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What are your stallion’s bloodlines?
What in your opinion are the major positive and negative characteristics of those bloodlines?
Ómur has an impressive pedigree. His mother’s lineage includes Honor stallion Ofeigur fra Fugumýri. His mother is a well known mare with a talent score of 8.64 and three of his four grandparents are Honor Prize for offspring. His pedigree can be viewed on his website. I am not an expert on Icelandic bloodlines but clearly his pedigree offers excellence in talent and conformation. Many of Ómur’s siblings are first prize stallions and mares. I would have to do my own research into the “negative” qualities of his bloodlines.
What do you think the breeder’s goal was when producing him?
Do you think that goal was attained?
Looking at the high talent scores of Ómur’s parents and grandparents it seems likely that the breeder’s goals are in producing horses with talent in gait and conformation. Although I am speculating, I believe the breeder is also committed to producing horses with good character and disposition. I know that both Ómur and his brother, the late Höldur frá Brún who had been living in New Mexico, are well known for their incredible calm nature and easy handling. Ómur’s sister Ólga frá Mödrufelli achieved first prize as a four year old and his half brother HIjómur frá Brún (whose father was the late Höldur frá Brún) received an 8.5 for talent as a four year old. Another half brother of his Ódur frá Brún received an 8.9 for talent and his half brother Pröstur frá Innri Skeljabrekku is currently the highest scoring of both talent and great character.
What made you choose his bloodlines and how do his bloodlines fit your breeding program?
Ómur’s bloodlines are solid and well respected. I purchased Ómur for his incredible character, talent in gaits and especially for his good fit for the American Market. His bloodlines are important of course and were an easy “choose” as they are well proven.
How do you think his bloodlines will further the breeding of Icelandic horses in North America?
Ómur’s line again offers America a “proven” line of excellence. Not only is his grandfather one of the relatively few Honor- or Elite-stallions but his grandparents are exceptional too (for example his grandmother Hekla scores 8.7 for talent!)
What bloodlines would you suggest bringing to him and what bloodlines would you not suggest bringing to him?
The only bloodlines I would discourage are those that match his or are too close, meaning I do not believe in “Cross Breeding” through too similar bloodlines. Ómur is five-gaited and a very easy well-mannered stallion. He would be great for mares who are four-gaited, or for a mare owner looking for great gaits and a calm disposition.
Describe the positive and negative aspects of your stallion’s character?
I had a hard time finding negative aspects but I imagine that seems biased! Ómur gives and gives, maybe you could find this negative in some ways as you need to make sure you don’t push him beyond fair limits. He is also very sensitive to pleasing you, - this means his handlers and trainers need to be aware that he always wants to please and gets “worried” if people are rough for example. The positives of his character are evident at first meeting. He is brave, willing, calm, and a real gentlemen. When I am riding him out on the trail I frequently have to tell people to see for themselves when they don’t believe he is a stallion! Ómur will give 100% whether this is in the show ring or out on a mountain trail. He is sweet and calm but can go into turbo or flashy show mode in a second.
Can he be ridden by all levels of riders or does he require a rider with some experience?
I met Ómur when a group of folks went with Sigrun Brynjarsdóttir on a trek in Iceland last summer. One thing we all got to experience was riding a first prize stallion. All of us got a chance to ride Ómur including riders who were beginners and even those who were not confident riders he was wonderful with every rider. I allow friends with very little horse experience to ride him in an arena or more controlled environment. Even on the trail, a less experienced rider can handle him.
Who would you recommend and not recommend riding your stallion?
Well accidents can happen with even the calmest horse and let’s face reality there are always liability issues. In light of this I don’t recommend fearful riders ride any horse they are not totally comfortable with or don’t know. I also don’t recommend or even allow a rider who is rough or uses harsh discipline – Ómur doesn’t need or deserve that kind of handling.
What type of rider would most enjoy riding your stallion? What type of rider does he enjoy best?
I think any rider would enjoy this stallion. Especially those who never ridden a competition horse or a horse with high action and smooth gaits. It is a new treat for me to ride such a horse and it has really been a pleasure.
What is your stallions’ first choice of gait under saddle? What gait does he choose for himself in the pasture?
Ómur is a natural tölter and seems to prefer his gait. We have been working really hard on trot, as this was his lowest score.
What is his strongest gait and what is his weakest gait?
His tölt and pace are incredible but his highest score was 9.5 for walk. His weakest gait is trot.
Is his tölt easy enough for a novice rider to find and ride?
Ómur’s tölt is easy and fluid, not only is it easy to tölt him but he will pace easily as well.
Does his tölt have any tendency towards pace or trot?
I don’t think he is really at either end of the spectrum. Again we are really working on his trot right now.
How would you describe his movement in tölt? What is his tölt like to ride?
His movement in tölt is natural, flowing and soft. He bends easily at the poll.
Is his pace (if any) easily found and secure? What is it like to ride?
He recently received his Full House (receiving the highest possible score for time in the pace test) for pace in trials in Iceland. He paces at the drop of a hat and stays with it.
How would you describe his temperament/willingness and how do you think it fits the North American market?
Ómur is here in America because he is ideal for our market. He is brave, sensible and easy to handle. On the trail he is sturdy and reliable and flashy with high action when asked, especially in the show ring. I “converted” to Icelandic horses due to their even temperaments, comfortable gaits and easiness. I have an injury or two from high flight horses and I think most folks who are attracted to Icelandic’s are looking for more fun and less hassle with safety problems. Ómur is everything I think American Icelandic enthusiasts seem to want. The Icelandic breeder felt this to be true and therefore offered this great stallion to an American!
Is he suitable for dressage work? In what competition? In what event? How did he place?
Ómur placed in the Five-gait competition at the 2000 Landsmót, won the Club of Lettir as a four year old and recently won the Five-gait class and came in second in the Tólt competition at the 2002 Northern Cup.
What are the strongest and weakest aspects of your stallion’s conformation?
His highest scores were in a few of the most important aspects: croup, back and neck. He scored lower in the head and legs.
Does he show signs of either allergies and/or summer eczema?
No summer eczema and no known allergies.
What type of offspring does he most consistently produce? Pleasure horses? Competition horses? Family horses? Breeding horses or specialty horses – such as pace racing horses or therapeutic riding horses?
He passes on cleanness in tölt and natural “gait-ability.” His offspring are still too young for evaluation but I know several of his sons have been kept as stallion prospects.
What positive attributes does he seem to consistently pass on to his offspring? What negative attributes does he seem to pass on to his offspring?
Besides clean gaits I have heard that his great temperament has been passed on too.
Which of his offspring would you consider his best? Which of his offspring has disappointed you?
I can’t answer this yet but will be eager to hear from his offspring’s owners for this feedback.
He has produced a variety of colors, often the mare’s color.
Is there anything special people should know about your stallion?
Well there are no hidden problems or vices with Ómur. He is sweet, easy and yet flashy and talented. I feel lucky to have such a great horse. He has a great reputation and I encourage anyone interested in breeding him to ask around, I have “references”!
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