Pentland Hills Icelandics

26/03/2025

Safe to say everyone was happy to get into their summer fields this week 😊

06/03/2025

Sadly today we lost Lundi, Pat’s handsome black and white gelding who has spent his twilight years in the oldies field at Rogersrigg with his best friends. A peaceful end at 30 years old to a useful and active life.



He had been struggling of late with various age related problems and literally just didn’t want to get up this morning. It was obvious that the time had come to allow him to go and I feel privileged that we could do that for him without any suffering.



Lundi, sired by our little stallion Skorri and out of Pat’s speedy mare Sara, was born at North Berwick and came to us for training as a youngster. He then spent many active years at Windy Gowl climbing the Pentlands during the busy trekking times. He was a very popular ride and usually behaved himself and kept out of squabbles but on a few rare occasions he would unexpectedly head off into the gully at great speed for no apparent reason (except maybe for a bit of a laugh). Susan Dickie may have a few extra words to say about that!!

He somehow fractured his pedal bone when he was in his teens and so with his trekking days over, he went back to North Berwick for a leisurely time on the beach with Pat’s other horses. It was once they had all passed that he came back to see out the remainder of his life with his old trekking buddies.

A quiet sweet wee horse who leaves wonderful memories of happy times.

Note – the photo was taken this morning in the sunshine in his chosen place

17/02/2025

When you're just a little guy who wants to be friends but the ladies disapprove 🤣

07/01/2025

It is with great sadness I have to tell you that Eldjarn from Pentland Hills was put to sleep yesterday in the yard with Susan his one trusted owner and friend beside him. It was unexpected but very peaceful. For those that didn’t know him, he was one of the ‘oldies’ at Rogersrigg.



For some unknown reason, as happens with horses sometimes, he took colic late in the night and Paula found him early morning when putting a bale out. We got him back up to the yard to meet the vet and although his vital signs were not good he was at peace. Colic surgery for such a horse was not to be contemplated and Susan made the only correct decision for Eldjarn, heartbreaking though it was. And so sudden.



Eldjarn was a big presence wherever he went and made lots of friends (and a few enemies) throughout his life, his very best friend to the end being chum Vindsvalur. He was a very tall, sensitive dark chestnut chap born at Windy Gowl in 2000 and after training, Susan bought him and has been his life long friend and carer for the last 18 years.



He could be quite difficult to handle and he never really liked Paula or me but he would do anything for Susan and always looked after her when out riding for all those years. Others would have had problems with this big bolshy horse but he was always putty in Susan’s hands and they were able to enjoy so many years of riding into the hills and venturing further on the longer rides. When Susan bought Eldjarn I have to admit I wondered a little at the beginning if it was a good match but it turned out to be a match made in heaven thanks to Susan’s gentle ways and her experienced riding abilities.



Eldjarn couldn’t have wished for a better owner or a happier life in the same place with the same friends from birth to the end.



We will certainly miss his all powerful presence in the field as will his horse chums.

05/01/2025

02/01/2025

29/12/2024

2024 Christmas Ride & social gathering

We had a great wee ride yesterday down through the ford in West Linton & then mulled wine and xmas nibbles after.
The weather was extremely mild so there were a lot of sweaty horses and muddy people, but everyone enjoyed themselves.
Very proud of my boy, he's never seen tinsel, fairy lights, traffic or been in a large mixed group before, but he proudly led the troop with his ears (and antlers) forward (and there was only a few moments where we had 5 legs instead of 4 😉)
Pentland Hills Icelandics

23/12/2024

11/12/2024

11/12/2024

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