Everyone has lots of fun visiting with friends, checking out the new horses. 

The sorting, auction, and riding demonstrations continue even after the weather turns nasty... 

But eventually, all the horses get sorted out.  

Things can get pretty confusing in the sorting pen.

Once the horses have breen brought down from the mountains, they are sorted out into pens owned by various farmers.

Round-up!

Each summer, horses are turned out into summer pastures up in the mountain valleys. By the time the snow flies at the end of the season, the horses are good and ready to come back to their farms where they will be pampered during the long winter. 

Hvammur Farm

Haukur Suska-Gartharsson is our host during our stay in the north. While waiting in the barn for a truck to come and pick up the horses (that will be used during the round-up the following day), we are entertained by Haukur's talented soccer-playing dog.

Yeah - It's Cold Up Here!

James near the top of the volcano.

North of Reykjavik

On our way to the horse round-up in the north, we discover a couple of volcanoes at the side of the road. Hiking up in the howling wind, James is reminded just how much he misses the jacket he left at a farm near Hekla while interviewing one of the Mountain Kings.

Home Sweet Sod-Covered Home

The bunkhouse at Hekluhestar, a sheep farm not far from the Hekla volcano.

Gullfoss

Certainly the biggest waterfall we encounter in Iceland! Gullfoss tumbles into a gorge a mile long. Spectacular! 

Host, James Hillman

James Hillman during a break in filming.

Strokkur

Filming beside a geyser presents a challenge.














It's a testament to the sensible nature of the Icelandic Horse that they are so willing to go where their riders ask, even when that means enduring the terrifying blast and spray of Strokkur, one of the most famous geysers in Iceland.

Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir National Park

Bjork and Svanur unloading one of the horses at Thingvellir National Park. This is the place where the North American and European tectonic plates meet.

The Mighty Svanur

Next stop is the Ingolfur Hotel and Riding Centre.
Our host, SvanurThorkelsson, arranged for a day of shooting in some of Iceland's most famous locations. This is Svanur warming up one of the horses just before filming at Thingvellir National Park.

Myrdals Jokull (Glacier)

On the road to Myrdalsjokull

Long abandoned, these three ancient stone and sod barns are easily photographed from the side of the road leading to one of many glaciers. These are not far from the Myrdals Glacier in the south.

Seljalandsfoss

 

Seljalandsfoss - South Coast

After the morning round-up and a hearty lunch, the crew sets off to film some of the local sights. In Iceland, it seems, every bend in the road reveals another waterfall. This one, Seljalandsfoss, is located on the south coast of Iceland. About 40 metres high, the waterfall cascades over a cliff in front of a path that snakes along behind the falls. James has a great time exploring behind the falls while the crew sets up to film.

One of the stallions at Herridarholl

 

Round-up on Herridarholl Farm

What the world looks like from astride an Icelandic horse...

James interviews Renate Hanneman about her working farm, Herridarholl. Renate, her family, and several young farm workers from elsewhere in Europe tend to about a hundred horses, nearly three hundred sheep (the farm produces approximately five hundred lambs each year), a small herd of milk cows, and the usual complement of farm cats and dogs.

James is happy to oblige when asked if he will give Arnar, Renate's husband, a hand moving a herd of mares and foals from one pasture to another. Note James' fancy riding duds - snowmobile suits like these are standard issue when riding in blustery fall weather.

Herridarholl

After his lessons with Helena, James feels ready to visit Herridarholl, a farm not far from the famous Hekla Volcano.