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The Two Hunars
I have, for the past five years, been the Alaska Icelandic Horse Census taker. It’s a job that I really enjoy, because it enables me to assist potential owners in finding their dream horses, as was the case on December 27, 2008.
A few years ago I was asked if I’d like to be the Alaska Icelandic Horse Association census taker. The job duties then consisted of finding out where all the horses in Alaska were located, and then keeping track of their whereabouts. I tried to bow out, by explaining that I’m admininistratively challenged. After considerable pressure, I decided to take the job until someone else signed on.
I was the “official” census taker; however, I soon learned that Jeanette Willis was the unofficial census taker. Whenever we struck up a conversation, she revealed the whereabouts of yet another Icelandic. For example, she kept track of Blossi, Tinni’s former stablemate, and so was recently able to pass on the news that he had recently been in a show in Kentucky. Jeanette was also far more organized than I was. For example, she’d compiled a notebook that contains information and photos relating to every Icelandic that the Willis’s had bought, bred, or sold. All told, at least thirty Icelandic horses were owned, or had passed through the Willis’s hands.
Jeanette inspired me; Into a hard covered binder I placed census forms, photos, addresses, and pedigree information. I found that I liked my job because I now had a reason for talking with people state-wide about my favorite subject, Icelandic horses.
Another equally interesting part of my job description developed over time. I became a quasi-horse broker, by virtue of knowing where the horses actually were. My first venture into this realm occurred shortly after I contacted Annika Barnes, who lives in Copper River. I called to get census information and was told that she had two Icelandic horses for sale. As I read between the lines of my notes, I deduced that Thor and Legalus needed more care and attention than they were getting. And so, four of us, Sue, Brandi, Mercy, and Ruth, headed south, with my trailer in tow. I was right – both horses were on the thin side, needed farrier work, and to be dewormed. Mercy purchased Legalus, and Ruth purchased Thor. I felt good about this, because I knew that both horses were now far better off than they’d been previously.
My brokerage skills were, most recently, again put to good use. Word had it that my good friend Brandi had decided to find a new home for Hunar, her seven-year old silver dapple gelding. This was a tough call for her, because it was a divorce rather than disinterest that prompted her decision. For some time, she deliberated, and then decided that our friend Ruth should take Hunar on, because she knew that she’d give Hunar a good home. Ruth had ridden him, and was, riding-wise, a good match. Also, Ruth (through no fault of her own) had lost Thor a year-and-a-half before. Ruth, who was then getting ready to go to Hawaii, told Brandi that she’d have to think about this. She had, the previous been given Curly Sue, and also had Angel (a Shetland pony) and a handful of dogs to tend to. Ruth also wasn’t sure if
Hunar would get along with Angel – Brandi’s mom Sue had once owned him, and back then, when Angel was a stallion, the two fought hard. There was also the husband
thing. As we all know, owning horses (if you have a spousal equivalent) is a two-way proposition. Horses cut into family time, and usually require the other half to contribute time and money. Ruth, like us all, was sensitive to this, and (of course) wanted to take her husband Michael, her husband’s wishes into consideration.
Ruth left for Hawaii thinking that time and distance would enable her to better make a wise decision. I wrongly thought that she was leaning in the direction of saying no to Brandi.
Enter Cheryl, who was looking for an Icelandic. Amy, her riding companion friend, had her drop me a line. I told her that perhaps Brandi’s Hunar was for sale, but that Ruth was deliberating about it. Cheryl, even more so than Ruth, was convinced that Hunar was the horse of her dreams. It also sounded like she was as confident a rider, and as knowledgeable about horses as was Ruth. I didn’t talk with Brandi about this because her cell phone is out of the range of her phone. I did, however, talk with Brandi’s ex husband Mark.
Our conversations went something like this: “Ruth’s in Hawaii, she wasn’t quite sure when she left if she wanted Hunar.”
Brandi wants Ruth to have Hunar,” he said.
“You know, Cheryl sounds like she really wants the horse.”
“Brandi wants Ruth to have Hunar,” he repeated.
“Cheryl says that she’ll bring her trailer up, take him, and write Brandi out a check.”
“Brandi . . . .”
“I know, I know . . . wants Ruth to have Hunar.”
By this point in time, I was beginning to feel like someone was going to end up disappointed. Furthermore, I didn’t want it to be Ruth or Cheryl. So I decided to do something that I’m not accustomed to doing, which was lay low for a bit. I told Cheryl that as far as I knew, Brandi wanted Ruth to have Hunar. but this was totally their call. I added, but, “You never know.”
The “you never know part” was what kept us in suspense. A week later, Ruth and I met at a local coffee shop, and talked about her plans. She said that she’d made up her mind, and then paused. I fully expected her to say that she wasn’t going to take on Hunar. Instead, she said that she was going to give it a go. My sense was that Thor’s passing had left a hole in her heart, one that could only be patched by the acquisition of another Icelandic. To deny this was to continue to agonize indefinitely as to whether or not she made the right decision.
I went home that evening, and told Cheryl by email that it was a done deal, Ruth was to pick up Hunar in the next few days, and take him to her place. I also added that I’d let her know if any other Icelandics were for sale. I had no idea what or when another dream horse would materialize, but did my best to sound upbeat about the whole matter.
What happened next can only be described as being a serendipitous occurrence. On December 20th I went to Bernie’s solstice party, and soon struck up a conversation with Jeanette. In passing, she told me that Steve had three Icelandics for sale; an older mare, a 10-year old gelding, and a 5-year old stallion.
“Have you seen him around lately? I asked.
“Yes,” he’s out by the bonfire.”
I put my snowsuit and boots back on, raced down to the lake, located Steve, and as best I could exchanged pleasantries. Then, after a long silence, I asked him how his horses were doing.
“Fine, but they’re for sale,” he said.
I pressed him for further details. He was selling because he was too busy to ride. And all were in excellent shape. The mare had had considerable training, the gelding some, and the stallion, none. I went back inside, opened Jeanette’s notebook, and looked up all three horses. The one who caught my eye was Nebbi, the gelding. There was a photo of him in his earlier years. Bernie, who was sitting on the bay horse, was holding a blue ribbon. Yep, this was the horse for Cheryl. I called her that night, and gave her the specifics. She agreed to drive up from the Kenai, and take a look at the three horses.
I was to meet Cheryl and Amy at noon, in town on the 27th, the same day that Ruth was to take Hunar back to her place. As I drove to town, I observed that it was a lousy day for horse shopping. It was cold, and windy, not at all a good day for hanging out and shooting the breeze. But, a gal’s gotta do what a gal’s gotta do. I’d Cheryl that there were also other options. Bernie had a few horses for sale, as did Virginia. On the drive to Steve’s I kept the conversation upbeat, by saying that I knew that she’d find a horse every bit as good as Hunar.
We pulled into Steve’s Wasilla-based driveway, and immediately saw them, a buckskin mare and two bay geldings. For me, it was déjà vu all over again. I was reminded of the time that Ruth, Sue, Brandi, Mercy and I had pulled into the driveway at Copper Center, and saw Thor and Legalus, the two bay geldings. And as had Brandi, Amy said, “Look! Icelandics!” We three tumbled out of Amy’s car and introduced ourselves to Steve. I immediately took note of the fact that all three horses were in great shape. Steve again said that he didn’t have the time to ride them. They would, he said, be better off in a place where they’d get more attention.
The three were bright eyed, frisky, and well mannered. He chased the boys around, and they tolted through the snow drifts. Cheryl walked over to Nebbi, and put her arms around him. When he nuzzled her, tears came to her eyes. I jumped up and down excitedly, because I knew right then that it was a done deal.
I then told Cheryl that Nebbi was Hunar’s full brother. I had waited on this simply because I did not want mental image of Hunar to correspond with that of Hunar, least she be disappointed. It was just as well because they did not appear to be alike. Hunar is slight, thin boned, has a long forelock and has a quickness about him that reminds one of Johnny Depp. Conversely, Nebbi is thicker boned, has a shorter forelock, and has a deliberateness about him that reminds one of Kevin Spacek.
There was no time to celebrate; Amy and Cheryl had
to get back to the Kenai, and so had a six hour drive ahead of them. The
next day though, I did go over to Ruth’s. It was all going far better
than any of us could have imagined. Hunar and Angel had hit it off, and
Curly Sue and Hunar were warming up to one another. I agreed with Ruth,
the way it all panned out was the way it was meant to be. The two Hunars
have new owners, and they’ll treat them with as much kindness and
respect as their former owners. What more could a quasi Icelandic horse
broker ask for?
Arctic Arrow Solstice Gathering
Two Hunars