The fascination of the Icelandic horse: Small power horse with many gaits

Breeding and history of the Icelandic horse

Icelandic horses come, as their name suggests, from the Nordic island of Iceland. Due to the ban on importing other horses and strict breeding rules, Icelanders have developed into one of the purest horse breeds. An Icelandic horse that is sold to the mainland is not allowed to find its way back to the island. But how did the horses end up on the island?

The first horses arrived in Iceland with the Vikings in the 9th century when they fled from the Norwegian king. They had both Germanic and Celtic ponies with them, which they brought back from their raids in England and Ireland. The Icelandic horses we know today originated from the crossing of these two.

When attempts were made to import more ponies and cross-breed them with the island horses, the population declined sharply due to imported diseases. Therefore, according to legend, the Althing parliament decided to import more horses as early as 930. Isolated from the outside world, Icelandic horses have remained pure for over 1,000 years, making them the oldest known pure breed.

Until the 19th century, Icelandic horses were the only means of transportation on the island. With the expansion of the roads, the importance of Icelandic horse breeding declined sharply until the 1940s, when the focus was mainly on breeding riding horses. Icelandic breeding received a further boost with the export boom to Germany in the 1950s and 1960s. Here, leisure riding became more important, and the advantages of the Icelandic horse as a versatile and reliable leisure partner were recognized.

When the focus changed once again and shifted to competition riding, the Icelander lost its importance as a family horse suitable for leisure riding. The priority as a gaited horse for the sport grew and with it the price level for Icelanders. A ridden Iclandic horse with five gaits can cost between 15 and 20,000 euros.

‍Organized Icelandic horse breeding

The IPZV, the German breeders' association for Icelandic horses, was finally founded in 1967. After all, Germany is the largest breeding area and export country for Icelandic horses after Iceland. The IPZV organizes breeding and competitions in the country, whereby it is oriented towards the European umbrella association FEIF (Federation of European Icelandic Horse Associations, now renamed the International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations). The FEIF defines the international breeding criteria and regulates the performance tests.

Although the IPZV is the number one contact in the breeding of Icelandic horses, it is not allowed to issue equine passports or its branding. Horses bred in Iceland, however, are branded with a cold brand on the left side of the back, which consists of a five-digit number combination. This provides information about the year of birth, origin/region, breeder number, and number of horses. This brand identifies the horse in the Icelandic breeding register.

Breeding Icelandic horses in Iceland itself

In Iceland itself, horses are not bred solely as riding horses. Just 40% are kept as riding horses. The remaining percentage is used for meat production, among other things, as horse meat is just as important to the islanders as any other type of meat. The island is divided into two breeding camps: the grassy south is suitable for meat horse breeding, and the horses here are coarser and broader than in the north, where the focus is on riding horse breeding. The Icelandics in the north are therefore narrower and more elegant.

‍Icelandic horses in mythology, folklore, and poetry

Icelandics have always been held in high esteem by the islanders and Vikings. Icelandic horses are the national pride of the Icelandic horses. This is made clear by the many stories from mythology and folklore. Literature, poetry, and folklore litter the horses with admiration as loyal servants, friends, and companions. Odin, for example, rode an eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, who is said to have been an Icelander. Vikings were buried with their belongings after their death. The wealthier and more respected a Viking was, the more he could take with him to the grave. Kings and lords, for example, had themselves buried with their horses so that they had their faithful companions by their side in the underworld. The inseparable link between Icelandic horses and Norse mythology is still kept alive today through the naming of the horses.

Exterior of the Icelandic horse

Icelandic horses are load carriers

You can't ask an Icelander whether an Icelandic horse belongs to the classification of horses or rather ponies. Unless you want to start an argument. For the islanders, their four-legged friends are horses. However, they only reach a height of between 130 and 150 cm, which is pony size according to the German standard. Nevertheless, Icelandic horses are weight-bearers that can even carry grown men, depending on their caliber. Studies show that Icelandic horses achieve over 120% of the performance of cold-blooded horses to their body weight. This means that their performance is 42 % higher than that of a warm-blooded horse, but their feed requirement is only 70 %. They are strong, but very frugal animals. 

‍Body structure and gaits of the Icelandic horse

Icelandic horses can be stocky horses with pony charm or Icelandics with a riding horse type, which are elegant and muscular. In general, however, they have a fine head with delicate ears and alert eyes. The nasal bone is straight and ends in wide nostrils. The neck is long and erect and set on the rump. The back should be elastic, the shoulder sloping to allow the forehand sufficient rotation for tolt and amble. The foundation is characterized by straight front legs, and the hind legs can be slightly flared.

The gaits are elastic and energetic and should be tactful. Icelandics are also characterized by their sure-footedness, which makes them a reliable cross-country horse, especially for beginners and children. Depending on their disposition, Icelandic horses can also demonstrate tölt and pass in addition to the three basic gaits.

‍Fur colors

An Icelanicic horse´s conformation is rounded off with a fluffy mane, thick tail, and a lot of mop of hair. In winter, Icelandics develop a plush coat that protects them from wind and rain.

Since Icelandic horse breeding concentrates on strength, character, and conformation as well as gait, the colors are secondary. Therefore, in addition to the basic colors chestnut, black, and bay, a variety of shades of these are represented. Officially, 40 basic colors are registered and 100 color variations are possible. However, there are no tiger pieds among Icelandics.

‍Icelandic horses do not reach physical maturity until they are around seven years old. Therefore, breaking in should not be started earlier than four or five years of age to protect the still immature conformation. If kept and cared for well, Icelanders have an average life span of 25 to 40 years, and many can still be ridden without hesitation up to the age of 25.

Special gaits tolt and amble

The additional gaits tolt and amble cannot be taught to every horse. The predisposition must be genetically determined by a mutation. Therefore, not all Icelandic horses have the predisposition for all five gaits - some Icelandics do not have them at all. Icelandic horses that can tolt in addition to walk, trot, and canter are called four gaited, Icelandic horses with an additional amble are called five-gaited. Icelandic horses that can tolt in the pasture instead of trotting are called natural tolt horses.
The breeding goal is for an Icelandic horse to be easy to ride at all gaits.

‍Tolt

The tolt is a clear four-beat with eight phases and is similar to the walk in terms of the foot sequence but at a higher speed. Instead of several hooves as in the walk, only one or two hooves touch the ground in the tölt. There is no hovering phase. This results in an almost vibration-free gait that allows the rider to sit comfortably and quietly. The unique sitting feeling has contributed significantly to the popularity of Icelandic horses.

The horse carries its head proudly when tolting, the forehand describes a high action. The tolt can be ridden at walking or cantering speed (racing tolt). If the horse does not tolt correctly, it performs a slow amble, the so-called pig pass.

Amble and flying pace

In the amble, known as a skeid in Icelandic, the lateral pairs of legs move in a two-beat motion. There is a hovering phase in between, resulting in four phases. In the flying pace, the lateral pairs of legs touch the ground so briefly that it almost looks as if the horse is flying.

At gaited horse shows, the flying pace is tested over short distances (100 to 250 m), among other things. Icelandic horses can reach speeds of up to 45 km/h here.

Although tolt and amble are genetically predisposed in many Icelandics due to a mutation and some also tölt naturally, the gaits and their posture still need to be trained. The gaits are not always clearly delineated from one another and in perfect time, but rather a veritable gait salad is created. Icelandic riders who tend to pass in tölt often use bale boots or bell boots with weight to manipulate the trajectory of the hooves. The attached weight keeps the respective hoof on the ground for longer, resulting in a shift in rhythm. The horse becomes looser in the loin (passers-by are often tense) and the lateral leg support is shifted to the single leg support.

Characteristics of the Icelandic horse

• Friendly, good-natured, uncomplicated and easy to handle
• Self-confident and lively
• Eager to learn with a quick grasp
• Undaunted, courageous
• Frugal
• Robust, healthy, tough
• With pronounced social behavior 

Distribution, areas of use and naming of the Icelandic horse

The largest breeding area for Icelandics is, of course, their country of origin itself. As of 2020, there are around 280,000 Icelandic horses worldwide, of which there are over 90,000 horses in Iceland. Iceland is followed by Germany as the next largest breeding area with around 65,000 Icelandic horses.

The figures show just how popular Icelandic horses are. It is not only their special gaits tolt and amble, but also their character and versatility that make them popular leisure and competition horses that can be found in many areas of equestrian sport:

• Sure-footed cross-country horse
• Trail horse
• Reliable school horse for beginners and children
• Specialists in tolt and amble/ flying pace at gaited horse shows
• Misjudged dressage talents
• Versatile circus horses

No matter where they are at home in the world, Icelandic horses are generally always given an Icelandic name. The Icelandic islanders are very proud of their language, which they want to preserve at all costs. This is why there is a naming committee specifically for Icelandic horses, where names are registered.

But before a horse is given its name in Iceland, every animal is first called Svona or Svona-svona or Svona-Karlin. This means nothing more than "like this". When the horses come from the summer pastures in the highlands to the lowlands and are penned, their coat color and personality are looked at to give them a suitable name. The names of Icelandic horses therefore describe the horse's coat color, character, and gait. But names from mythology are also popular.

In addition to the actual name, the horse is often given the suffix frá (from/from) and then the name of the breeder. In this way, the breeder is also immortalized in the name of the horse.

By the way: A widespread Icelandic opinion is:
‍Never ridea horse whose name you don't know or understand!

Icelandic horses on the showground

Icelandic horses compete against each other in gait tests on the oval and passing tracks at gaited horse shows and demonstrate their gait ability. Their rideability and the quality of their basic gaits, tolt, and amble are tested here. Other tests at gaited horse shows include flying pace, flag races, obedience (similar to a dressage test), agility, and gallop races.

Icelandic horses are the only horse breed for which special competitions and tournaments are held. While amateur riders compete with their Icelandic horses at the Hestadagar competitions ("Horse Days"), professional riders come together at the Icelandic Horse World Championships. The International Gæðingakeppni Championship was held for the first time in 2012 in Aegidienberg near Bonn at the gaited horse center.

Fun fact: a new breed of horse, the Aegidienberger, which looks very similar to its Icelandic relatives, was created in Aegidienberg by crossing the Icelandic horse and the Paso Peruano.

You will come across the following abbreviations at Icelandic horse shows: OSI, DJIM, DIM - these describe the type of show:

• OSI - Open Show for Icelandic Horses: for riders of all levels as well as beginners
• DJIM - German Youth Icelandic Horse Championships: You have to qualify for participation by scoring a certain number of points
• DIM - German Icelandic Horse Championships: Here, too, you have to qualify by achieving a certain number of points. DIM tournaments are also divided into children, youths & juniors and adults.

Keeping and caring for Icelandic horses

In their native Iceland, Icelandic horses, which are not ridden or worked, are still kept semi-wild to this day. They spend the summer in large herds in the highlands, far away from human contact. Only in the fall are they driven back to the lowlands to spend the winter here. However, the way they are kept is not entirely up to the farmers but is prescribed by Icelandic animal welfare regulations. It takes into account the way the horses are used.

This form of husbandry is of course not feasible in our German cultural landscape. Nevertheless, you should choose the best possible form for your Icelandic horse that is as gentle as possible on the nature of the Icelandic horse.

This means that an Icelandic horse needs a herd with plenty of exercise. An open stable with access to pasture is best suited for this. Social contact as well as fresh air, light, and exercise help the robust Icelander to remain balanced and friendly.

An Icelandic horse does not need a warm stable, and certainly not a pure box stall. Most Icelandic horses do not need to be covered either. Icelandic horses are perfectly happy in snow, rain, and wind. Nevertheless, a stable shelter is essential in both summer and winter. Even if the horse does not seek shelter during snowstorms or horizontal rain, it should have the choice - no matter how robust it is or how you want to keep it. In summer, a shelter can be useful for shade and insect protection. This is particularly important for Icelanders prone to eczema.

In the fall, Icelandics prepare for winter, become calmer and eat more to build up a thick winter coat and fat reserves. Here, not only the herd is necessary to warm up, but also sufficient feed.

Special features in the feeding of Icelandic horses

Feeding a horse imported from Iceland can be particularly difficult in our latitudes. This is because the forage available on the Nordic island is sparse, but extremely varied and balanced with mosses, lichens, and herbs. A horse in Iceland is therefore less likely to suffer from an excess of energy and a lack of minerals. This contrasts with the forage available in our latitudes: Fat pastures combined with little space and insufficient exercise lead to excess energy and overweight in many Icelandic horses - imported or bred here.

The consequences are serious: sweet itch, laminitis, EMS and joint problems are therefore not uncommon in Icelandic horses.

The diet of an Icelandic must therefore be high quality and sparse, with low amounts of sugar and starch, but enriched with minerals and vitamins.

You should pay particular attention to the supply of trace elements. Many robust breeds such as the Icelandic horses develop a lot of winter coat, mane, and tail hair. Their need for zinc, copper, selenium, and biotin is therefore higher than that of other horse breeds. 

Icelandics and the fish

You often hear that Icelandic horses are fed fish in winter. This is true, but only partially. While it is unique in the equine world that free-living Icelandic horses near the sea also eat washed-up seaweed to provide iodine, iron, magnesium, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids, among other things, fish is only included in their diet when necessary. In winter, when the forage and mosses and lichens are buried under a thick, impenetrable layer of snow, some farmers give their horses leftover fish, especially cod and herring. Nowadays, however, modern fish farming leaves very little left over, so the horses rarely "get a taste" of it. 

Breed-typical disease of Icelandic horses

Although Icelandic horses are considered to be robust and extremely healthy animals due to their pure breed, many health problems are reported. At the top of the list is a sweet itch. The reason is simple, but also crucial: imported Icelandic horses are confronted with unfamiliar living conditions to which they find it difficult or impossible to adapt. In Iceland, horses are simply not familiar with viruses and pathogenic bacteria. The farmers there do not vaccinate their horses and the vet is a rare guest. For this reason, there may be an increased susceptibility to viral diseases in the country of import.

Only the most common diseases in Icelandic horses are listed below:

‍Summer eczema

Sweet itch is an allergic overreaction to the saliva of black flies (not present in Iceland). If there is a real attack by mosquitoes, i.e. if the horse is bitten in large numbers, the release of histamine is stimulated. In combination with a lack of exercise, an oversupply of energy, a lack of minerals, obesity, and a poor immune system, the histamine accumulates and is no longer broken down. What begins as an itchy mosquito bite quickly turns into unbearable, constant itching all over the body.

Imported Icelandic horses suffer relatively more frequently from sweet itch than those bred on the continent. The first generations of imported Icelandics in particular suffered from the allergic reaction. In the meantime, however, the situation has normalized.

To protect your Icelandic horse from sweet itch or alleviate its symptoms, you can do the following:

• Feeding/energy supply adapted to its range of movement
• Lots of movement through posture and work
• Combine fly spray with eczema rugs
• Dry pasture, away from standing water, with good ventilation
• Dark, cool shelters
• Use creams, shampoos and oils specially designed for horses with eczema regularly to relieve itching
• It may be advisable to add zinc, biotin, copper and selenium to the feed. Please check with a vet or professional feed consultant beforehand

‍Obesity and its consequences

Like many robust and pony breeds, Icelandic horses also tend to become overweight if fed and kept incorrectly. If the fat does not come off, this can lead to EMS or laminitis which are also common diseases in Icelandic horses.

During treatment, it is important to slowly switch from a high-energy to a low-energy roughage diet with a high-dose mineral feed to get the overweight under control. This is the only way to prevent laminitis or even prevent the first laminitis averted. However, bear in mind that laminitis can have many causes. Therefore, always consult your vet.

‍Spat- Osteoarthritis of the ankle joint

Spavin, one form of osteoarthrit is a common joint disease in ponies that leads to ossification of the hock joint with lameness and stiffness in the hindquarters. Experts have discovered a hereditary predisposition to spavin in Icelandic breeding. Not necessarily, but some Icelandic hoorses also develop osteoarthritis in the hindquarters due to a malposition of the hindquarters.

Due to their genetic predisposition, 5- and 6-year-old stallions have had to undergo a spar test at their first material test since 2006. This is stipulated in the FEIF Icelandic Horse Breeding Regulations (FIZO).

‍

‍

Author: Mirjam-Sophie Freigang