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Icelandic Horse

Country of Origin: Iceland

Icelandic Horse

Image from soyuz11

Intro

Icelandic horses have a long and well documented breeding history in part due to their isolated and remote location. Known for their hardy and athletic build and happy nature these horses exhibit 5 different gaits and possess one of the purest bloodlines around.

Icelandic Horse

Origins

Horses arrived in Iceland in the ninth century when Vikings from Norway and the British Isles settled there. After around 1100 import of horses was forbidden in Iceland, keeping their breed unadulterated.

These animals remained the main form of transportation in the country until the first roads were built for cars late in the 19th century.

Today the horses in Iceland help to preserve the agricultural traditions of the people who live there. Horses play a large part in the Icelandic economy from horse racing to trading.

Features

Average height 13 – 14 hands
Incredibly strong for their size and can easily carry adults
Possess 5 natural gaits
1. Walk – normal walking gait
2. Tölt – a smooth 4-beat gait similar to trotting
3. Trot – normal trotting gait
4. Pace – also called the flying pace, hooves on the same side touch the ground together, can be as fast as a gallop and used for racing
5. Center or Gallop – normal canter / gallop gait

Physique

Long neck with a thick or double sided mane and long tail

Traditional Colors:

bay | chestnut | black | dun | buckskin & palomino | grey | pinto | Occasionally roan

Temperament

Versatile and eager
Intelligent and spry
Can cover long distances at a fast gait

Icelandic Horse

Use

Show horse
Pleasure horse
Farm horse
Transportation

Icelandic Products

Helpful Links

* All links open in a new window
United States Icelandic Horse Congress
Tolt News
Icelandic Horse Society of Great Britain

Where to Buy

The Icelandic Horse Farm
Icelandic Horses

Icelandic Studs

Tolt News
Icelandic Creations

Video

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Country of Origin: Iceland | Colors:
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