Icelandic horse roulette

We set out on our first ride in Iceland with six riders and eight horses.

This caused a fair amount of confusion amongst the ranks. 

"Why so many horses?" someone asked.

I had a theory. "They haven't seen us ride yet." I said. "When I worked at the guest ranch, some people really exaggerated their riding ability. Maybe those extra horses are insurance."

About an hour into the ride, we stopped for a break, and our guide instructed me to take my saddle off Vaskur and put it on one of the "hand horses."

I assumed I was being demoted, that my riding had been found to be inadequate and as a result, I was being put on a more beginner friendly horse.

It was a humbling thought, and thankfully, an incorrect one. As it turned out, changing horses mid-ride is a feature of riding in Iceland.

Every ride at Eldhestar included at least one...

and sometimes two hand horses.

Horses were rotated at nearly every stop - from one rider to another, from ridden to led.

It didn't have anything to do with someone's riding ability or lack thereof. It's just how things were done.

Single hand horses were led on a long rein, clipped to the right side of the bit and run through the left ring.

When there were two, the second hand horse wore a halter over its bridle, and was attached to the first via a rope clipped to a surcingle.

Here's a closer look at the surcingle.

The reins were detached from the bridle and wrapped around the horse's neck.

Although only Karin rode with the hand horses, we all took turns holding them during rest stops...

and while she opened and closed gates.

The horses were clearly used to this and were mostly easy to handle. 

Every now and then, however, there was a little bit of a pile up!

I went to Iceland thinking I'd ride one - maybe two - horses. Instead, I rode eight.

And I rode all of them in all the gaits.

Sometimes it was frustrating. I often felt that as soon as started to figure out the horse I was sitting on, it was time to get on another.

At the same time, I loved the variety.

Every horse was different. 

Every horse was special.

It wasn't what I expected, but it was absolutely what I needed. I wouldn't change a single thing.