On the beautiful island of Iceland, in the middle of the cold North Atlantic, among volcanoes and glaciers, lives the proud and majestic horse breed that has fascinated and enchanted people for centuries - the Icelandic horse. Those who have had the pleasure of getting acquainted with these intelligent and friendly creatures know that these horses are not just any horse breed. They have a rich historical background among the Icelandic people that dates back to the Viking Age. But it's not only their fascinating history that makes this horse so interesting, so here are 10 facts about the Icelandic horse that you might not have heard of before!
History
When the Vikings moved to Iceland during the 8th century, they brought with them horses from both Norway and the British Isles. During that time, the climate on Iceland was warmer than today, and the horses had plenty of fresh pasture. But as the climate changed and the weather became cooler, so did the Icelandic horse. It was the strongest horse breed that adapted itself to climate change to survive. It evolved into what we today call the Icelandic horse. There is an old tale about these strong horses. According to legend, the Icelandic horses were believed to be the property of the gods, and when needed, they could transform themselves into these horses. Therefore, the Vikings would worship the horses, and paradoxically, they would sacrifice them and drink their blood to rub off some of their holiness and strength. In the rugged terrain, where the rad network wasn't correctly installed until after WW2, it's not difficult to understand the Vikings' tribute to the Icelandic horses. Through rain, storm, lava deserts, rivers, over glaciers and mountains, they carried their riders, making them a vital part of survival. They meant everything for the families there, using them as transportation between school and church, for example.
Weightbearing
Even though the breed doesn't grow above the limit for a pony (148cm), they're still classified as a horse. It might be rooted in the fact that they're so weight-bearing. Although they are small, they can actually carry a full-sized adult for long distances without any issues. They are well-built with a powerful body structure, a characteristic of a horse. Its body proportions, muscle mass, and bone structure are typical for a horse rather than a pony, and with its tenacious and hardworking mind, they are excellent for horse riding.
Long-lived
Icelandic horses can live to be very old, often 30 years or more. The oldest Icelandic horse known was 54 years old! Since they have a very long lifespan, there is absolutely no rush to ride them. An Icelandic horse's structural development is usually complete by the age of seven, and they are most productive between the ages of 8-18.
Flying pace
From its medieval ancestors, the Icelandic horse inherited the ability to, besides walk, trot, and gallop, perform the running walk (also known as tölt) and flying pace. Therefore, they possess five paces, which is two more than the average riding horse! Running walk is a four-legged gait where the horse moves forward in a smooth, rhythmic, and uninterrupted pace without lifting all four legs at the same time. This allows the rider to sit completely still in the saddle pad, even at high speeds. Flying pace is a fast two-beat gait where the horse's two diagonal pairs of legs move at the same time. This means that the horse lifts and brings forward the legs on one side at a time, which gives a jumping and flying impression. Different Icelandic horses have different approach to running walk and flying pace, some find the pace with ease, and for others it does not come as naturally. It depends on both how the horse is trained and which parents and genes it has. If you have a young Icelandic horse, it might be a good idea to get professional help from a trainer, so that the horse learns the paces correctly from the beginning.
Purest breed
Since the 11th century, it has been illegal to import horses into Iceland, which has made the Icelandic horse one of the purest breeds, as it has not been mixed with other horses. There has always been a careful breeding program for these horses; the Vikings put great effort into the breeding work already in the 9th century to preserve the breed's qualities and characteristics. About 900 years ago, an attempt was made to breed the Icelandic horse with Oriental blood from other horse breeds, which resulted in a disaster characterized by degeneration in the horse breed. That's when the world's oldest parliament strictly set the ban on importing horses. An Icelandic horse that has left the country once can never return due to the risk of carrying diseases. Therefore, the horses that live in Iceland are seldom vaccinated because they are so isolated from diseases that are common elsewhere. Today, there are 100,000 purebred Icelandic horses registered on Iceland alone!
Harsh weather conditions
The wild herds are accustomed to wandering long distances in search of pasture and water. The strongest ones managed to survive, and one huge bonus for dealing with the challenging enviroment was not to be too tall. Therefore, the height of the Icelandic horses' withers remained between 125 and 145 centimeters. They have a very thick coat, so thick that multiple centimeters of snow can be layered on top of it, and yet the horse remains dry and warm closest to the body. They are double-coated, which consists of a soft undercoat and a water-repellent topcoat. The mane and tail is also very sturdy to shield from the cold.
4 Different types of Icelandic horses
During the years, four "different types" of horses have been bred. Even if there are no significant differences in the horses, they can be bred for different purposes, such as stockier horses suitable for farm work and harness driving. Then there were herds bred for meat production, as the cold climate made it impossible for people to survive solely on cattle. The most famous type was bred in the southwest parts of the island; it resembles the Exmoor pony and is used for riding.
