horses. She calls them her 3 amigos. When I messaged her after she posted on the group she wrote: “Back in April 2017 Your Horse Magazine launched a new initiative “designed to inspire horse riders everywhere to saddle up and explore the British countryside. The goal? Hack 1000 miles in a year”. I first heard of this earlier this year, signed up and started my journey on the 12th April 2018. On 10th October I reached my goal! To be honest I love nothing more than spending time with the “three amigos” as my horses are affectionately known. Left to right Sara 18, Orka 8 and Moðnir 10. I am lucky that despite living in a relatively built up area, just over 8 miles from Newcastle upon Tyne, we have miles and miles of off road riding from country parks to fields to woodland trails, disused railway tracks and a beach or two! I have a couple of good friends who come and ride with me so the horses have probably done over 1500 miles between them in the same period.

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They love to get out and about whether it’s all three together, in pairs or one at a time but I have to admit I always enjoy it when we get all three out at the same time – nothing better than Icelandics together. I ride 4 or 5 times a week whatever the weather – like most of us these days I have a busy job so I find it’s great stress relief. All the troubles of the day fade away when on horseback! My favourite time of the day is early morning when the sun is rising, the birds are singing and we hardly ever see another soul. Here’s to the next 1000 miles!” Elaine wasn’t the first to complete the #Hack1000 miles challenge but she did feature on the Horse and Hounds Blog. Great to see Icelandics represented in the mainstream equine press. Lu Crawford has also been clocking up the miles and achieved her own 1000 miles recently too. Over the last couple of years Lu has ploughed a lonely furrow with her Halfkey Icelandics online challenges. The rest of us are slowly catching up and joining in, see the Halfkey Challenge article later on in the magazine. Last year Lu also added a distance challenge which she is running again for 2019. If you would like to join the Halfkey Most Miles 2019 challenge you need to get a version of the Endomondo tracking app (there is a free version), sign up and friend request (Luan Nadine Crawford) and she will add you to the challenge. Elaine and Lu also do a monthly most miles version, it’s how they track their training and progress, how do you keep track of yours? A talking topic for Tölt.Club maybe? 11


Dressage on Ice(landics)

Luan Crawford

Since the last STP I’ve been to a CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW and came 3rd. It was so exciting for me, riding an Icelandic in a traditional British Dressage competition. At the beginning of November Kings Equestrian had their Championship Show which I qualified for back in July, I had been looking forward to this so much, it was one of my aims for this year. We entered 2 Prelim competitions; the first one was a warm up class which we won with 70.68% then on to the important one! I was on fairly early in the class and there was a mounted prize giving at the end of the class, so Merkur had an hour to chill at the trailer whilst I stood nail biting watching the other tests and the results coming in. After 14 riders I was leading but a few riders from the end I was in 3rd place on 69.80%. I knew I would be in the prize giving as it was the top 8 so I nipped off to get Merkur ready hoping I would keep my placing.

We were called into the arena and lined up. The names were called out over the tannoy so I didn’t know where I was placed. I was on the edge of my saddle as I went into the arena, I was delighted we had kept our 3rd position and went forward ‘in tölt’ to collect our rosette. 12


Merkur loved the attention and the atmosphere; he was smiling. Of course we did our lap of honour in tölt and the other horses didn’t seem to notice…. Phew! Dressage has been going so well on Merkur we also went out to a local venue for their last competition this year, we won both our classes on amazing scores 77.8% and 78.1%!! , Merkur was really on top form that day! We have completed the 3 qualification shows for the Malvern riding club Winter Dressage series, at each show we have done 2 classes and collected valuable points towards the overall league score board. At the first show we came 2nd in both classes, the second show we came 3rd in both and the final show we came 4th and 1st. Merkur and I are joint 1st on the overall points score board, we held our own against the big boys! I can’t believe it! We will probably have to ride our absolute best ever to take the top place (out of the 2 of us in 1st place) at the Championship Show on the 30th December as it will be the highest placing that takes the top spot, but even reserve would be a dream come true…… I am proving to myself that I can do it. When I lost my confidence through anxiety I didn’t lose the tools in my toolbox to train properly and the knowledge to improve. Apart from the two lessons with Olivia Towers I haven’t had any help so far, but I am sure I’ll need help at some point as we climb the levels but for now I’m so pleased I’m overcoming my issues… And I have the best dressage Icey ever.

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I’m going to see a Doctor…

Colin Gibson

Was Colin’s cryptic comment on FB a few weeks ago, giving us all a moment of concern – another fall? No, he carried on; “On an early train to London to see a Doc on his day off; not a real PhD, Dr. or a real medical one and not health related, but could be a welfare issue?” Just like Colin. All was revealed later on when he posted the photo above, and yes Colin; very good to see you flew the Icey flag with your Icelandic horse tie. Colin has two Icelandic horses Flicka and Fló, mother and daughter. He rides them around the New Forest on an almost daily basis. Colin is also a Welfare Officer for the BHS, involved in both welfare cases and FATE (Friends at the end), which supports owners through the process of putting a horse to sleep so no one ever need go through it alone. Colin was presented with his award by Martin Clunes, the BHS President. One of 28 special awards to be presented in this year’s award ceremony. Well done Colin, keep up the good work and spreading the Icelandic word. Back to Contents 14


What better way to remember?

Ann Savage

The Remembrance Ride was organised by World Horse Welfare to remind people of all the animals that were lost during the war. 114 riders turned out to commemorate the 8 million horses that gave their lives in the First World War. The Fenland Icelandic riders (Harriet, Martine, Lesley and I) met up on a lovely sunny Remembrance Sunday at Elveden on the edge of Thetford forest. Lesley had purple and red poppies for us all to attach to our bridles. The route was well marked and the going was good. Thetford drains well even after rain. We enjoyed a fun ride making good use of all our gaits. As always the horses were beautifully behaved and much admired. The finish was marked with a large horse and a number of smaller ones mounted in straw bales. We were delighted to receive a medal as a memento and happy to have raised about ÂŁ70 for the charity. 15


Young Riders – Winter Update

Sandy Carson For those that don´t know me, my name is Sandy Carson, I am 22 years old, originally from Scotland and I am a student of Hólar University College, Iceland. I am enrolled in the course B.Sc. Riding and riding teaching. Hólar’s roots date back to 1106 and it has a long history of education. In July 2007 Hólar became a recognised university institution. Hólar is at the forefront of research on Icelandic horses, the majority of scientific papers focusing on the Icelandic horse include research from staff members of the Institution. The course of riding and riding teaching takes place over three years. At any one time there are around 60 students pursuing the course. The aim of the course is to produce professional horse trainers/teachers. Hólar church & main building 16


First year, round up test demonstrating trust between rider and horse

To be accepted to the course it is a requirement to sit an entrance exam in riding and to be fluent in the Icelandic language. Over these three years the focus of study is upon: horse behaviour, nutrition of the horse, pedagogy, kinesiology, exercise physiology, anatomy, psychology, research methods and high-quality riding and training. The facilities at Hólar feature a large stable with space for 189 horses, 3 indoor riding arenas, competition tracks, out riding and research facilities.

The first year increases the students’ knowledge of basic riding, feeding, and anatomy. The second year of study places a lot of focus on the training of young horses and training in general alongside research methods. In the third year you undertake your own study, study the training of both competition and breeding horses alongside increased pace instruction. There is focus on teaching over all three years. I am currently half-way through my second year of study. In September the second-year students receive two handled but otherwise untrained horses usually either 3½ or 4½ years old. We start these horses for a period of 7 weeks until the end of October. By the end of this period the horses are safe to ride at varying speeds in many different environments, have a basic understanding of the aids, can be led both behind and beside the trainer and can be led from another horse. (Pictured with Stjarna frá Syðra-Holti the horse I have been working with in the first half of my second year.) 17


After this the horses get a one-week free period after which training resumes. We then continue with one of our horses from the beginning and change another. This training period finishes mid-December by which time the horses should move in balance and steady speed, be in a constructive carriage of the top-line, have light elastic rein contact, be educated in basic dressage exercises and have begun tölt training.

Second year, training horse - Mörk frá Hólum

Since I have begun my education here in Hólar it is without doubt that both my interest and respect for my subject area has increased. For anyone that sees their future as a professional in the Icelandic horse world this is a path that I advocate endlessly. With this education you receive a depth of knowledge and experience of the Icelandic horse that is simply not available in one place anywhere else in the world.

Aidan Carson is still working hard at DK Icelandics and he said when I caught up with him this week that it’s -8! Brrrrr.

Pippa Phillips Kæti is getting a holiday just now but I’m planning on doing lots of hacking with Roo and Kæti over the winter break, and with Roo I’m having lessons with him since it’s far too dark to ride when I get home for school! Kæti is having a fantastic time just being a pony! Pippa has been making sure Kaeti is prepared In case Santa needs a hand this Christmas (turn the sound up).

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Libby & Izzy Day Over the last couple of months Orvar has been getting used to being ridden only once a week. When I get to the yard it is dark but it's all good. We have been being guinea pigs for Tölt.Club and this month we took Orvar down to Oakfield and did the Tölt.Club team test. This was lots of fun because we managed to get a nice sustainable tölt and I let mum ride Orvar, a rare event. As we are guinea pigs we even get to test out all the merch as well and I loved that too. The single test was fun because I got to show that Orvar is great at most paces and he is a brilliant horse. I also loved the group test because we get to see everybody's riding ability and how they ride different horses and I'm so thankful to Nick and Mo for this opportunity and I'm so happy we get to be the guinea pigs. Izzy

Crissie Edwards

is still recovering from her knee op where her recovery goal is 90 degree bend and at the moment she is on 82! Crissie wrote “It is heading the right way. I have been going to physio regularly which has been great, I’ve been managing to get around without the crutches quite well which is great and today was the first day that I walked without my brace or crutches which was awesome! Hopefully it won’t be too much longer till I get back in the saddle! I’ve got an appointment with my surgeon on Monday so I’ll definitely ask him how long he thinks it’ll be before I can start riding properly and take my brace off! So fingers crossed that it won’t be too much longer!” Keep up the good work Crissie and hopefully you will be back in the saddle by February. STOP PRESS: Well printer anyway – Crissie messaged me to say she had seen the surgeon and she is allowed to take the brace off – back to riding! Hip Hip Hooray (maybe that shoud be knee?) Back to Contents 19


We send huge congratulations to Robyn Philpott who successfully passed her black belt grading and is now a 1st Dan black belt in karate. Robyn is joining us at Tölt.Club to help with our young rider programme and will be one of our guinea pigs for our online Coaching training

Malte Cook continues to take on new challenges. This month it was Malte’s first careful try riding Logi in pace away from home. It’s the second time Malte has tried him and Charlotte said “I find it super cool that he (or maybe the horse) manages to correct the slight roll happening in front of me.” You can watch it here We also send our congratulations to Catriona Willoughby who not only won her Scottish Endurance Gold Pleasure award earlier in the year (see here); she graduated her MSc in Soils and Sustainability degree course.

Hairy Horse & Young People’s Camp 17-18 Feb 2019 We have made plans for our first hairy horse and Young People’s Camp in Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire, 17-18 February next year (2019). This will be an opportunity for young people 10 to 18 years old to spend time together, learning and having fun with Icelandic horses. Demos, games and Tölt practice are in the plan. Please express your interest ASAP as numbers will be limited. Contact Ann & Dave Savage. If you are under 27 (or a parent or sponsor) and are interested in telling us about your adventures with your Icelandic horse, whatever it is and wherever you are, please do get in touch. Back to Contents 20


Art at Mill Lane

Helena Levett

Introducing another of our talented Icelandic horse artists, Helena Levett. My dilemma is ALWAYS this. Do I spend time living my life, riding my fabulous horses and going out with the dogs, or do I record my experiences in my art practice? I am lucky enough to have plenty of family, friends and animals plus a very rewarding career as an artist, so inevitably that makes for a busy, interesting and sometimes frustrating life!

Here are a few of my portraits of Icelandic horses. These horses are so expressive and beautifully wild, with their extravagant manes and tails. Drawing was something I was very keen on when I was young. I did my first art commission when I was 14 and that is (ahem) quite a while ago!

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Since then there have been many animal portraits for people in pencils, pastels, charcoal, watercolours, acrylic paints and oils. I've always been quite interested in Contemporary Art so I felt I should go to Art School. Disappointingly we didn't focus much on drawing and painting skills but it opened up my mind to ideas and I enjoyed doing weird sculptures in lard and mince - but that is another story... I am lucky that I can be diverse as an artist. In an average week the commissions might be designing sympathy cards for our local vet, painting an acrylic portrait of a horse or dog, or working on another bespoke cartoon. I have an exhibition next year of more contemporary work, so more pictures need to be painted for that. These pictures are painted in a more loose abstract style with strong linear drawings and bright jewel colours. Here are some that I made of Race Horses training on the Gallops. 22


I'm currently working on a series featuring our favourite breed of horse. Always a horse-mad kid I dreamed of having a pony of my own. I was 33 when that actually happened! My kids were keen, especially my daughter, and so the horsey career started. Don't get the idea that I'm in any way a serious competitor; I love having a go at lots of things but horses are very humbling and you certainly have to find a sense of humour! To go back a bit to the Important Icelandic Horse part of my story; I had visited Iceland with two friends in 2001 on a BHS Challenge Ride. I then met a friend who had Iceys and she took me to 'see' Bruni from Mill lane; naturally I bought him! Then, with the help of another friend, backed and trained him. 23


Suddenly I was part of this wonderful warm alternative world of the Icelandic horse! Snegla joined us a few years later and between us we've had a great time including competing at some of the Icey shows and doing a bit of TREC, as well as having a stab at dressage! We’ve even done a little cross country and even show jumping but mostly it’s just hacking out with friends. My cartoons are a bit of fun which I started to do alongside my art practice. It’s amusing to be creative with body language and exaggerate expressions.... Also it is great when people supply an idea to illustrate. For more information about my work; commissions, portraits, bespoke cartoons and original paintings, you can contact me via my website (helena.levett.com), Instagram or Facebook Messenger. Some of my designs are on cards and tea towels (The A – Z of Horse) and available as prints. I am doing some special deals in January and vouchers can be purchased! Happy Christmas Everyone :-)

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Halfkey Icelandics Monthly Challenge‌Mo Hall As we mentioned earlier, Lu Crawford has been doing online challenges for several years with the help of various people, most recently Becca Hughes. As with many other things, this year has got rather busy for Lu and Becca and Lu was considering giving up the challenge. Rather than start another different challenge Set the Pace and Halfkey are joining forces. Lu helps out advising TÜlt.Club and with Set the Pace so it seems sensible to return the favour. The challenges are very varied and aimed at all levels of rider. Every month a Winner and Runner up Rosette are awarded. It will give me an opportunity to scoop great cover photos for Set The Pace and for Lu it gives her someone to bounce ideas off and help out with the admin. If you want to join in the Halfkey Monthly Challenge. Take your photo and head on over to Halfkey Icelandic Horses on Facebook and ask to join the group. 25


Introducing TĂślt.Club

Shona Stewart

Some time ago I had the notion that technology has a part to play in supporting Icelandic horse riders wherever they live and with whatever facilities they can access. I Skype and Video Conference meetings on a daily basis, I use moodle to complete courses. Why not apply this to the widely spread Icelandic horse community? While face to face coaching will always be people's first choice, there was always that huge gap after your coach has left. The next clinic may be months away and already you forgot what are you supposed to be doing with your legs, your hands? ... For me as an aspiring-to-improve leisure rider, it’s a problem. What then for our enthusiastic young riders, old riders and folk who want to be the best horseperson they can? While most of us are fortunate to have ready access to mainstream coaches, tÜlt brings even the most experienced to admit defeat, afraid they may break it, or simply not able to afford the effort required to broaden their horizon.

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It appeared to me that there was a gap and several well known Icelandic coaches have embraced the idea of online individual coaching and have joined us to offer sessions to riders of all abilities and aspirations. It’s not a new idea, other sports recognised this years ago and there is a wealth of individuals who are running online activities of many kinds all to fit around people's busy lives and facilities. Tölt.Club has taken on this well proven concept of providing on-line support across a range of coaching specialisms to riders who may otherwise be struggling to commit to regular training or progress at the speed they would like. We don’t see Tölt.Club as an alternative to face-to-face teaching but to support it, with homework if you want it. What is also crucial is that it is supportive and fun. We seeTölt.Club as a way in to more serious competition for those who want to go that far. While that is not an end goal in itself, we hope to see some of these riders attempt real time competitions or the oval track tests offered by ToltOnline available on the IHSGB website when they can access or make their own oval tracks (or use the arenas they have available). To get people started on their way we have set up a range of arena based Tölt.Club tests, some individual, some team, some gaited, some dressage, some obstacle based. Thanks to Mo at Oakfield the ideas on the back of an envelope have taken life and the beta testing of the website began at the beginning of December with some really great feedback which has informed how the site is shaping up. Our daily Tölt.Club talking topics on our Facebook page have provoked an incredible amount of interest and feedback from around the world so we have set up an International League, where we will share the results of everyone who takes part in any of our competitions. (The tongue-in-cheek first rule of Tölt.Club is that we DO talk about Tölt.Club, if you have ever watched the film Fight Club, you will know where we swiped and adapted it from – Mo). Tölt.Club will continue to evolve as we talk about the ideas of the members, work out how to make them real and we continue to add to the choice of 27


coaches and on-line coaching, competitions and community activities. The emphasis will always be on supporting the riders and the development of the coaches and will be run as a social enterprise. I look forward to welcoming you to the clubhouse in the New Year and happy tĂślting. Back to Contents

WINTER FUN 2018 Icelandic Horse Chat Group Highlights I hope you have seen the advent calendar on the Chat Group. I have been updating it every day with some of the best moments people have shared from 2018. There are a few non-UK clips that are outstanding in different ways and a few bits of Christmas silliness which I hope you will enjoy too. Thank you to everyone who has written or shared articles, videos, memes or just liked and commented on other people’s posts. It is what makes our community unique. Click here for the advent calendar. Thanks to Kate Harrison for letting us use her fabulous Christmas photo.

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2018 Icelandic Horse Chat Group Icelandic Grin Calendar Thank you again to everyone who gave permission for us to share some of the best moments from the year with the most amazing horsey and human grins. I have included some snapshots here but the whole thing is available free for you to download or I will print and post you a copy for £3.00. (Inc P&P). It’s printed on ordinary 180gsm paper apart from the covers which are 200gsm heavy glossy card. Spiral bound with a plastic spiral and a very expensive hanging hole individually punched so you can hang it up. If you would like a paper copy the paypal link is here. I will post in the same envelope as Set the Pace if you want. Please remember to put your address in the notes.

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Christmas in Iceland Iceland has some very special Christmas traditions and I could have shared pages and pages of links that I have been sent or have been shared already. I have tried mostly to choose those I found most amusing personally and unusual or ones I hadn’t seen before so thank you to everyone who sent them in and sorry if I didn’t include yours. Yule Lads – I think anyone who knows anything about an Icelandic Christmas will have come across the Yule Lads. This is a newly released and beautifully read version of the story from Iceland Naturally read by Erla Skúladóttir, a famous Icelandic Actress to celebrate Jolabokaflod – 8 minutes.

Goodreads have just published their Best Books – in case you are short of ideas for your own Jolabokaflod. Sounds heavenly. 30


The Hardest Karaoke Song in the World Mad. Icelanders are mad and they love it. Released by Inspired by Iceland last year, I missed this. Thank you for sharing – I think!

Slightly more Christmassy – amazing Ice Tölt from Naturhov, the sound recording is amazing as well, another one to turn the sound up on.

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Ann found the Yule Cat (Jólakötturinn) in Rekyavik – his story is here. 32


Six amazing things you might not have known about Icelandic Horses shared by Dorothy Sales

Many people (including Oakfield Farm) don’t send Christmas cards any more – here is ours to you – why not make one of your own on this link and donate the money you might have spent on cards to Blue Cross or another charity. 33


Or if you prefer proper silliness you can choose from Jib Jab (free to make but no longer free to share but still fun to play with) Mic Linnie and I are here

or Elf Yourself – Ours is here

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If you have a little more time on your hands and are feeling a little more sensible here are a couple of longer links. One to Kraftur on the Culture Network which offers a huge range of documentaries online for free thanks to Linda Rivad.

and the Nation documentary on Iceland thanks to Gundula Sharman.

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Between now and Christmas of course, the Olympia horse show is on TV so here is a round up of what you can find where…

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Banter in the Haunted Old Hills Barn (as overheard by Fi Pugh)

Cartoon – Helena Leigh-Levett

Helgi

Erró, Erró! Wake up, wake up now

Erró

What? Where? Groans

Helgi

Stop thrashing around. Get up. You’re in the dodgy stable, you know, the one reserved for the oldest horse, and if they think you have colic they'll send for the man with the long needle who gives you the fall down and never get up again stuff - you remember what happened to Eldur?

Erró

What? Eldur ?...oh no, Helgi, Eldur! I think he has come back.

Radius That would be fun; it would be nice not to be the only orange horse, the butt of everyone's amusing comments. He was always a laugh, and he said he was im..immola...impor.. oh I don't know, im.. something or other. It stops you falling down and not getting up when the man with the long needle comes. Maron Immortal - really, your English should be better than this after a year. You must have heard Eldur saying it often enough. He really thought he was. 37


Helgi

Well, he wasn't. And no, Radius, it wouldn't be fun. He was annoying. And Erró and I would have to share a stable again all winter. We've got to the age where we like a bit of space and privacy at night. He hasn't come back and he isn't going to.

Erró

But I saw him, Helgi. He had got his antlers on and he said he was one of Santa's little helpers, and he needed his stable back for a rest before finishing his shift. I don't want him to have his stable back, it's my stable now and it's windy and raining outside. I've waited a long time for this, and it's mine, it's mine (starts shivering)

Maron Calm down Erró, Eldur hasn't come back. The falling down stuff is really effective, and I saw what happened. Eldur fell down and was taken away. Erró

But he WAS here, he just marched through the wall into his, I mean, MY stable and said he wanted some of my advent calendar stud muffins. They're MY stud muffins from my special friend Shazza, and I'm not sharing them.

Helgi

He isn't here, Erró, we would know if he was. He was never shy, or unobtrusive. He didn't know how. Your advent calendar is over there on the wall where it is safe and as far as I can see it isn't empty, which it would be if Eldur were here.

Erró

He told me a very strange story about how he nearly drowned one Christmas Eve when he was looking for his team of reindeer. He fell down the riverbank and landed on a ledge just above the river and after he ate all the grass he could reach he couldn't get back up again, only his nose could touch the top of the bank. Maybe he drowned but then came back to life again?

Maron You mean like Xerxes’ army of immortal soldiers at Thermopylae? Every time one fell another took his place and there were thousands and thousands of them… Erró

groans again Thousands of Eldurs, I can't bear it.

Helgi

Don’t be silly Erró; there are not thousands of Eldurs, dead or not. What are you talking about, Maron? You've been listening to too much radio during your convalescence.

Maron Well, the Persian king, Xerxes, was fighting the Greeks - well they were Spartans, actually, anyway, they... 38


Helgi

Yes, yes, this is not the time for a history lesson. Erró, Eldur has told us this story before. Many times, actually, he thought it was a great joke once he'd been rescued. You know they went out to check the horses on the Ham one Christmas Eve and they couldn’t find Eldur, and searched for him for hours and hours. After a long time, just as it was getting dark, he thought he had better say something so he whinnied and they saw his nose poking over the top of the bank. I don't know why they didn't leave him there it would have saved a lot of trauma for all of us. However, they got help from one of the sheep farmers and he dug a path into the side of the bank so Eldur could clamber out again and live to annoy us for another 20 years or more. He was fine, he didn't drown, and he went off to do reindeer duty and then came back for sherry and mince pies. But now he has gone. Forever.

Erró

Helgi, maybe you would like to swap stables with me, I quite liked that one at the end when we were sharing last winter, the one that you've got now.

Helgi

I'm not sure that is such a good idea, I don't need Eldur haunting me at night with his crazy stories and demands for food, and claims of immortality. Relax, Erró, it's nearly time for your Advent Calendar to be opened again and we'll all get some nice haylage before they go to bed. For goodness sake calm down, stop sweating, and remember to look a bit old, absentminded and cuddly like you normally do so well. Put on your super cute face and be nice to your human friend.

Erró

I hope you're right. I can hear someone coming. Maybe I'll get a nice carrot as well as the mini stud muffin. They're not that big, really, but they are very good.

Radius Carrots are good. I remember Eldur telling me they keep you orange. I'm not sure you should have one Maron as you're supposed to be black. Maron If this wall wasn't between us… Helgi

Shh, they're coming. Erró, cuteness overload, quick... Back to Contents

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Knowledge base If you would like to make personal recommendations about services offered relating to the Icelandic horse, please contact me.

Artists (of the Icelandic Horse) Sarah Brunt Karen Earth Emily Hancock Helena Leigh Levett Midtgaard Maleri

Shannon Dalgaard Irene Fordyce Elisabeth Haug Mic Rushen

Event Organisers

Devon & Cornwall Icelandics (Harriet Vincent) Dragon Riders (Mic Rushen – Wales) Houlls Horses & Hounds , (Dorothy Sales - Shetland Isles) Halfkey Icelandic Horses (Lu Crawford – online so covers whole country) Ice Dragons Equestrian (Peter and Kath Heathcote) Icelandic Horses in Scotland (Lothians)-IHSGB Affiliated (Delia Marriott) Oakfield Farm – Verwood Dorset (Nick Foot- Mo Hall, Verwood, Dorset) Old Hills Icelandics (Ian & Fi Pugh- Malvern, Worcester) Ride Yorkshire South Central Icelandic Horse (Barry Laker, covers Hampshire, IOW, West Sussex, Sur Take it Isi (Gundula Sharman, Shona Savage) Tölting Angles (Dave & Ann Savage – Pinchbeck, Spalding, Lincolnshire) Tweed Icelandic Riding Club(Kirsty Carson - South Scotland / North England) Viking Raiders of the East (Karen Smith – Lincolnshire & Yorkshire) Viking Horses of Yorkshire – IHSGB Affiliated (Bethany AF)

Trainers We are looking for your recommendations for trainers that work for you. NAME AREA TYPE Mary Concannon UK Clicker Training (+R) Eva Eventually Bjorn Roar Larsen Shetland Level 3 Anni Olsen

RECOMMENDED BY Nick Foot Shona Stewart Shona Stewart Shona Stewart

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Articles Index I am not going to update this page this issue as it has all moved to https://tolt.club/library, its free and one click from here, available 24/7 and I can update it as things are suggested rather than spending hours linking here (it has been the most time consuming part of the magazine but it’s a great resource and I am not complaining, please keep them coming). The page is exactly the same as the magazine for now but it will become a searchable database with topics over the next couple of weeks as I finish off the website once I have done Set the Pace and my last felting commission for this year. From the next issue I will only be linking to the new articles I have received in Set the Pace. Here is one I will share though – a competition to win a painting of your horse which appears genuine – it closes 31st December so it will miss the opening of Tölt.Club. Back to Contents

Dark Days of Winter Hobby Horse Social Oakfield Farm 2nd March 2019

You may have seen Nick has been scanning some old memories and sharing them on the Chat group lately. If you have missed them, here is a link. For our joint birthdays we are inviting those of you who can make it to a Hobby Horse social. We need you to make or bring a costume that includes a portable horse.

The Theme was Queen… Name the songs and win my last Celebrating the Icelandic Horse 2018 book email: mohalluk@yahoo.co.uk

I hope it will be as hilarious as this one above and we can’t know until closer to the time whether the weather or land will be fit for riding. Email us if you are interested and let us know if you will need overnight accommodation. Mo & Nick 42


WHAT’S ON Please let me know of any events you are organising or attending. 18-4/1 28 31 31-1/1

Individual/Group Tuition in the UK – Sandy CarsonContact: Sandy Carson Wessex Icelandics Christmas Ride, destination tbcContact: Faye Litherland Halfkey Dec Challenge deadline - see Halfkey Icelandics for details Oakfield New Year’s Day picnic ride &NYE social Contact: Nick Foot

2019 January 1 Tölt.Club online coaching, competition and community commences 1 Sandy Carson Tölt clinic, Ingleby Hall, Lincoln Contact: Karen Smith 6 Icey Tölt clinic - Jem Adams, Chequers End, Bucks Contact: Jem Adams 12 Goal Setting for 2019 – Beth Curtis, Longstanton Contact: Lesley Dellar 12-13 Winter Tölt Series – Connegar Farm, Dorset Contact: Jem Adams 19 Judging Advice day with Fi Pugh, Norham Contact: Yvonne Archibald 25/27 Oakfield Riding Weekend & Burns Supper (Full) Contact: Nick Foot 27-28 Indoor Winter Tölt with Fi Pugh- Pinchbeck Contact: Ann Savage 28 Aidan Carson – Pace Clinic, West Tarf (1 place left) Contact: Aidan Carson 31

Deadline Tölt.Club online competitions & Halfkey January Challenge

February 1-2 Oakfield Boldness Training – 1hr sessions Contact: Mary Concannon 2-3 Bjorn Roar Larsen Clinic, TIRC Norham(full) Contact: Yvonne Archibald 8-9 Oakfield Boldness Training – 1hr sessions Contact: Mary Concannon 15-16 Oakfield Boldness Training – 1hr sessions Contact: Mary Concannon 17-18 Hairy Horses & Young People Camp, Pinchbeck Contact: Ann Savage 22-23 Oakfield Boldness Training – 1hr sessions Contact: Mary Concannon 23 Fi Pugh clinic – Rollestone Farm – Exeter (full) Contact: Maria Freestone 28 Deadline Tölt.Club online competitions & Halfkey February Challenge March 1-2 Oakfield Boldness Training – 1hr sessions 2 Dark days of winter Hobby Horse Social 3 Indoor Winter Tölt with Fi Pugh- Pinchbeck 8-9 Oakfield Boldness Training – 1hr sessions

Contact: Mary Concannon Contact: Nick Foot Contact: Ann Savage Contact: Mary Concannon 43


15-16 Oakfield Boldness Training – 1hr sessions 22-23 Oakfield Boldness Training – 1hr sessions 23 Rider Confidence Clinic – Faye Lowe, Over

Contact: Mary Concannon Contact: Mary Concannon Contact: Lesley Dellar

April 13-14 20-21 20-22 27-28

Oakfield Oval Track Beginner/Improver/confidence Contact: Mic Rushen Easter Eggstravaganza, Pinchbeck, Lincs Contact: Fi Pugh Oakfield Clicker Clinic, Mary Concannon Contact: Nick Foot Oakfield Improvers Oval Track Preparation W/e Contact: Nick Foot

May 1 3 3 4-5 18-19

Day of the Icelandic Horse Photo Competition Results Contact: Mo Hall Oakfield Oval Track Familiarisation from 1pm Contact: Nick Foot Oakfield Judges Q & A plus shared takeaway (6pm) Contact: Nick Foot Oakfield Spring Show Contact: Nick Foot Have-a-go show Devon with Mic Rushen Contact: Debbie

June 8-10 Oakfield Clicker Clinic, Mary Concannon Contact: Nick Foot 14-16 IHSGB British Championships, Connegar Farm, DorsetContact: IHSGB Sport July 27/28 Icelandic Horse camp Ingleby Hall Livery

Contact: Rebekah Spowage

August 24/26 Adult pony club camp Ingleby Hall Livery

Contact: Rebekah Spowage

September 13 Oakfield Oval Track Familiarisation from 1pm 13 Oakfield Judges Q & A plus shared takeaway (6pm) 14-15 Oakfield September Show

Contact: Nick Foot Contact: Nick Foot Contact: Nick Foot

October 5-7 Oakfield Clicker Clinic, Mary Concannon

Contact: Nick Foot

November 2-4 Oakfield Clicker Clinic, Mary Concannon

Contact: Nick Foot

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Winter Pictures Gallery

Thank you to everyone who sent your pictures in for Set the Pace. I have included some of them in the electronic version but have had to limit it to the paper version (12 printed pages-48 electronic pages) as this is the weight limit for normal postage. Above: Lu Crawford and BjĂśrt Right: Katarina Ă–stborn& Alk

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A wonderful Christmas hug in Iceland – Ann Savage Back Cover: Solva Babies – Mic Rushen Mey painted by Nannie d’Onofrio – Dorothy Thomas 47


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