What makes the Icelandic Horse so unique?

Fun fact:
In Iceland, horses have their very own naming committee. This means you can’t just name your horse whatever you like. So, the chances of encountering a horse named something like Horsey McHorseFace (actual name of a racehorse in Australia!) are very slim.

During winter their fur grows very long, and they almost turn into fur balls. When summer arrives, this hair is being shed. The horses also come in a variety of colors and patterns. 

Easy going, friendly, gentle, curious and intelligent – these traits have contributed immensely to the popularity of this breed.

On top of that, it is the only known horse breed that can perform 5 gaits (ways of walking) while other breeds usually only manage 3 to 4.

Additionally, to the common gaits (walk, trot, canter/gallop) the Icelandic horse normally can do the “flying pace” and the “Tölt”. The flying pace is a very fast gait and used for racing or only for short distances (100-200 meters). It is said that the horses can sped up to around 48 km/h.

The Tölt on the other hand is simply a smoother sped-up version of walking. Icelandic horses are able to lift their front legs up high while performing it. This gait is very fit for uneven ground since it provides you with a soft and steady ride.

The Icelandic horse arrived with the Norse settlers (Vikings). Since 982 AD it is forbidden to import horses to Iceland. The Viking parliament was afraid of crossbreeds (prior trials were unsatisfying and led to significant degeneration). Since then, Icelandic horses have become one of the purest horse breeds in the world. As a matter of fact, they tend to have very few diseases and can live up to 40 years.

In addition to that, once a horse leaves the island it can never return. This is the reason why Icelanders never take their best horse with them whenever they have to compete abroad. So, after a few competitions, these horses are sold, while the best horses stay in Iceland to be bred and/or to compete nationally.

Furthermore, saddles, riding boots and other riding equipment used abroad have to be cleaned with intense care. Failure to do so and bringing the equipment back into the country may result in heavy charges!

All these characteristics and legal regulations make it such a unique horse breed.
Now that you know so much about this special breed, what’s stopping you?

Hop on one of our furry companions and explore Icelandic nature!
And if you fall off? No worries, it won’t be far.