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Introduction.
For most people, the name Iceland conjures up images of a cold, harsh country far removed from the mainstream of the equine world. While it’s true that Iceland is isolated by virtue of distance and climate, this very isolation has led to the development of a pure, special breed – appropriately known as the Icelandic horse.
History.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Icelandic horse’s heritage is the total isolation under which the breed developed. Historical records indicate that the Vikings brought the first horses to Iceland in the latter half of the 9th century. The importation of horses into Iceland has been forbidden since approximately 1100, meaning the breed has remained pure for close to 1,000 years. In fact, the law forbidding importation remains in effect to this day, which means that any Icelandic horse exported from Iceland can never return. The law even extends to horse-related equipment – importation of used tack and equipment is forbidden unless the items are completely disinfected. As a result, the Icelandic horse is virtually disease-free in its native country.
From its earliest days, the Icelandic horse has played a vital role in both the lives and culture of its home. As the only source of transportation in Iceland, the horse was obviously used for riding and as a pack animal. During the time of the Vikings, good horses were prized by warriors, to the point that horse and rider were sometimes buried side by side. Medieval art and literature from Iceland also illustrate the breed’s use as racehorses and fighting horses.
In addition, the horse played a major role in Icelandic mythology. In one tale, Loki, the trickster god, turned into a breeding mare to entice a giant’s stallion away; the resulting foal was Sleipner, an eight-legged horse that belonged to the supreme god Odin. Shining Mane and Frosty Mane were the names given to the horses driven by the gods of Day and Night. Horses were also associated with other gods and goddesses including Gna, the messenger goddess, and Freyr, the god of plenty.
Foundation.
As with any breed of ancient origin, different theories exist about the Icelandic’s forebears. Some hold that the horses the Vikings brought with them were related to the English Exmoor pony or the Shetland pony, while others point to similarities in bone structure between ancient German and Norwegian horses and the horses that accompanied the Vikings. Yet another theory contends that there was a separate species of horse, Equus scandinavicus, found in northern Europe, and that the Icelandic is descended from that species.
Type.
Just as Iceland is known as the land of ice and fire, so its native breed displays both. Intelligent, good-tempered and docile, it is almost unheard of for an Icelandic horse to bite or kick. Since there are no natural predators in Iceland, the breed’s instinctive flee response is not as strongly developed, as a result the Icelandic is less “spooky” than many other breeds. However, under this calm, quiet exterior lurks a powerhouse motor, complete with five speeds – the traditional walk, trot, and canter, plus the tolt and the flying pace.
The tolt is a four-beat running walk. The hooves hit the ground in the same four-beat pattern as the walk, but with more height, speed and animation to the stride. Incredibly smooth for the rider, the tolt can be performed at any speed. The flying pace, as the name implies, is a fast two-beat lateral gait. Used for racing, a horse performing the flying pace can travel at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.
Known for their longevity, many Icelandics can be found still working at age 25 or 30. Because of this, the youngsters are generally slow to develop, and therefore usually don’t begin their training until age four. No artificial training aids or devices are permitted at any time in an Icelandic horse’s training – all five gaits are completely natural.
Today there are approximately 75,000 – 80,000 representatives of the breed in Iceland, and about 70,000 Icelandic horses in 19 other countries around the world. The number of horses in Iceland today is quite remarkable when you consider that the country’s total population is only 270,000 people. Unlike many countries, where the advent of the automobile greatly diminished the horse in numbers and importance for many years, in Iceland horses never underwent this decline.
The first breed show was held in 1906, shortly after motorized transportation reached the country, and since that time, the horse has been a key aspect of Icelanders’ leisure activities, from shows to racing to long distance trekking. The main competition season is obviously during the summer, but games and indoor shows continue throughout the long winter season. Overall, horses are viewed as a means of preserving Iceland’s agricultural heritage. Referred to for much of its history as “the most useful servant”, the breed is treasured to this day for the role it has played throughout the centuries.
Colors.
More than 100 names for the colors and shades of the breed exist in the Icelandic language. Chestnut, brown, bay, and black are the most common colors, but dun, buckskin, piebald, skewbald, palomino, and more can be found. Silver dapple, where the coat is a rich chocolate shade with a silver mane and tail, is just one example of the more unique color combinations found within the breed.
