Riding in Iceland - advice please!

[Shizzle]

Hi there, my lovely husband has booked for us both to go on a three day riding holiday in Iceland in February!! I'm obviously v exited, but trying to sort out our gear and what to take. Does anyone have any recommendations of waterproof trousers, or indeed jackets?

Can you wear helmets in the airport (UK)? We have just got back from skiing so have merino baselayers, socks etc, but I never normally wear such things under jodhs/riding tights, will they be too hot?! I'm thinking trainer/walking boot style boots and chaps will be better than long boots.

Any tips or recommendations welcome, please! Thanks.

 

[still standing]

I've been twice to Iceland to ride, but never in February! You will definitely not be too hot! I have been in May and September and even for those months, we wore layers and jackets most of the time. So I would definitely recommend that you wear your base layers or other thermals, tights plus your jodhs and lots of layers on your top half. And very good insulating socks. As far as I can recall, everyone used chaps and walking boots.
I can't advise about helmets in the airport as we packed ours.

You have perhaps been told this already, but EVERYTHING you bring near to horses must be disinfected or new, including your helmets, chaps, etc. Iceland has strict precautions about this as horses are not vaccinated due to the isolated nature of the island and they need to be protected from contagious diseases.

You need to bear in mind too that you will mostly ride in tolt on the horses, which means you do not move much in the saddle unlike when you do rising trot back home. It is a very level pace for the rider to sit to, and you don't really get hot, unlike when you are skiing, so definitely bring lots of layers to keep warm.
I do envy you going on the riding holiday! I absolutely loved the whole experience and thrill of my first holiday, hence going again on a longer trail! You will want to bring a horse home, they are so lovely.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I went to Iceland in March 2019, to meet up with OH who was already there. Wonderful place, friendly people, just about everybody speaks English. There are a few people who don't, or whose accent is very strong, but they are rare (I only met two).

You have perhaps been told this already, but EVERYTHING you bring near to horses must be disinfected or new, including your helmets, chaps, etc.

You should have been given all the necessary information about clothing and gear. For more, take a look here.

It's not only horse riding that is affected by these strict rules; there are similar restrictions on what you can bring in to go inland fishing.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I did a 6 day Trek in 2017 to landmannalaugar with Eldhestar. It’s a fairly intense trek with a herd of horses that we rotated riding or herding. I actually didn’t take a hat and wore one of theirs. They also provide everyone with fluorescent waterproof over trousers and jackets which I wore a couple of times over my own clothes when it was really cold or wet. These are rolled up and attached to the back of your saddle. I would probably take my own hat if I did it again though. I recommend something like a Uvex which you can adjust to put a buff underneath for warmth if needed.

I’d get waterproof gloves. We went in the summer so we also had fly nets to go over our faces as the tiny flies are awful in some places so check this though probably not a problem in February in and I’m sure I ate a more than a few with my lunch. I’d recommend padded underwear I had a variety of makes plus lanacane to prevent any rubs. Definitely a good sports bra as the tolt isn’t always smooth I bizarrely didn’t remember to bring one and had to wear two bras. Wear walking boots with synthetic chaps as sometimes we had to get off to walk up steep hills and the terrain Can be rough.

I had a bumbag for phone / camera and tissues etc. don’t have too big a one as they jolt around in the tolt. There is quite good phone including 3–4G connectivity even in some fairly wild parts. Sunglasses were useful to keep grit out of eyes - cycling ones are good.

Some photos so you can see what we wore and yes you must clean and disinfect everything thoroughly.

 

[HollyWoozle]

That's great advice above!

I wore Horseware waterproof trousers over winter jods (I went in summer though, haha) with a normal waterproof/windproof jacket. I wore light walking boots with long socks and actually didn't bother with half chaps since I usually had trousers over the top anyway. You definitely need plenty of warm things - I took a fleece snood type thing and decent gloves and they were worth their weight in gold. Most stables over there do have the waterproofs and helmets to lend but I did take my own helmet, disinfected with Virkon S. I would check what waterproofs they have to lend before you invest in anything for it, unless you would like to have those things anyway.

A good bra is definitely a must, as mentioned above. Do you need to carry a packed lunch each day? I took a little riding backpack and carried my sandwiches, fruit etc. in there and that worked perfectly.

 

[Gloi]

I did a 6 day trek in 1990. (ÍsHestar). I took my goretex waterproofs but also got the orange rubber suit which I wore on the two days with horrific weather (horizontal frozen rain). The fleece snood was essential. In February you won't get this problem but I got terrible sunburn on my nose and lips, I'd not thought of taking sunscreen. Those were the only parts sticking out of my clothes but we were in the mountains.
The trekking horses don't always choose tolt easily. Out of the ones I rode I had one that paced a lot and one that liked to go in a four beat canter, besides the tolters.
Careful though. I bought an Icelandic not long after getting back.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

The ponies are absolutely brilliant! We have done a couple of day treks out there when we have been and you do love your pony by the end of it. My OH made the mistake of telling them that I rode racehorses and he used to - their eyes lit up! I got one that was cold backed and he got one that pulled his arms out the whole way home ???

So if you want an enjoyable ride play down your experience slightly. They will know you ride to a good enough level if you are doing a multi day trek but just play it down so they don't bring out the ponies that don't often get to play with tourists ?

We wore walking boots and their hats as I didn't want to take mine with me for just a day trek. And it's a good job I took my snood as they didn't have a hat that quite went small enough for my head without it!

 

[Shizzle]

Thank you so much everyone has responded, I have loved reading these posts!! I'm so excited, it has been a dream to do this since I was a teenager, and now I am...much older, anyway ?.

Did anyone just wear ordinary walking boots with their chaps, or did you get proper riding ones with flat soles and heels, like the Ariat types? We have been sent a packing list but sometimes recommendations for brands etc are useful.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Normal walking boots and chaps can work fine, I took a very basic, lightweight pair. I would just avoid something too chunky so that they don’t wedge in the stirrups and make sure they have a definitive heel.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

The ponies are absolutely brilliant! We have done a couple of day treks out there when we have been and you do love your pony by the end of it. My OH made the mistake of telling them that I rode racehorses and he used to - their eyes lit up! I got one that was cold backed and he got one that pulled his arms out the whole way home ???

So if you want an enjoyable ride play down your experience slightly. They will know you ride to a good enough level if you are doing a multi day trek but just play it down so they don't bring out the ponies that don't often get to play with tourists ?

We wore walking boots and their hats as I didn't want to take mine with me for just a day trek. And it's a good job I took my snood as they didn't have a hat that quite went small enough for my head without it!

It’s a cardinal sin in Iceland to call Icelandics ponies they’re “horses” ??

I wore walking boots as HW said a flexible pair with a bit of a heel.

I’ve been to Iceland about 5 times as my nephew lives there with his Icelandic wife and my two great-nieces so my sister and BiL have an apartment they own as they visit a lot a stay for a month or so at a time.

I have to say February probably wouldn’t be my choice of time to go though ?.

I forgot that on my trek we had saddle bags on some horses with our labelled water bottles in which we were given to take home and anything that didn’t fit into our pockets or bum bags. We had an excellent Polish chef that prepared our meals and apart from one day where we took a packed lunch as it was inaccessible by road he met us with hot food every lunch time.

The first day I was given a horse that was so uncomfortable I thought I’d never survive the 6 days but he was taken out and only ridden by the guides after that. Fortunately when I got my next horse it was a lot easier. We swapped horses about 3-4 times a day. They were generally only ridden for 2 hours up to twice a day otherwise they were in the herd.

If anyone was thinking of going I would thoroughly recommend Eldhestar. The customer care and attention to horse welfare was fabulous.

 

[Tarragon]

This all makes me want to go! Just a tad jealous.
We went as a family when I was 16, back in 1978. The family holiday was to fly to Reyjavik, and then drive right across the empty centre, camping, and fly back. My mother and I did do a half day ride and it was amazing! I loved it all. I bet it has changed somewhat in those 50 odd years

 

[HollyWoozle]

It has brought back wonderful memories for me too! I've been lucky enough to ride in many countries around the world but Iceland is definitely up there with some of my favourite trips. Here I am with Gardur, watching whales!



Have an amazing time, @Shizzle! I am sure you will love it!

 

[Shizzle]

Apologies for my tardiness in replying to your kind and helpful posts! Thank you so much - I'm so excited! X

 

[phizz4]

If you want to know what the weather conditions in Iceland are have a look at these web cams.
https://www.livefromiceland.is/
A lot of snow at the moment, minus 13 degrees C in Reykjavik today!

 

[mariew]

I haven't ridden but we went to Iceland in February about 8 years ago or so. Loved it but my goodness the wind was bitterly cold. I'd invest in a couple of warm/waterproof pairs of gloves in case one get wet/cold and you have to swap. Maybe even find some kind of heated version for toes and fingers.

 

[Landcruiser]

If you want to know what the weather conditions in Iceland are have a look at these web cams.
https://www.livefromiceland.is/
A lot of snow at the moment, minus 13 degrees C in Reykjavik today!

Wow! These are fascinating! Brrrrrrrr.

 

[phizz4]

And if you want an up to date weather forecast, it's here. Plus earthquakes and floods (Jokulhlaup).
https://en.vedur.is/#tab=spa

 

[atropa]

Just to warn you since you're going in Feb - it can actually get too snowy for proper riding in the winter, despite the hardiness of the horses and the fantastic set up of the country.
I went in January about 5 years ago, there was a huge snow storm while we were there and I only managed a ride down the street and back from the horse farm I was staying at, which is a shame.
One tip for the tolt- easiest to sit to it on the back part of your bum, if that makes sense, with legs sticking out slightly in front.
Have fun - it's an amazing place!

 

[Annagain]

I only did a 1/2 day trek as was in Icelend with my non-horsey OH so didn't take anything special in terms of riding gear but the place I went didn't allow any existing horsey gear at all anyway. I had to sign something to say my jodhpurs were new and they insisted we all wore their boots and waterproofs over our clothes. I was there in May and even with their waterproofs over my clothes I was very glad of the extra layer.

They say you can experience 4 seasons in 1 day in Iceland and we certainly did, t- shirts one minute, then waterproof coats, followed by wearing almost everything we'd packed and two hats each once the rain turned to snow, a few miles down the road, blazing sunshine and back to t-shirts! I had to lend one american girl a jumper as she only had a t-shirt and their waterproof jacket on, she didn't believe the weather could change that quickly. The guides tried to persuade her to take a rucksack but she wouldn't. She was furious they made her wear the waterproofs as they obviously didn't look good in the photos! Anyway, the moral of that story is lots of layers.