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 The
Icelandic Horse
The Icelandic Horse is a special breed, native
to Iceland. The modern Icelandic breed are direct
descendants of the horses brought to Iceland by
the original Viking and Norse settlers over a
thousand years ago. Due to the toughness of the
journey, only the best and strongest horses were
selected. Due to the relative isolation of
Iceland, the breed has remained pure and unique
since around the year 982 when the Althing
introduced a law prohibiting the importation of
foreign horses. The law was established to help
prevent disease and contamination of the breed.
This law is still in effect today, and any horse
that leaves Iceland is not allowed to return.
 Icelandic
Horses are intelligent, good tempered, versatile,
extremely hardy and athletic. Smaller than many
other breeds, the Icelandic horse is also very
docile and easy to handle - excellent for beginner
and young riders. Icelandic horses rarely try to
kick or bite and don't spook easily. They are also
very strong and sturdy. Due in part to their
isolation, as a breed they are virtually
disease-free and generally have a long life span
of between twenty five to thirty years, and some
may even live to the age of forty. It is not
unusual to ride Icelandic horses into their
twenties.
Icelanders also have a unique way of raising
their horses. Since the breed matures slowly,
training doesn't generally begin until the horses
are around four years old; show and event horses
won't usually start their training until the age
of five. Until this time, young horses will stay
with the herd and live outdoors. In some areas of
Iceland, herds are allowed to roam free on the Highlands
during the warmer months, then rounded up for
winter and provided with shelter. This unique way
of raising horses has helped the breed develop its
strength, personality, even-temperament and
respect for humans.
The Icelandic horse is master of a special gait
called a tölt. The tölt is a very smooth gait in
which the horse moves it's legs in the same order
as it does when walking. No other horse breed is
capable of performing this gait as well as the
Icelandic breed, and it may range in speed from a
fast walk up to the pace of a gallop. During
demonstrations, riders will often hold a glass of
liquid in one hand while performing the tölt,
without spilling one drop.
 Icelanders
treat breeding and raising horses as an art form.
Today, there are around 80,000 horses in Iceland,
and another 100,000 Icelandic breed horses abroad.
Most horses in Iceland today are used for leisure
and competition. With riding
tours attracting thousands of visitors each
year, it is one of the fastest growing industries
in Iceland today.
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