| by many names such as Islenzki Hesturinn, Icelandic | | | | calm lake, a river, or even an ocean. In winter, Icelandic |
| Toelter Horse, Iceland Tцlter, and its own | | | | Horses are shod with studs on their shoes. In areas |
| country's name, Islandpferde, the Icelandic Horse has | | | | where it is cold enough to ride a horse across frozen |
| lived in Iceland since the Nordic pioneers arrived in 865 | | | | lakes, the Icelandic is able to perform all five gaits on |
| A.D. and it has been purebred since the 10th century. | | | | sheer ice. |
| Since the horse is sacred in Norse mythology, this | | | | Ponying is the practice of riding one horse while leading |
| horse is the only breed in Iceland because of an | | | | others to exercise them or to allow the rider to switch |
| ancient Viking law disallowing any other horses into the | | | | horses when the ridden horse gets tired. The rider is |
| country, and that law is still upheld today. Once an | | | | usually in the center with horses being led on either |
| Icelandic Horse has been taken out of Iceland it can | | | | side. Most breeds demand personal space and won't |
| never return. Additionally, only unused horse equipment | | | | cooperate well with this closeness, but Icelandic horses |
| may be brought into the country. This is to prevent an | | | | naturally bond and travel in communities so they allow |
| outbreak of equine disease which could decimate the | | | | this joyful exercise. |
| population on the tiny island. Diseases are almost | | | | Because Iceland has no predators, but instead has |
| unknown among Icelandic horses that may not be able | | | | quicksand, rock slides, volcanoes, etc, the ability to |
| to fend off something new. But it is this isolation which | | | | assess a situation intelligently rather than run away |
| has led to the breed's purity. Outside Iceland, the | | | | from it appears to have been central to the horse's |
| genetic purity of the horses is carefully maintained | | | | survival. Since they have no fear of living things, they |
| through national registries in each country to track the | | | | seek strong attachments to people and are quite |
| breed according to strict regulations of the Icelandic | | | | nurturing and affectionate. |
| government. | | | | Icelandics cannot be ridden until age 5; stop growing at |
| Comparisons between the Icelandic horse at the time | | | | age 7, and perform best when in their twenties. |
| of the settlement of Iceland, and the ancient | | | | Broodmares often produce foals well into their late |
| Norwegian and German horses show them to have | | | | 20's. Even though they mature later, they live longer |
| similar bone structures, and it is possible that there was | | | | than most breeds, with 35-40 years being common. |
| a separate species of horse, Equus scandianavicus, | | | | The oldest living horse, Thulla, was an Icelandic who |
| found in those areas. These Scandinavian horses | | | | died at age 57 when she stopped eating after her |
| were later crossed with other European breeds, but | | | | elderly owner passed away. This dramatically attests |
| not in Iceland, and so the breed remained pure on the | | | | to the phenomenal bonding capabilities of the Icelandic |
| island. During the time that the Vikings took the horses | | | | Horse. |
| to Iceland, the easy gaits were common throughout | | | | Some of the desirable conformation points of an |
| horse breeds in Europe, but the Icelandic Horse | | | | Icelandic horse are a long neck and a full, thick mane, |
| genotype is very different from other European horse | | | | forelock and tail. Their manes and tails are so full and |
| populations, so theories of them having Shetland blood, | | | | the hair is so coarse that it rarely tangles. The Icelandic |
| Highland or Eriskay blood are not likely to be true. | | | | coat is sleek in the summer and fuzzy like a teddy |
| The Icelandic is classified as a horse, not as a pony. | | | | bear in the winter, but the abundant flowing mane and |
| This is because it is the only equine in Iceland and there | | | | tail are kept year round. Over 42 different color |
| is not a word for "pony" in the language, therefore it's | | | | patterns and combinations, including white and pinto are |
| called a horse. But of the 27 characteristics that apply | | | | acceptable for the Icelandic horse, with only the |
| to all pony breeds, all of them apply to Icelandic Horses. | | | | Appaloosa markings missing from the mix. |
| So, if someone calls it an Icelandic Pony, they are | | | | Icelandic horses are five-gaited and their greatest |
| biologically correct. | | | | asset is the extra surefootedness added by the |
| In the early 1900's the Icelandic horse was used | | | | horse’s ability to move its feet in any order |
| extensively for transportation and as a work horse to | | | | which allows them to maneuver safely through all |
| clear fields and herd livestock. The first breed societies | | | | kinds of terrain. In addition to the Walk, Trot and |
| for the Icelandic Horse were formed in 1904 with the | | | | Canter, the Icelandic horse has two unique gaits and is |
| first registry being formed in 1923. Then in the early | | | | one of the few horses known to be ridden and driven |
| 20th century, automobiles came to Iceland and | | | | in all five basic gaits. The Tцlt, or single-foot, is |
| because the horses were considered obsolete, much | | | | an amazingly smooth gait where all four feet move in |
| of the breed was slaughtered en masse until the | | | | the same independent pattern as in the walk but with |
| 1940's and 1950's. Fortunately, rescue organizations | | | | higher action and more speed; like an accelerated high |
| worked to protect the Icelandic breed and exported | | | | stepping running walk that is smooth and flowing that |
| many horses to new homes outside of the country | | | | some equestrians compare to racking. Tцlting is |
| while establishing legal protections for the equines | | | | often performed carrying full beer mugs without spilling |
| within Iceland. Forty years ago, there were no Icelandic | | | | a drop and is a trademark of the breed. |
| Horses in continental Europe, but now there are | | | | The Flying Pace, known variously as Skeith, skeio or |
| 100,000. Only about 3,000 are in the United States but it | | | | skold, is a lateral gait where the front and hind legs on |
| is a growing breed with more being imported all the | | | | the same side move forward and back at the same |
| time. Around 80,000 Icelandic horses remain in Iceland. | | | | time with such speed that there is a brief period in |
| The Icelandic Horse has been rediscovered in its native | | | | which all four feet are off the ground as if flying. The |
| country and is recognized as a unique family and sport | | | | Icelandic Horse is the only breed that performs this gait. |
| horse in modern Iceland where they are now highly | | | | Like the pace of the American Standardbred, the |
| prized and used for recreational riding much more than | | | | Icelandic has been clocked at 35 miles per hour, but |
| for fieldwork. Despite its small size, averaging 12.2 to | | | | unlike the Standardbred, the Icelandic's gait is |
| 14.2 hands tall, this Viking Horse is tough enough to | | | | comfortable to sit, therefore Icelandic Horses are |
| carry a 300-pound man and can bear 1.6 times its own | | | | raced at Flying Pace under saddle, not pulling a sulky. |
| weight. The Icelandic Horse can be used in various | | | | Not every Icelandic Horse displays this gait, because it |
| activities from riding, jumping, dressage and driving. | | | | requires careful development in the horse and must |
| Traditional Icelandic tack (which resembles English | | | | not be rushed before the muscles necessary for this |
| tack) is recommended since this style fits the breed | | | | powerful gait are fully developed. Training by any |
| physically and allows the horse to move correctly | | | | artificial methods is strictly forbidden. |
| although they are able to perform well under other | | | | All breed standards, registrations and competition |
| types of equipment. | | | | activities are strictly regulated by the Fцderation |
| Although breeding for show and riding is the main | | | | Europдischer Islandpferde Freunde (FEIF or |
| objective, breeding for meat production is also | | | | International Federation of Friends of the Icelandic |
| occurring. Horse meat was once a very valuable | | | | Horse) that was formed in 1969 to regulate the |
| product, but due to increased competition and | | | | uniformity of the Icelandic breed world-wide. Currently |
| decreased popularity much of the meat is now | | | | there are 18 member countries in the FEIF. The United |
| exported to Japan. | | | | States Icelandic Horse Congress (USIHC) maintains the |
| Icelandic Horses love to swim and this is a prime | | | | Registry of purebred Icelandic Horses in the U.S. in |
| example of its gentleness and strength. It is a nice | | | | accordance with FEIF rules. Other Icelandic Horse |
| break on a hot summer day and the horse will gently | | | | organizations within a country are allowed, but only as |
| carry its passenger as it swims swiftly and easily | | | | social or promotional entities. |
| through the water with its powerful legs, through a | | | | |