Riding Icelandic horses is something very special. No matter whether you are an experienced rider or a newcomer to the saddle. The horses full of character with the expressive eyes let everybody get weak. And anyone who has ever ridden the gait tölt through the Icelandic landscape will be thrilled. Here you can find out why you should definitely ride an Icelandic horse on Iceland and what you should keep in mind.
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What makes the Icelandic Horse so special?
"Icelandic Horses - the Mercedes compact class with the five-speed transmission!"
A popular saying among Icelandic horse riders.
I'm not kidding. Most horses run the gaits walk, trot and gallop. Icelandic horses can do more: the tölt and some also the pass. The tölt feels like rolling through the landscape with a sofa.
The pass is a gait that is only ridden at racing speed over short distances. The horse develops an enormous power and energy. Not every Icelandic horse masters the racing pass, the royal gait. A slow pass, on the other hand, is considered a mistake, it is difficult to sit and tends to throw you out of the saddle.
A unique Character
In the 9th century the first Viking ships landed on the uninhabited island in the North Atlantic. They brought horses with them. But 500 to 700 years ago the importation of horses stopped. Since then, the Icelandic horse has developed without crossbreeding. It adapted to the living conditions on Iceland and learned to survive in the open air all year round.
Icelandic horses are known worldwide for their friendly, open-minded and mostly uncomplicated character. They have a quick mind, are cooperative and willing to work. The lively competition horse can patiently carry an inexperienced rider the next moment. There are stories where the horses should have saved the lives of their riders. A friend for life then. But at the same time the animals are very self-confident and independent. They are accustomed to herd life and develop their own social structures, cliques and friendships in them. Young animals, which are not yet used for riding, live half wild in the mountains in summer. There is no better school than the wild Icelandic nature.
Icelandic horses: keep calm and fall in love.
Another popular saying among Icelandic horse riders.
How did such a special character develop in an entire horse breed? An Icelander once explained it to me like this: when a horse has developed unwanted characteristics, it ends up in the cooking pot. Hmmm.
Reiten in Island – ein “Must Do”
Icelandic horses are almost omnipresent in Iceland. There are countless riding stables and farms and many offer guided rides. How to find a horse farm:
- You do your research beforehand on the Internet and get in touch with the farm
- Flyer in the hotel, campsite or in the tourist information
- For all spontaneous people: You follow the signs of a riding stable on the street
What you should consider when booking a Ride:
- Ask for the type of ride and choose the appropriate category (beginner or advanced).
- The group size! Be sure to ask in advance. For me personally, six riders is the limit.
- Important: Ask if riding helmets are available.
- Many farms also offer a more brisk ride in small groups on request. Or they lead a group with two guides and later split a group into a faster or slower one. This is what Vík Horse Adventures did, for example, where I went riding.
What do I wear to ride?
- Sturdy sneakers or hiking boots that are not so wide so that you don't get stuck in the stirrups
- Comfortable trousers ( riding breeches are not necessary), for example jeans or softshell trousers. Make sure that there are no zippers on the inside of the legs, this can chafe.
- Depending on the weather, rain protection, gloves and a thin cap/buff under the helmet
- If you want to bring a camera, you should store it in a small belly bag. Backpacks cannot be taken on the horse.
- You may need to bring sunscreen, sunglasses and fly net.
Before you go riding - you need to know
The isolated location of Iceland means that some equine diseases do not exist in Iceland. However, infectious diseases can be introduced by riders who travel to Iceland. Therefore you must thoroughly disinfect your riding equipment that you bring to Iceland. New equipment can also be brought in, of course.
The riding clothes are usually washed with a hygienic detergent. Shoes, helmets and safety vests are cleaned with a liquid disinfectant. Used riding gloves and all used leather articles, such as chaps, may not be imported.
In addition, there is a weight limit for the riders between 90 and 120 kilograms for the welfare of the animals. This varies from stable to stable, depending on the size and strength of the horses and the type of ride. If you are unsure, please ask before.
Multiday Horseback Riding in Iceland
For those who can't get enough. Iceland is perfect for trail rides lasting several days and the choice is huge. It ranges from rides in the green south to crossings of the highlands on Sprengisandur or Kjölur.
In 2010 I did a 7-day trekking ride with Eldhestar in the south of Iceland. It was fantastic! We were 12 riders and had a free running herd with change horses with us. There were 6 riders in front of the herd and 6 behind. We were riding fast, 4 to 6 hours a day, mostly in tölt. In the evening we had comfortable accommodation in huts.
For the experts: Every year in September the sheep and horses are driven from the mountains down to the valley. It is always a big social event that lasts several days. Experienced riders can take part in the drive.
Landsmot
Alle zwei Jahre findet in dem Ort Hella im Süden von Island das Landsmot takes place every two years in the village of Hella in the south of Iceland. The best Icelandic horses meet here in various competitions and show rides . Since the import of horses to Iceland is prohibited, only horses from Iceland take part in the Landsmot. Maybe you're in the country when it happens.
By the way: If an Icelandic horse takes part in a competition or the World Cup outside of Iceland, it is not allowed to go back to Iceland for infection protection reasons!
Endless Motifs - Photo Tips for Icelandic Horses
Taking pictures of Icelandic horses is really fun and never gets boring. The animals are curious and have bright, alert eyes. You can also find all imaginable horse colors. Many of them wear white badges. Piebalds are also common. Here are a few of my favorite motif ideas:
- Catch a colorful mixture of horses with the camera
- The horses mane is often very long and bushy and a great motif. The best thing is when the wind reaches into the mane
- Detailed shots, for example the expressive eyes
- Interactions between two or more horses
- A classic: beautiful horse in a beautiful landscape.
- In winter: Icelandic horses in the snow with winter fur are a wonderful sight! The fur insulates so well that snow remains on horseback and does not thaw.
Riding Icelandic Horses in Brandenburg, Germany
What luck! Icelandic horses cannot only be ridden in Iceland. That is also possible in Brandenburg near Berlin. Or in Denmark, Norway and many other countries. The Icelandic horse is very popular and a real “Icelandic horse scene” has developed. In Germany, the IPZV (Icelandic Horse Rider and Breeder Association e.V.) is the number one contact point . You can get to the regional farm maps via the regional associations and find an Islandic horse farm near you. Here you can find the farm map Berlin / Brandenburg. My favorite farm? The Laekurhof in Groß Briesen for about 13 years.
Book Recommendations for Iceland
Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you.
You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. This does not make the product more expensive for you.
Have you ever been riding an Icelandic horse in Iceland? How did you like it? Do you have any questions or suggestions about my article? If so, please write me a comment!
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Recommendations for further Reading
Do you love the Scandinavian countries as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about the Faroe Islands or a tour on a Dog Sled from Tasiilaq to Tiniteqilaaq in East Greenland.
