What is "Hestakaup"?

Literally, hestakaup means a horse trade with no money exchanged. But that describes it about as much as calling the Kentucky Derby a horse race. We are talking about an old tradition that has been taking place between Icelandic horse farmers. Between competitive neighbors. Barters to avoid taxes. Trades out of boredom for a chance to have a good visit. Practical ways of solving a problem. Swaps on a whim. There are many kinds of hestakaup.

Hestakaup in Reykjavik can be very different from one in Skagafjordur or Akureyri because the people are different. To get an idea of hestakaup in Skagafjordur (involving people I know and can vouch for its authenticity) read the account written by Lukka from the farm Langhus in Skagafjordur. It's long, but a good read.

It is a balance, a tension, between people and horses. It is about both. And that is why I chose "hestakaup" for this blog.

"Hestaukaup!" has become a cheery greeting between me and some of my Icelandic friends. I assure you, I would never venture into any form of hestakaup, and because of the impossibilty of it, the frank admission of my innocence in their culture has made it into a casual greeting.

 How this blog works

Unlike a web site, a "blog" is an on-going process in the same way that a diary is different from a novel or short story. It is always being written an added to. This is a video blog, sometimes called a "vlog" because it embeds short videos in each entry. Wherever there is a picture with controls below it, the cursor will change to a hand and that means a video can be played by clicking on the picture.

Enjoy and keep checking in as I add entries.