Icelandic Horse Crossing the Creek

This is Cookie, 11 year old Icelandic Horse mare, down at the river. We were doing a lead-line trail ride. Going across the first time, we took off our shoes and walked across. But coming back to cross the creek again, I decided to get on and ride across and up the embankment (supposedly to not get my shoes wet, but I really wanted a chance to ride :-)). She had to climb down the hill, over the rocks, and into the water, and then get lined up to a large rock so that I could get on bareback. She had only her halter and lead rope on her head (we had forgotten reins, so a light dog lead was attached to the top rings of the halter).

If you like Icelandic Horses and want to ride naturally, join our email discussion group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/icehorses

River Lead-line Ride on Icelandic Horse

These ear gnats are terrible! It's odd, tho, that they only go to one of the Icelandic Horses and not the other!

THE WORTH OF A SMILE

The thing that goes the farthest
Towards making life worth while,
Which costs the least and counts the most,
Is just a pleasant smile.
The smile that bubbles from a heart
That loves its fellow men,
Will drive away the clouds of gloom
And coax the sun again,
It is full of worth, and goodness too,
With many kindness blent;
It is worth a million dollars
And it doesn't cost a cent.

There is no room for sadness
When we see a cheery smile,
It always has the same good looks,
It's never out of style.
It nerves us on to try again
When failure makes us blue,
The dimples of encouragement
Are good for me and you.
It pays a higher interest
For it is sincerely lent;
It is worth a million dollars
And doesn't cost a cent.

A smile comes very easy,
You can wrinkle up with cheer
A hundred times before you
Can squeeze out a soggy tear.
It ripples out moreover
To the heart-strings that will tug,
And always leaves an echo
That is very like a hug;
So smile away, folks understand
What by a smile is meant;
It is worth a million dollars
And doesn't cost a cent.

Anon

Charm, Icelandic Horse, goes for a walk. She is not yet under a rider, but gets exposure to places she will eventually be ridden.

Charm, Icelandic Horse, Smiles

Click to Play

Charm is learning to smile, with clicker training.