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Sorli fra Bulandi flying pace at Landsomot 1994.

Sorli fra Bulandi, IS1985186006

Sorli fra Bulandi is a well-known, first-class son of the famous Kolfinnur 1020 fra Kjarnholtum 1, winner of the 1982 Landsmot and recipient of Honor stallion status at Landsmot 2000, and grandson of the modern foundation sire, Honor stallion Hrapn 802 fra Holtsmula. Born in 1985 in Iceland, Sorli qualified for and was last evaluated at Landsmot in 1994 and achieved the score of 1st prize with a conformation score of 8.03 and 8.51 for talents. His combination score is 8.27, one of the highest scores for a stallion evaluated in Iceland now residing in North America. Sorli has a BLUP breeding index score of 119. Sorli is registered with the USIHC registry: US85101192. He has been typed for Blood and DNA as well.

Sorli's scores (Landsmot 1994) are as follows:

conformation: 8.03
Head 8.5
neck, withers, shoulders 8.5
back/croup 8.5
harmony 8.0
leg structure 7.5
leg correctness 7.5
hooves 7.5
talents: 8.51
tolt 8.5
trot 8.5
pace 9.0
gallop 8.0
willingness 9.0
temperament 8.0
Beauty under saddle 8.0
combination: 8.27

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Top professional rider, Baldvin Ari Gudlaugsson, riding Sorli fra Bulandi at the Minnesota Horse Fair, 2000. Sorli always makes a great impression at breed fairs with his spectacular exits in flying pace.

Sorli qualified to be shown in the 6 years and older division for 5-gaited stallions at Landsmot 1994. Sorli was used as a breeding horse since then in the south of Iceland by the Southern Farmers Breeding Association, until he was exported to the United States.

Sorli has not been shown in competition in the USA as yet, however, he has been used to promote the breed at All-Breed Fairs throughout the Midwest to feature the power and beauty of the Icelandic horse in all its gaits. Invited to represent the Icelandic horse at the Kansas City Royal 2000 and 2001, the premier Horse Show in the Midwest, Sorli was the featured in the Concert of Champions. He acts as an ambassador for the breed wherever he goes; whether at fairs, into town or on the trail.

Sorli was imported into the USA in November of 1998 and in the year 2000 the first of his foals were born in the USA. Known for passing on his athleticism, fine character and beautiful, fluid gaits in Iceland, we feel confident that he will be a great asset to improving the quality of Icelandics bred in North America.

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Doug Hamilton riding Sorli at slow tolt.

Sorli is a handsomely proportioned horse standing 13.2h by stick. He is of classic rectangular build with a deep, sloping shoulder, a well-placed neck with a beautiful head and soft, intelligent expression. Sorli's back and loins are without stiffness and are well formed. He has a slight toe out in the front and back, but tracks cleanly and without interference. Born in 1985, Sorli's joints remain strong, clean and free from spavin or degeneration. His hooves have improved tremendously since coming to the US. They are dark with medium amount of horn. Sorli is black/brown with a small snip, a medium amount of mane and a very full tail. In this country since 1998, he shows no sign of summer eczema or other allergies.

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Sorli and Doug heading down the road to go to town.

In general, as long as someone has a basic knowledge of riding skills, i.e. appropriate cues, independent use of aids, Sorli is a wonderful, polite horse who is easy to ride. He is dutiful and earnest; ready to give his best effort. I would not put a beginner rider on him nor a rider with heavy leg aids as he is capable of great power/speed in tolt, trot, gallop and pace....they'd be picking the bugs out of their teeth! He is a light, sensitive horse who assumes the rider means what is being asked of him. For people who have been invited to take Sorli for a spin, he has been a thrilling and inspiring experience. "What a wonderful horse!" They say with a wide smile of appreciation. Indeed, we feel that Sorli is an excellent example of the successful breeding of Icelandic horses.

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Doug and Sorli on their way to the bank! This photo was taken by the bank president from out of his window.

Sorli has a very even gait distribution. All gaits are true, ground covering and smooth; he moves very well off his hind quarters. He has a clean four beat walk with some overreach from behind, but without interference. His trot is excellent, strong, ground covering 2-beat and with good suspension. He can travel quite fast at this gait.

Like many of the Hrapn 802 breeding line, Sorli's tolt is very smooth even with 90 degree lift. Like many 5-gaited horses, his slow tolt is not as developed as his medium and fast tempo tolt. His self-carriage is very good; he maintains his tolt with easy, light collection on the part of the rider. Because of the suppleness of his back and shoulders, there is a real powerful dancer-like quality to his tolt which blended with his joyful, soft character, makes him a delight to watch, as well as ride. Tolt is his first choice of gait under saddle.

Sorli's canter is 3 beat, shows good lift in front and can be very fast as well as easy and slow. The latter we have cultivated since his arrival in the US.

The pace is remarkable; truly a flying gait. Sorli really reaches down and out in pace and you can tell he really enjoys it. He is easy to pace and can be explosively fast in the transition from canter to pace.

However, there is more to the horse that correctness of gaits. A very important and elusive quality is the way the horse expresses itself as it moves. The heart makes the difference between a technician and an artist, in a horse it is the difference between one who knows his job and one that loves his job. When we show Sorli at events, even among other Icelandics, we are often asked, "Who was the black horse? He is spectacular!" For those lucky enough to have seen Kolfinnur 1020, Sorli's sire, receiving his honorary status among his get at Landsmot 2000, they will understand the picture I am trying to paint. It is this wonderful blend of powerful, pure gaits and expression of heart that Sorli tends to pass on to his get. Just as Kolfinnur 1020 passes on to his offspring, and Hrapn 802 to his get.

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Sorli in flying pace at 1994 Landsmot where he achieved 8.51 for talents with a score of 9 in flying pace.

This leads into a further description of Sorli's character and, indeed, the description of the Kolfinnur 1020/Hrapn 802 line of horses. He is a very intelligent horse that loves to be worked; ever ready for an adventure. Sorli is quick to learn what is expected of him and is polite about it. He is alert and sensitive to things in his environment, but without getting over-wrought. He is easy to take places as he is observant, but quiet and calm. We can simply tie him to a picket line or the trailer with his gelding buddy without any problems. Adults and children will come up to pet him, never guessing this is a stallion. Sorli is a horse that loves to be engaged and always comes up to put his head in his halter; ready to go to work. In the US, Sorli has been ridden to town to do errands (banking, coffee shop/bagels, visiting friends), Civil War re-enacting (with cannon fire), Renaissance fairs, trail riding and breed demonstrations. We hope to start showing him in 2001. In short he is a very useful horse. In combination with his fine gaits, Sorli's willingness to work and fine character, both highly inheritable qualities, are what make him so exceptional as a breeding horse as well as a riding horse.

Sorli has had a 100% conception rate in the USA so far. He can either be pasture bred or bred in hand. To protect him, we prefer to manage him by doing the latter. He is good with the mares. He has not been trained to AI, as yet. His stud fee is $750 plus mare care with a live foal guarantee.

Sorli puts his beautiful frame on his offspring. They are energetic, lively foals that show much natural tolt. He also seems to pass on his dark color (black/brown, black or bay) and some facial white.

Our interest in having Sorli for our breeding program and having available for use as a stud, is that we know he has produced top quality pleasure horses with scope in their gaits and a joyful, eager-to-please nature, as well as 5-gaited breeding horses of beauty, fine proportions, excellent movement and temperament.

In general, Sorli is a good choice for someone with a nice quality pleasure mare, who would like more power/clarity in tolt, trot and pace, and generosity in spirit in the offspring. If one is looking to breed for lethargic horses with flat, unanimated gaits, Sorli is not the horse to breed to!

Sorli loves to pace when asked to and gives his all; a thrilling gait to ride Bred to a mare very strong in flying pace, one might end up with a pacing horse as Sorli has a very strong, clear pace (score: 9) himself.

With a top quality mare, 4 or 5-gaited, he sires performance horses/breeding horses, mostly 5-gait, with a soft, positive character. As his offspring come of age in Iceland, he is becoming known as a horse that produces fine quality gaedingur ; pleasure and competition horses appreciated for their clear, animated gaits and fine character.

Sorli fra Bulandi is a prince of a horse...by any standard.

For bookings: 641-472-8422 or email: hamfam@lisco.com