Two riders from Mad River Valley Icelandic Horses, a horse care and training facility in Warren, competed in Tunbridge at Solheimar Farm last weekend. It was a USIHC (United States Icelandic Horse Congress) sanctioned show, which means it took place on a 200-meter track that meets USIHC regulations and used a FEIF-certified sports judge. In this case the judge was Alex Dannenman, who flew in from Florida to judge. Stable owner Jess Haynsworth competed in the highest available level of Icelandic Sport, the open division, which is comprised of two events, Open Four Gait and Open Tölt. She tied for second place in Open Four Gait and won the Open Tölt on her gelding, Vigri frá Vallanesi, who she raised and trained. She then won the Four Gait Combination prize for having the highest average score in the division. Arianna DeForge, Warren, competed just a few days after her ninth birthday. This was only her second competition and her first time riding independently on the track (off a lead line). She presented the mare Spönn frá Efri-Rauðalæk beautifully in all gaits and took home a trophy of her own. This was the first USIHC-sanctioned sport competition in Vermont in several years.
Riders from Mad River Valley Icelandic Horses compete in Tunbridge
