Page 18 - 2000 ICELAND

there is no wildlife at all. The only mammal native to Iceland is the Arctic
Fox and he is wise enough NOT to live in these parts; besides there would be

nothing for him to eat.

We stopped for a picnic at a summer campsite
with toilets and a dorm type building. It was a

very primitive place and we were relieved that
this was not our stop for the night. Drove on

after lunch through more of the same until we

came to the “swimming pool” – a very tiny hot
spring in a very small thermal area with much

bubbling and several spitting “hissers” but no geysers. Way too many flies
in the interior for comfort. A few of our group were brave or brazen

enough to strip down and put on bathing suits and plunge in for a dip, but
we just waited for them and swatted flies.

ICELANDIC HORSES

Next goal was the small town of Skagafjordur famed for its horse farms and

horseback riding demonstrations with the Icelandic horse. What wonderful

little animals they are too. Such sweet and intelligent faces, such stolid and
solid little bodies with full manes and tails and hides of many colors from

black to white with chestnuts, bays, palominos, and every shades in
between. This little fellow is a direct descendant of the Viking horses

brought over 1,l00 years ago.

He is virtually unchanged because no other horse has ever been allowed on
the island. Even today, if an Icelandic horse is shipped overseas for a show

or any other purpose, he is never permitted to return to Iceland. With such

restrictions, the breed is kept pure and alien equine diseases and parasites
are never found among these horses. His diminutive build tempts outsiders

to call him a “pony” because he is about Shetland size, but the horse-loving
Icelanders bridle at that terminology and quickly correct your terminology.