Horse Round Up

Introduction
Iceland Shorts Iceland
Imagine free and spirited horses rushing down from their highland summer pastures to be returned to their owners. Mares and their foals, young horses and geldings make their way through rough territory, not really willing to give up their freedom yet before winter returns once again. The ancient tradition of rounding up horses is only kept alive in the North of Iceland.
Join the farmers in this great autumn adventure. Ride along when they drive the herd, sort the horses and celebrate the safe return of horses and herders. The varied terrain includes the highland moors, green valleys just putting on their autumn coat of burning red and yellow, deep blue lakes and rivers and Kolugljúfur gorge where a troll woman is reputed to have lived in the old days.
When this task is complete the locals celebrate with a special round-up dance or “réttardansleikur”. We are of course more than welcome to join in the fun. The next day the horses get sorted. Experience the excitement of horses and men when the horses and foals are selected from the herd and returned to their rightful owners.

When you participate in the Round Ups you are experiencing the Real Thing! You will be one of the group to herd and sort the animals. Of course that means long hours outside in sometimes cold weather. Iceland in autumn has many colours and types of weather. Anticipate to be in golden sunshine one moment and to ride in rain and even sleet during the next. We therefore recommend to dress well during these tours, to bring long woolen underwear and lots of woolen socks and gloves. It is also good to bring some "quick energy supplier" like chocolate. A warm rider is a happy rider!

Skrapatungurétt Round Up:
From the Vatnsdalur area we ride through beautiful valleys and mountains to Laxárdalur valley. Here we team up with the Icelanders and help round up the horses and drive them down from the mountains to Skrapatungurétt communal corral.

Víðidalstungurétt Round Up:
From Hvammur Farm in the North we follow good riding tracks until we meet the Icelanders who have been gathering horses already for some days. We join them and help driving the herd down to the Víðidalstungurétt corral. When this task has been fulfilled the locals celebrate the successful round-ups with a ball “réttardansleikur” and we are welcome to join in the fun. The next day the horses get sorted. Experience the excitement of horses and men when the horses and foals are selected from the herd and returned to their rightful owners.
 
Laufskálarétt Round Up:
It is one of the most famous round ups in Iceland. It combine riding with a free running herd which is an amazing experience in the beautiful northwestern countryside.

Accomodation

Accommodations
These are stationary rides so nights will be spent at the same accommodation throughout the trips.

Description
All the Horse Round-ups include accommodation at Hvammur Farm, in the beautiful Vatnsdalur Valley. The farmhouse was renovated 4 years ago and has a hot tub in the garden with a view over the river. There are 6 dormitory style bedrooms (2-4 beds per room) that can accommodate up to 20 guests. Facilities are shared and include 3 washrooms and 3 showers. There is no Wi-Fi connection but cellphone coverage is usually available.

Room Occupancy
Single room are not available on this trip.


Meals
During the ride full board is provided.

The menu consists of a large breakfast and traditional Icelandic meals (fish or lamb).
All riders make their own packed lunch from the breakfast table

Dietary Restrictions
Vegetarian meals are available if requested when booking.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Riding Experience
This tour is a great riding experience that is suitable for intermediate riders. You need to be comfortable and in control at all paces, have a firm seat, and feel comfortable riding for up to 7 hours per day. Riders are expected to ride regularly and be capable of handling horses in an open country. Riding days can be as long as up to 35 km in the saddle so you should be in good physical condition and have a basic knowledge of horsemanship. You will get a thorough introduction into the gaits of the Icelandic horse and feel the Tölt, the extremely soft traveling gate of the Icelandic horse.

Riding Gear – Disinfect!
Riding gear (riding trousers, jackets, etc.) needs to be washed (40°C) or dry cleaned. Items which cannot be washed or dry cleaned (riding boots, riding hats) need to disinfected at least 5 days prior to arriving in Iceland. The Icelandic Veterinary Authority recommends the broad-spectrum disinfectant Virkon S for disinfection. Used riding gloves, whips, saddles, bridles, chaps and other used leather gear may not be brought into the country.
Please understand that these precautions are necessary because there are no contagious animal diseases in Iceland. Horses are not vaccinated and are therefore susceptible to infectious agents from abroad. Please help us to protect Iceland’s fragile nature!
We provide saddle bags, rain wear and safety helmet.

Tack & Riding Style
The tack used for Icelandic horses is slightly different then the tack ordinarily used for other breeds.
The saddle is built close to a dressage saddle and has a relatively flat seat. Saddles come with plain or quilted seats. On longer rides, a crupper helps keeping the saddle in place. Riding style used on Icelandic horses is close to English riding style, but stirrups are worn long.
Bits used are mostly simple snaffles. Bridles have a detachable noseband and clip on reins.

The Farmers
The real connoisseurs of the local terrain and history. We make sure that each tour has its own charm and is organized by the local expert, the farmer, and his family. They use their own horses and ride through the part of the country they know so well.
Our farmers have over 30 years of experience in leading riding groups through Iceland.

Herd of Horses
On this ride, you will be riding several days (except for two days) with a free running herd of horses. Herding along free running horses is the traditional way of travelling in Iceland, since horses are changed at least once a day on longer tours. You get to ride a variety of horses. 

Horses
The Icelandic horse is best known for its four-beat smooth gait, the “tölt”, which is very comfortable for the rider, especially on a longer tour.  Riding an Icelandic horse in its native habitat land is an authentic riding experience. The horses are especially chosen for this trip and are suited even for riders who have not had much riding experience. 

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary: Skrapatungurétt Horse Round-Up - subject to changes

Day 1 (Thursday): Arrival & Introductory Ride
Pick up between 07:30 - 08:30 am from pick up points in Reykjavik (www.busstop.is). Please be ready at the earliest pick up time and be ready in your riding clothes. Transfer by bus to Hvammur Farm, where we meet horses and guides. On our way to the north we visit a factory outlet for woollen goods.
We start our ride in Vatnsdalur valley, a beautiful valley that is the setting of the Vatnsdæla-Saga. We ride on the eastern side of Vatnsdalur valley, past Hvammsfoss waterfall, surrounded by impressive basalt columns. The horses rest close to Stóra - Giljá Farm and we return to Hvammur Farm, home of our host Haukur, for our overnight stay.
Riding approx. 20 km
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hvammur Farm

Day 2 (Friday): Stóra-Giljá Farm to Björnsólfsstaðir Farm
After rejoing with our horses, we start our ride along the shore of Lake Húnavatn, following the expensive salmon fishing river Laxá á Ásumm on our way to Blönduós village. Here, we cross the glacier fed river Blanda on a bridge and continue to Björnsólfsstaðir Farm in Langadalur valley. This farm belongs to Haukur’s grandfather who is known for his storytelling and warm personality.
Riding approx. 30 km
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hvammur Farm

Day 3 (Saturday): Gathering horses in Skrapatungurétt
We meet up with our horses again at Farm Strjúgsstaðir. Today we meet the farmers coming down from the mountains where they already spent some time gathering the horses in their summer pastures. Hundreds of horses are coming down from the highlands and we participate in herding them to the round up place: Skrapatungurétt. Join in the singing of the farmers, celebrating this great event of the fall during this long riding day.
Riding approx. 45 km
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hvammur Farm

Optional (not included in the tour price):
"Stóðréttardansleikur" dance at Blönduós, where everybody relaxes after the excitement of the day and celebrates yet another successful round up.

Day 4 (Sunday): Sorting of the horses and driving the herds to their home pastures
Our day starts at the round up place Skrapatungurétt where horses are sorted out. Experience the excitement and view beautiful horses while joining in this great event. When the horses are sorted, we participate in returning some of them to their meadows at their home farms. Dinner at Hvammur Farm and time to share our personal experience on this riding adventure with our fellow riders.
Riding approx. 25 km
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hvammur Farm

Day 5 (Monday): Departure
Departure from the North and return to Reykjavík. Approx. arrival in Reykjavik for 1:00pm.
Meals included: Breakfast



Sample Itinerary: Víðidalstungurétt Horse Round-Up - subject to changes

Day 1 (Wednesday): Arrival & Introductory Ride
Pick up between 07:30 – 08:30 am from pick up points in Reykjavik (www.busstop.is). Please be ready in your riding clothes. Transfer by bus from Reykjavík to Hvammur Farm, where we meet horses and guides. We start our ride through Vatnsdalur valley, a beautiful valley that is the setting of the Vatnsdæla-Saga. We ride along the banks of River Vatnsdalsá before crossing over to the western side of the valley. Our ride ends at Sveinsstaðir Farm and we return to Hvammur Farm for our overnight stay.
Riding approx. 25 km
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hvammur Farm

Day 2 (Thursday): Sveinsstaðir Farm to Dæli Farm 
This long and exciting riding day. We go alongside the Hóp lagoon and across the Gljúfurá River, through the friendly countryside of Vestur-Hóp and into the beautiful valley Víðidalur. We follow Víðidalsá River to Dæli Farm where we will leave the horses. We return to Hvammur farm for our overnight stay. The outdoor hot tub is waiting, as well as a hearty dinner.
Riding approx. 40 km
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hvammur Farm

Day 3 (Friday): Gathering the horses at Víðidalstungheiði
Today, we ascend towards the highland plateau (Víðidalstunguheiði) and meet the horses coming down from their pastures into the highlands. We enjoy a warm lunch at a mountain shelter before we join the farmers in driving the herd down from the mountains. Before ending our ride at Dæli Farm we stop at Kolugili Farm for refreshments.
Riding approx. 32 km (8-9 hours including lunch and coffee breaks)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hvammur Farm

Day 4 (Saturday): Víðidalstungurétt Horse Round Up
Our day starts at the round up place, Víðidalstungurétt, where horses are sorted out. An auction is held right on the spot and we can join the farmers in their joyful singing, celebrating the return of their horses.
In the afternoon, we join up with our horses close to Borgarvirki and ride towards Lake Hóp. Feel the excitement of the horses as they reach the open plain. Our trail leads us right across Lake Hóp, Iceland’s fifth biggest lake, on a safe track across the water. We ride past Thingeyrar, a place of great historic importance and into Vatnsdalur valley. It is time to say goodbye to the horses.
Riding approx. 30 km
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hvammur Farm

Optional (not included in the tour price):
"Stóðréttardansleikur" dance at Víðihlíð, where everybody relaxes after the excitement of the day and celebrates yet another successful round up.

Day 5 (Sunday): Departure
Departure from the North and return to Reykjavík. Approx. arrival at Reykjavik for 2:00pm.
Meals included: Breakfast

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Sample Itinerary: Laufskálarétt Horse Round-Up - subject to changes

Day 1 (Thursday): Arrival & Introductory Ride
Pick up between 07:30 – 08:30 am from pick up points in Reykjavik (www.busstop.is). Please be ready in your riding clothes. Transfer by bus from Reykjavík to Hvammur Farm, where we meet horses and guides.
On this exciting day, we will ride by Lake Hóp, in a very beautiful area. We will pass the place where the dramatic story of the last execution in Iceland took place and was made famous in the bestseller book “Burial rights”. We cross the rivers Gljúfurá and Víðidalsá on our way to our friends' farm Stóra Borg where we leave the horses for the night.
On our way back home, we will visit Borgarvirki, an old basaltic cliff which was used as a fortification by Vikings.
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hvammur Farm

Day 2 (Friday): Lake Hóp crossing
Today our path leads us to the cliffs of Nesbjörg and to a place called Vaðhvammur. This is where we enter the lake Hóp to cross it. It is an extraordinary experience to glide through the biggest lake of Iceland on the back of a horse. The horses are very happy running in the shallow water with the tight sand underneath. For sure one of the most special horse tracks in Iceland.
The horses then rest on the fields of Þingeyrar farm while we go together to the horse show in Skagafjörður. The locals and special guests entertain us by showing their best horses for competition and breeding as well as singing and having fun.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hvammur Farm

Day 3 (Saturday): Round Up
Now it is time for the round up action at Laufskálarétt in Skagafjörður, close to the Hólar the University of horsemanship. When we arrive, we saddle up and ride with the farmers to witness the free running horses being gathered from their summer pastures in the beautiful mountain area and the deserted valley Kolbeinsdalur.
We visit Laufskálarétt (the round up) where the mares, foals and youngsters are sorted by their owners and brought home to the farms for the winter. The roundup is a festival for the farmer and their families as well as the many guests that visit the event. Some of the best breeding farms of Iceland have their horses at Laufskálarétt and some are offering horses for sale. Tonight, we enjoy the evening together with great traditional lamb meat, stories and singing.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hvammur Farm

Day 4 (Sunday): Ride to Hvammur Farm
Today, we will meet our horses at Þingeyrar and ride home to Hvammur farm with our herd, through the hills of Vatnsdalur. Perhaps we will make a stop by our friend Dóra who is an artist on the farm Vatnsdalshólar.
We cross the river Vatnsdalsá and enjoy the ride on our happy horses on the riverbanks.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hvammur Farm

Day 5 (Monday): Departure
Departure from Hvammur after breakfast. Drop off in Reykjavík at BSÍ. Arrival Approx. 14 in Reykjavík.

Rates and Dates for Horse Round Up

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Keflavik Airport
Airport: Keflavik Airport
Transfer: From Keflavik airport included

Climate:
                                            Blönduós area