Horse
Pronunciation:
Ice-land-ick
Breed Description:
The Icelandic breed of horse is one of the most famous features of the North Atlantic landscape. Not only is the breed used for every sort of work in a land of glaciers, rivers, lava fields and stony deserts, but they are also used as sport horses in competitive events such as horse shows and races.
Although it is a small breed of horse, the Icelandic breed of horse is an enormously muscular animal. Its head is heavy and its relatively small body is compact. Its legs are short and strong, and it has an active, long and free action with powerful engagement of the hind legs. Icelandic horses have great agility and are very sure-footed. In spite of their size, they can carry grown men at speed and at long periods of time without tiring.
Selective breeding of Icelandic horses began in the late 19th century. Today there are at least 15 basic color types and combinations of Icelandic horse, including both piebald and skewbald. Some studs breed particular colors for example chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail.
Icelandic horses have only been interbred with horses on Iceland since the arrival of the Viking settlers. No horses may be imported into Iceland, and no horses that are exported are permitted to return.
Temperament:
The Icelandic breed of horse is easy to handle, enthusiastic and self-assured. Icelanders take great pride in the Icelandic breed of horse because of its loyal, friendly and gentle temperament, and its intelligent and calm nature.
Height:
The Icelandic breed of horse averages between 12.3 hands and 13.2 hands, or 51 to 54 inches at the withers.
Weight:
The Icelandic breed of horse averages between 730 and 840 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Icelandic breed of horse developed in isolation from all other horse breeds and as a result has virtually no natural immunities. Because of this Icelandic horses are very susceptible to most horse diseases and so they are regularly vaccinated for all equine diseases, including Eastern, Western and Venezuelan encephalitis, equine influenza, tetanus, strangles, Potomac horse fever and west Nile disease.
Living Conditions:
The Icelandic breed of horse is exceptionally hardy. These horses can cope with the rough and rocky volcanic terrain, rock slides and quick-sand. They can also adapt to extremely harsh weather conditions and very poor grazing.
Exercise:
The Icelandic breed of horse is usually only exercised if in-work or are being ridden in competitions.
Life Expectancy:
The Icelandic breed of horse averages anything from 25 to 30 years.
Grooming:
The Icelandic breed of horse has a long and thick coat during winter and if in work will need to be groomed regularly. In summer they lose their winter coats which become rather short and sleek. They always have thick manes and tails with coarse hair that rarely tangles.
Origin:
The Icelandic horse is said to have originated from Celtic horses that were taken to Iceland by boat from Norway and Britain in the 9th century. The horses have been isolated on the island for nearly a thousand years. This makes the Icelandic horse one of the oldest breeds in the world.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Icelandic horse is its incredible genetic purity. Because the horses have been isolated for so long, there has been no outside blood introduced since the Althing (which is the world’s oldest parliament) introduced a law in the year 930 (AD) that prohibited the importation of foreign horses into Iceland.
