Icelandic horses tend to be around 140 cm tall. Internationally, most horse breeds shorter than 147 cm are dubbed “ponies”. The Icelandic horse is right on the limit but Icelanders still tend to get insulted when someone refers to their proud steeds as ponies! Why are Icelandic horses not ponies? Read more…
Today, to keep the species purebred, an Icelandic horse can only leave the country once, meaning that those horse owners who emigrate face a weighty decision. Are Icelandic horses allowed to leave the country? Icelandic horses are long-lived and hardy. In their native country they have few diseases; Icelandic law Read more…
hay. If you have a “real” winter, then your Icelandic will need good hay or haylage. Silage is too rich, but good quality straw can be used as a “filler” for greedy horses. If you are working your horse hard, or using it for breeding, or it is very old, Read more…
six. While most breeds in SSO only have five gaits, the Icelandic horse has six. This special gait is called the “tölt”. In SSO no other horse breed is able to Tölt. How many gaits Can an Icelandic horse have star stable? Icelandics may be 3,4,or 5 gaited , the Read more…
Rein contact is different than I’m used to. To ask for the tolt, you steady their head with the reins, pulling back, but softly. Icelandic horses go with their necks up and braced. Can all Icelandic horses tölt? Like virtually all horses, Icelandics can walk, trot and canter/gallop. However, in Read more…
You can offer a little food, like an apple or carrot, but in my experience they were more interested in a scratch behind the ear than food. You can also certainly take photos with the horses at a distance (without the flash on) if you aren’t too keen on up-close Read more…
All this might all seem a little weird but in Iceland, horses are routinely fed dried fish throughout the winter for extra protein. During Scott’s expedition to the Antarctic the ponies he used were fed fish meal with their rations. What do Icelandic horses eat? If you have a “real” Read more…
The most important reason is tradition: Icelandic horses have always been referred to as such. Breeding registries all agree that the Icelandic horse should be referred to as such. The unique characteristics of the Icelandic horse include its wide range of colors and the thick winter coat. What are Icelandic Read more…
While some horses are bred for food, it is the least eaten meat in the country and only some are raised for slaughter. The majority of Icelandic Horses are used for companionship and simply for enjoying the ride. They are a huge part of the life and history of the Read more…
Developed from ponies taken to Iceland by Norse settlers in the 9th and 10th centuries, the breed is mentioned in literature and historical records throughout Icelandic history; the first reference to a named horse appears in the 12th century. How long has the Icelandic horse been around? The history of Read more…