Commonly referred to as the land of fire and ice, Iceland is a country that has an abundance of things to offer anyone who chooses to visit there. There are many things that people may be unfamiliar with about Iceland, and one of the subjects may be the Icelandic horses that call Iceland home. There is much more to these horses than may initially meet the eye, so here are some interesting facts that you should know about the incredible Icelandic horses before taking your next adventure to Iceland!
One with the Vikings
The first thing that you should know about Icelandic horses is that they were brought to Iceland by the Scandinavian Vikings, which are also known as the Norse settlers. It is thought that the horses were brought over somewhere around the 9th century, which was a long time ago! It is a common belief that the horses could only be brought over two at a time on the ships, so only the strongest, healthiest, best line of horses were brought overseas. These horses have been around for a long time and have a great history that goes back to the beginning of Iceland!
Tiny but Mighty
Upon first look, an Icelandic horse could easily be mistaken as a pony, but what you must know is that these horses are much more than a pony and have earned the title of horse! Icelandic horses can only grow to a height of twelve or fourteen hands high (which is about four or five feet tall) and they can grow to weigh between 600 and 800 pounds. What these horses lack in size, they definitely make up for in strength. When compared to other breeds of horses, pound-for-pound, they take the medal for being the strongest breed in the world. Make sure you do not underestimate these strong little horses when you see them next time you visit Iceland.
Five Gaits is Better than Three
There is one thing in particular that makes Icelandic horses so unique from other horses and that is that they have five gaits (which is more than the typical three or four that other horses have). The gaits that Icelandic horses have are walking, trotting, cantering, tölt, and flying pace. Tölt is a four-beat gait in which one foot is always touching the ground and the flying pace is a two-beat gait in which there is a time where all four hooves are suspended off of the ground. If you get the opportunity to ride one of these talented horses, make sure to keep their immense talent and skill in mind.
Every Color of the Rainbow
Another thing to know about Icelandic horses, which you may be able to recognize when you see them, is that they come in a variety of colors and color combinations: around 42 to be exact. Icelandic people have come up with many different names that they use to describe the colors and patterns that are shown on these magnificent animals. A few examples of the names that are used for these horses are svartur, which means that the horse is all black; jarpur, which means the horse is red/brown but has a black mane and tail; skjóttur, which means that the horse has large patches of different color(s), or moldóttur, which means that the horse is a yellowish-brown color with a black mane a tail. Make sure to brush up on your Icelandic horse names before traveling there and see just how many you can identify!
Purest of them All
Icelandic horses have been the only breed of horse in Iceland since they were brought to Iceland many years ago. They are commonly known as being the purest breed in the world because no other breed of horse has been allowed to breed with them, let alone be around them. In order to keep this line of purebred, healthy horses intact, Iceland has created very specific and strict laws regarding the horses. Three of the specific laws that they have in place are as follows: One, no other breed of horse is allowed to enter the country; two, any form of riding equipment that is brought into Iceland must either be new or thoroughly sanitized; and three, once an Icelandic horse leaves the country, they are never allowed to return. While it may seem a little harsh, it is important to keep the strong lineage of these horses safe.
Built to be Warm
It is no secret that Iceland can get cold, like negative fourteen degrees cold! While the weather does vary throughout the year, anyone and anything that lives there must learn to adjust to the different temperatures. This leads to the next thing that you must know about Icelandic horses: they are very well equipped with a double layer coat to keep them warm year-round. It is cold in Iceland and they have become accustomed to preparing for the cold. This warm coat can reach anywhere from ten to fifteen centimeters long everywhere on their body and works as insulation thick enough to keep the cold out and the warmth in. Seeing these horses in the winter will make you wish that you had brought a thicker coat in your suitcase!
In it for the Long Haul
The next thing that you should know about Icelandic horses is that they have a long life span. One reason that people think this may be is because they mature later than other breeds of horses. Other breeds begin the training and riding process as young as eighteen months, but Icelandic horses do not typically begin training until the age of four. The oldest Icelandic horse that has ever been recorded lived to the age of 57.
One, Two, Three, Four, Horse!
When walking around exploring Iceland, it is extremely likely that you will see many many Icelandic horses. This is because the human to horse ratio in the country is extremely high. The estimated population of Iceland is around 360,000 and the estimated population of Icelandic horses is around 80,000 which divides down to about one horse to every four-and-a-half people. That is a huge population of horses in one place which has helped Iceland get the title of being one of the most horse dense places in the world. On your next adventure to Iceland, make sure to keep your eyes peeled in order to see as many Icelandic horses as you can.
These incredible horses are unlike any other and are well worth taking a trip to see. There are many opportunities to ride and interact with these amazing creatures when you visit! Let Acanela help you make all of your wildest Icelandic horse dreams come true in Iceland!
Post written by Jaide Matson