Every April 14, I have done the same thing for 17 plus years. I get up, grab a Millenium Gold bucket lid, and with a Sharpie I write in numeric fashion, Raudi’s age. Today I wrote 23 on the bucket lid. This time I used a larger sharpie. Live and learn.

After breakfast I went outside, and brushed Raudi. I did this yesterday, and today there was just as much hair. She does not have as thick a winter coat as Hrimfara, but it is still pretty substantial.

I then saddled her up. Pete, who every year takes a series of photographs, suggested that we do the picture taking in the driveway. And this is what we did. Shadow, the dog, never stays put. Raudi never stands still. Alys gets impatient, Pete somehow gets a good photo.

After, Pete suggested that I take Raudi for a ride, which is what I did. We went around the loop. Raudi was content to move at a pacey walk. Alys wanted either a fast walk or trot. Raudi didn’t want to comply.

Alys got impatient, as she often does. Finally, we come up Oceanview, and Alys as she usually does, asks Raudi to canter. Raudi, who is pissed either because she did not want to go fast or because she didn’t want to canter, bolted. She did not go far, just far enough for Alys to get her wits about her. The only place she could have gone anyways would have been up our driveway.

I got off her, turned her around, took her back to the place where she bolted and got back on. We then walked up the road, up the driveway, and back to the hitching post.

I was struck by the fact that Raudi was and is still Raudi. If she does not want to do something, she will somehow let it be known. This is what we call being willful.

She was my first Icelandic horse, so I presumed that her attitude was a characteristic of the breed. Now, having thought about it, I know that it was partially genetics. Both her parents (Gergen and Vikengur) were like she is, so this was a given. I, who had stars in my eyes when we purchased her, did not give this a thought.

Raudi also spent her second year in a small enclosure at the Long’s Moose Creek Ranch. I should have left her with her herd who would have taught her proper herd manners. She has not made life easy for Tyra or Hrimmi, who as best they can tolerate her.

Nevertheless, Raudi is a much loved horse and has not known harsh treatment. I also think that in the hands of a more skilled horse person she would have blossomed.

But at 23, she is in very good shape mentally and physically. My basis for comparison is Tinni, who had been worked hard before we got him, and so by 23 he was showing signs of age.

This is not a day I will forget.

Next: 103. 4/15/26: Rain and Snow