"In riding a horse, we borrow freedom" –Helen Thompson
BALDUR
Name:
Baldur is a 5-gaited Registered Icelandic. He is a riding horse and a carriage horse, who enjoys pulling a sulky.
His name means “Brave” in Icelandic. Baldur was imported from Iceland; his father is a first prize stallion in Iceland.
Baldur is the “new style” Icelandic elegant and refined.
Baldur arrived on Nantucket in August of 2006 from his home in Oklahoma. He loves children, has a bold personality, confident nature and a steady character and thinks of himself as pretty special.
Baldur “Naughty Pants” is considered to be much like “Piglet” in “Winnie the Pooh” being brave, helpful and a loyal friend.
ICELANDIC HORSE
The Icelandic Horse is a "gaited horse" which means they have two additional paces. The Tolt (running walk) is a four-beat gait where one foot is always in contact with the ground. It is a running gait as opposed to a stepping gait like the traditional walk or jumping gait like the trot or gallop. It is very comfortable for the rider, very smooth, no posting, more like sitting in a moving chair. The Skeid (flying pace) is a faster two-beat gait. The breed’s characteristic high-stepping gait is unique to the Icelandic Horse. Icelandic horses ancestors were Celtic ponies brought to Iceland in the middle ninth century. No horses are allowed to be imported into Iceland today and no horse that leaves Iceland is allowed to return to keep the breed pure. They are not ridden until the age of five years old but they live a very long time. They are strong, courageous, proud and friendly. They are sometimes quite vivacious, very willing and always curious.
Yann Arthus-Bertrand –Horses
Text: Jean-Lois Gouraud
Publisher: Artisan, A division of Workman Publishing Inc.,
New, York, NY
Icelandic Page 194
© copyright 2009 Nantucket Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc.