The Icelandic Horse

I'm wearing waterproof clothing, but unfortunately my rain pants have an elastic cuff right above my boot top. The water drains off my coat onto my pant legs and then right into my boots.

"We get to the vet check in under three hours, because the rain and mud don't slow the surefooted, old pony down. If anything, he goes faster, because the rain keeps his body cool.

"The vet check is miserable. Rem dives into his feed and stays warm under the blanket I sent out to the vet check in our crew bag. But I am wet and freezing. Just as I climb back in the saddle, it starts to rain even harder. Somebody tells me they heard on the radio that they are having flash floods all over Utah and Arizona. We don't have this problem, because we are up above everything else at 8,000 feet so the water drains off into the canyon.

"Rem moves out really well through the puddles and mud and rain. I think once again how I could never get through country and weather like this without him. I dream about a hot shower and dry clothes and see no reason to tarry. I'm glad I saw the canyon yesterday, because I sure can't see anything today through my wet glasses and all the rain. We get back to camp in just a few hours and actually finish in (by far) our fastest time for a 50-miler this year. Remington is totally sound at our completion vet check.

"I am so cold at the finish that Willie has to take off the tack and put a blanket on Rem, because my fingers are too stiff to work the buckles. I gobble up some nuts, take a short nap, and jump in the shower.

"Rem now has 9,995 cumulative miles from endurance rides of 50 or 100 miles in a day. We'll ride out again tomorrow to reach 10,000 miles but at least it won't be raining as much, according to the forecast."

The following day, John and Remington rode into the record books.

Shopping Savvy

Icelandic Horses come in a rainbow of colors and patterns, and are generally long-lived, athletic companions, with kind and generous temperaments. The USIHC offers these suggestions to those interested in buying an Icelandic:

• Be honest about your goals and ability to find the right partner. To learn more about the breed, attend Icelandic Horse demonstrations, seek out breeders and owners, and check out the USIHC's informative brochures and videos.

• Keep in mind that Icelandics are slow to mature, so shouldn't be started under saddle until they're approximately 4 years old.

• Try out the horse in a controlled situation, such as an arena, before heading onto trails.

• Take the horse on several trail rides in an environment similar to what you'll encounter at home.

• Question the seller about the horse's health history. You may wish to have a veterinarian perform a prepurchase exam.

• Make certain your tack fits and doesn't impede the horse's gaits. Specially made Icelandic tack is English-style, and placed a little farther back off the shoulder than normal. This allows for greater freedom of movement. Usually, Icelandics are ridden with a simple snaffle bit.

• Then, welcome to the Icelandic Horse family!

Honi Roberts is a freelance writer and horsewoman based in Washington State. She's the co-author of Breed For Success: The Horseman's Guide to Producing Healthy Foals (The Lyons Press; www.lyonspress.com).