reiðubúnar

Reiðubúnar is an Icelandic adjective form meaning ready to ride or mounted. It is used to describe horses, riders, or equipment that have been prepared for riding, such as saddles, bridles, or other tack, and is encountered in equestrian contexts as well as in historical or rural prose.

Etymology and meaning: the word combines the root reið- (“to ride”) with búinn/ búin meaning “ready” or “prepared.” As such, reiðubúnar conveys a state of readiness for riding. It is part of a family of related forms that adapt to gender and number in Icelandic grammar.

Grammatical usage: reiðubúnar is the feminine plural form of the adjective. Icelandic adjectives decline to agree with the gender and number of the nouns they modify; other common forms in the same paradigm are reiðubúinn (masculine singular), reiðubúin (neuter or feminine singular, depending on noun), and reiðubúnir (masculine plural). In practice, reiðubúnar appears when the noun is feminine and plural, such as “reiðubúnar konur” (ready-to-ride women) or other feminine plural references.

Context and usage: historically, reiðubúnar appears in Icelandic literature and farm-life descriptions to denote readiness for riding, whether of people or animals. In modern usage, the term remains niche but is understood in equestrian writing, folk literature, and descriptive prose about preparation for riding or mounted activity. Figurative uses, implying preparedness for action, can appear in broader texts, though the literal “ready to ride” sense remains primary.

See also: Icelandic grammar, reið, hestur, búseta.