A balanced herd of 11 Icelandic horses in semi-freedom on 40 ha of land

Despite its small size (between 1.30 and 1.45 m.), the Icelander is a real horse. Short, stocky and very muscular, it is also very rustic and is content with meager and scant food.

The Icelander is descended from Norwegian breeds and various Celtic pony lines introduced to the island by Scandinavian peoples, notably Viking settlers. Indeed, Iceland has never had a native pony.

In the late 19th century, Icelandic horses were exported to work in English and Polish mines.

Imported to Iceland by the Norman Vikings who invaded the island from the 9th century AD, these horses are today a unique example of genetic purity: in fact, since 930, a law has prohibited the importation of horses into the island. Only their export is authorized. There are around 72,000 in Iceland today.

This vigorous, courageous and extremely kind little horse is today known throughout the world for its ancient gaits: the amble and the tölt, which it possesses in addition to the three gaits of walk and trot. and the gallop
-> The 5 gaits of Icelandic horses

The Amble is a regular and rapid gait in which the horse moves the lateral bipeds in turn.

The tolt is the reference gait of the Icelander, it is a sort of very fast four-beat step, during which the horse strongly raises its limbs. The horse always has one or two feet on the ground. There is no suspension time: this permanent support results in incomparable comfort for the rider. It is a clear, rhythmic gait, in four equal beats. On a tölt, an Icelander can travel long distances and reach speeds of 30 to 40 km/h.
-> tölt demonstration

Some Icelandic horses present tölt spontaneously even in the wild: they are then called “natural tölters”. Most Icelanders trot freely, but easily give the tölt under the saddle: they are then called “four-gaiters”. Others behave like the “four-gaits”, but also have a natural amble: they are then called “five-gaits”. An Icelandic horse is a breed of horse that has lived in Iceland since the 800s.

The Icelanders are very proud of their little horses and talk about them with love, among other things in their sagas. They don't like it at all when their horses are taxed as ponies.

Connections : French Icelandic Horse Federation