IHBRANZ participated in Equidays 2011 to promote Icelandic horses in New Zealand. Equidays is the newest equine showcase and the 1st event of this kind in the country. It has the ambition to become New Zealand’s ultimate equine industry event. It took place from 18 to 20 November at the Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, about 100 km from where we live.
After several years of designing, digging, fencing, some more digging and finally spreading pumice to make the trails soft and comfortable for the horses, we are happy and proud to announce that we have finished the riding trail project! We now have 4 km of riding trails throughout the farm which allow for both experiencing riding and enjoying the farm.
The breeding season has begun and Traustur will be used in hand breeding this year. He is a responsive and friendly stallion, but as he has not been broken in yet and lived most of the time comparatively indepent from humans as the leader of the bachelor herd, his manners needed a brief brush-up. Therefore Traustur recently attended a refreshment session in respect and good behaviour. The training was given by equine specialist Vanessa Randell.
The team at Neđri Bakki has become exclusive dealer of the Icelandic Hrímnir saddles and tack in NZ. We are excited about the prospect of providing riders in NZ with different models of Hrímnir products. We have imported the first saddles and will be able to show them and pass them for test riding to interested potential clients.
Another great foaling season is over for Neđri Bakki! In November 2010 four new foals were born, two fillies and two colts, all sired by Þótti frá Wetsinghe from the Skógarrönd Stud.
More than 100 people attended our first Open Day arrangement in the end of February 2010, organized in collaboration with Skógarrönd. We had all our horses, including this year's foals, on the paddocks around the training facilities, exhibition of training material and tack for Icelandic horses, general information about the horses and about IHBRANZ (Icelandic Horses Breeders and Riders Association).
We had an awesome foaling season! We welcomed six foals: four fillies and two colts. Four of them are painted. All our six foals are sired by Gneisti von Roetgen, from the Vinbrux Stud.
Our horses have been given quite much attention recently. The international magazine for Icelandic horses, Eiđfaxi, published an article about Neđri Bakki in its 2008, no. 8 issue. 4 pages were devoted to our stud and to Icelandic horses in New Zealand. The article also reported on the importance of NZ joining FEIF. We also featured 2 of our horses, Asti and Glaisir, at the very popular Breakfast program on NZ TV1. The coverage can be seen at http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/breakfast-friday-march-27-2591548/video?vid=2591767
We have bought 2 new horses: Rán from Lukka, a 3-year old mare and Hnoss from Lukka, a 8-year old gelding. This brings our current stock to 16 horses. Hnoss has been with us for the last 2 years, so, for him it is “business as usual”. Rán (the name means “sea goddess) has integrated extremely well into the herd. We have also renamed Hnoss to Hnaggur. Hnaggur means “little rock”. The reason is that Hnoss is actually a name for a mare meaning “gem”. We kept the stone-rock metaphor and we hope Hnaggur will like his new name.
Visiting stallion for the 09 breeding season
Wednesday, 08 April 2009
For this breading season we have leased Gneisti von Roetgen, one of the three stallions belonging to Vindholar Southern Icelandic. Gneisti is off Dreyri von Roetgen and Dagskjóna von Roetgen. His pedigree includes several strong bloodlines as Orri frá Þúfu and Galsi frá Sauðárkróki. He is a 5-gaited red Dun/dark pinto
Alexia has attended the Icelandic Horses Youth Workshop arranged for IHBRANZ by the Vinbrux family at Vindholar Southern Icelandic. This was an exciting 2-day arrangement with training, a competition and a lot of farm fun. 6 kids at the age from 8 to 13 attended and all left with heaps of new knowledge and great memories. Alexia came 3rd in the final competition.
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