Icelandic Horses

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eahotson

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Just out of curiosity has anyone ever ridden or owned one?What are they like?I rode what I was told was an Icelandic cross a few times.He was a good stockey little cob.I liked him.
 
I rode a couple in Iceland. Phenomenal creatures. I was disturbed that my feet were virtually dragging on the ground, but otherwise I found them tough, up for anything, and so footsure i was amazed. They carry a full-grown man no problem.
 
Magnetic Sparrow said:
I rode a couple in Iceland. Phenomenal creatures. I was disturbed that my feet were virtually dragging on the ground, but otherwise I found them tough, up for anything, and so footsure i was amazed. They carry a full-grown man no problem.
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It would be really interesting to do DNA test on Icelandics and see where they originate from. As for carrying adults, experts now think that images such as on the Bayeaux Tapestry really do show men riding ponies, rather than large horses, and the apparently very long stirrups are just a reflection of the size of their mounts. It makes sense though, if you are transporting them by sea as you can squeeze alot of 13hh ponies on boat compared to 16hh heavier types.
 
They are very cool, but not really like the sort of horses most of us ride. I rode a few at a breeders when I was younger - we took them to a track and wow, can they shift!

Google "Icelandic Horse Championships" - the videos are brilliant!
 
I've ridden them. One of my old instructors/yard neighbours breeds them. Sensible horses. Wonderful rides in rocky terrain. The size is also very unintimidating. They are incredibly versatile.

All that said; it's a bit of an acquired taste (the extra gaits and Icelandic specific riding classes either appeal or they don't) but if you want a good, smaller horse to do hacks with that is also up for light dressage and jumping they are worth a try.
 
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I returned to my icelandic riding roots 3 years ago when The Hairy Horse came home.
I'm 5 foot 10 and a bit and went from a 17.2 eejit sports horse to 13.3 of hair. Long story.
35" inside leg!

It took 18 months for him to "let me in" - he's quite aloof and independent compared to my 2 shetlands and the icelandic cross lodger... as we head for our 3 year anniversary his sense of humour is really starting to come out. He plays a bit dumb but is really cheekily bright... he just makes you work for it! He's a bit lazy - rather than go the long way round anything he will jump water or ditches or whatever is in his path as it takes less energy and time.

He was imported from Iceland by his previous owner where they run them as a herd for their first 4 years... this really pays off out on the moss as he picks his way thru the safe way to cross. Definitely the original 4 x 4. Their growth plates mature a bit slower as I think they end up with 30% more bone density than normal breeds so I've taken it really slow the last couple of years... he's now 8 and we're picking things up a bit.

His favourite time is when we've half a foot or more of snow... he sticks his nose 4" Into the snow and snorkels along. Does it thru long stretches of water too. Quite disconcerting to be riding along with absolutely nothing in front of you!

I rode out with a neighbour last night on her 15hh anglo arab... as we trotted along a nice climbing hill, I could hear her behind me saying: "blimey your horse has more gears than a..." - I didn't hear the last word as we'd gone too far ahead!

Love him to bits. Love my Hairy Horse! :-D
 
My friend has one, known her for years. Strong as an ox, but could go all day long at whatever shes doing. She does long distance rides and some jumping in the past (always clear rounds) but shes older now so not as much. The tolt is one of the weirdest experiences but once you get used to it its amazing! One of my favourite ponies:)
 
I've ridden a few, there are lots round here. Ride much bigger than they are , pace I find comfortable, tolt as well- they are not plods that's for sure. Very sure footed. I hate Icelandic saddles though. I'm not sure I would want a gaited horse tbh- I have small hairies by way of exmoors and find them more versatile for what I like to do. Have also ridden paso finos and natural TW and if I could find one, would go for one of those if I wanted gaited.
 
Wikipedia says that Icelandic horses were originally from Norway.FOR ABOUT 1000 YEARS NOW IT HAS BEEN illegal to import any horse into Iceland so the breed is pretty pure.They were thought to originally have been the war horse of the Vikings and as such there is probably a fair dollop in our native breeds.At a guess probably strongest in the Highland and Exmoor BUT the Vikings got to Normandy as well so they could have been represented on the Bayeaux tapestry.
 
Lovely horses,

Pentland Hills Icelandics in Edinburgh used to do riding holidays and I went several times---great fun to ride. Jill at Pentland breeds bigger ones than general and used to have some in the 14-14.2h range. Don't know what she has now as she no longer does the holidays as far as I am aware but she still breeds them.

Very high head carriage but incredibly fast and very sure footed on the Scottish hills. I particularly remember one called Perla, a palomino skewbald and Vindvaldur who was about 14.2 and the most amazing colour, a pinky grey like a dove's chest with flaxen mane and tail. You used to ride them on a looser contact than we are used to nowadays but I don't know if that has changed.

The ones bred in the UK are far less likely to have sweet itch.

All the ones I met were very affectionate and if you went into the field with them the whole herd followed you around like wee spaniel!

Also the tolt is AMAZING. (And the extended trot to die for)!
 
I'm not sure that larger ones were bred intentionally-at least that wasn't my impression, just that those bred here in less difficult conditions than Iceland, tend to grow bigger-much like many of our natives gain height when bred off the moor as it were.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
I'm not sure that larger ones were bred intentionally-at least that wasn't my impression, just that those bred here in less difficult conditions than Iceland, tend to grow bigger-much like many of our natives gain height when bred off the moor as it were.
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A lot of it is deliberate. They breed larger ones a lot in Iceland ann Germany too. When looking for a market to sell to they know a lot of adults don't feel like they should be riding something at 13 hands so breed bigger to sell easier. 13 hands will still carry an adult all day though - mine does and it takes an awful lot to make him tired.
 
my dream horse, too expensive for me though. particularly the fact they are not very tall
learnt this week that once one is taken from it's country it is never allowed back again.
 
my dream horse, too expensive for me though. particularly the fact they are not very tall
learnt this week that once one is taken from it's country it is never allowed back again.
 
Gloi said:
A lot of it is deliberate. They breed larger ones a lot in Iceland ann Germany too. When looking for a market to sell to they know a lot of adults don't feel like they should be riding something at 13 hands so breed bigger to sell easier. 13 hands will still carry an adult all day though - mine does and it takes an awful lot to make him tired.
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fair enough, thats not what I was told from the breeder mentioned. They are doing the same to other breeds such as the Lusitano as well-bit of a shame and needless IMO. Used to be a saying 'don't buy what you can't see over' :)


I had an amazing hack in the Pentlands on a 13h Icelandic. A three hour advanced fast ride-absolutely amazing their stamina and sure footedness. The hacking at PHI used to be about the best value in the area, lots of fun on some very nice horses.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
fair enough, thats not what I was told from the breeder mentioned. They are doing the same to other breeds such as the Lusitano as well-bit of a shame and needless IMO. Used to be a saying 'don't buy what you can't see over' :)
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I don't disagree that they'll grow bigger on better feed like anything else, just that they are breeding bigger in Iceland too for the export market. One of the ones I rode in Iceland on a weeks ride I did there was only about 12.2 and that was a tough little thing.
 
On Pentland Hills home page it says they have some lines going up to 15h! Wow, they are getting bigger aren't they? :) I'm lucky as, only being 5 foot tall on a "straight" day ( I.e. not so stiff and bent over I look like I'm auditioning for quasimodo!) small ones were fine for me!

Wish they still did the riding holidays.
 
I've ridden a couple, they were great fun. Fab, forward going, sensitive ponies. I was lucky that they were very well schooled ones, so I had to only move my weight a tiny bit and they went into the special gaits they do. If I had lots of money and land, I'd have one just to mess about on!
 
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