The Icelandic Animal Welfare Association (IAWA; www.dyravernd.is) held a forum this fall which had the theme ,,The positive effects animals have on humans‘‘. The forum was well attended and results was that animals have very good effects on human health, both physical and mental.

More and more people that are lonely and isolated are keeping pets which has positive effects on their lives. The Red Cross in Iceland has recognized these effects, but they have volunteers who visit people that live alone, taking their dogs with them which has been going very well. 

People that dwell at the nursing homes Ás and Mörk can have pets in their apartments and employess can bring their pets with them to work as well which is uncommon in our society. Both supervisors and relatives say that the animals are very important to the dwellers – it‘s a precious friendship. Our society is slowly recognizing the positive effects that animals have on people and seems to be letting go of prejudice, the animals are our companions and friends.

Those of us that keep pets and farmers that take good care of their animals know this well and do not need to hear this. But of course it‘s good know that researches have shown that people tend to life longer, are less lonely and less depressed, have more social interactions, lower blood pressure and less heart problems – and feel less stressed – all because of the effects of animals.

At the forum were four speakers, Margrét Björk Sigurðardóttir, specialist in animal behavior, Kristján Oddsson farmer, Valgerður Valgarðsdóttir from Dýrahjálp Íslands and Dagmar Vala Hjörleifsdóttir veterinarian. Around 30 people attended and it was is surely precious for IAWA to have this event where animals friends could meet to have a heartfelt conversations about positive effects of animals.

  article translation, Linda Karen Gunnarsdóttir

 IS2011282337 - Melódía frá Kjartansstöðum

Sire: IS2004187807 - Óskar frá Blesastöðum 1A

Dam: IS1996287339 - Törn frá Kjartansstöðum

Our trainer Matthías Leó is the owner of this young mare.

Like the other horses in training these days, only a few days since they have been ridden outside.

Melódía is inbreed, as Óskar her father is a son og Töfri.

And her mother, is a daughter of Tývar, and Tara, both´s Dam is Tara, sister to Töfri through Terna.

This mare is 5 gaited, already has powfull movements, on tölt and trot, pace just waiting in line, will be good also


So congrats Matthías Leó you seem to be of to a good start

Around 2005 we stopped, inbreeding as a main breeding aim.

The general idea was to; hold on to some of Terna´s most

Valuable assets: light built body, long legs and neck, and in

ride ability: special flexible tölt, smooth body movements, with high movements!

In the period before 2005, we stopped showing horses, in breeding class, for numerous reasons, but partly because in inbreeding, you strengthen both good and bad, material goods.

In our case, the horses lost a bit of eagerness, and therefore, general impression, to pick a point to explain.

In theory, going out again, into fresh blood, you want to fetch, and bring what´s most lacking in the inbreed horses, that suits your aim!

Our main choose these last years, has been using descendants, after Orri frá Þúfu, and the thought behind that, is to get a stable temperament, with good eagerness. And using his ancestors, and not Orri himself, is simple!

No one Stallion has had as many excellent mares, brought to him, ever before. And to wait for Stallions Sired by Orri, that look quite different, and much better, then referring to longer legs, and neck, bigger, more elegant, type’s

And here we have one example of that aim: 

  IS2011282345 - Þeba frá Kjartansstöðum

 Sire:  IS2004187401 - Frakkur frá Langholti
.Dam: S2003287338 - Þöll frá Kjartansstöðum


Þeba is a big beautiful looking mare, she is testimony, to the cross-breed

Between Terna´s and Orri bloodlines, long legs, and neck, light built   

Already eager, flexible big step, very smooth movements, and high. 

Her owner Ingólfur Arnar, might just be getting a little breeding, Obsession,
 when he thinks about the possibility’s a mare like this gives  
And by the way, like most of the young horses, only ridden for a week outside

Sire: IS2005187836 - Mjölnir frá Hlemmiskeiði 3 

Dam: IS2003287352 - Huld frá Kjartansstöðum


This chestnut mare with a blaze, is 5 gated, eager from the start, and good tempered.
Now ridden, for two weeks, she is starting to increase her leg action, and with correct,gaits,
 she is starting to look quite good, already giving the impression, of a competition horse.
In a few weeks, anybody can ride her! 
The undertone  with this young mare is very fast pace, in due time.

Her Dam Huld is sired by Trúr frá Kjartansstöðum, full brother of Töfri.

Hulds Dam is Þota frá Hólum, mother to Thór-Steinn