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Published: February 24th 2021
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http://www.heygo.com 24th February - Icelandic Horses
I had planned on several virtual trips to Iceland today but the weather was good so cancelled and spent the morning in the garden but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity of visiting an Icelandic Horse Farm.
Our guide Albert, after the introduction, handed the microphone to the owner who explained about these unique horses
The very first members of the breed arrived aboard the Viking ships of Norse settlers sometime between 860 and 935 AD. Although sources don't agree on the breed's exact ancestry, interestingly enough, many of its characteristics can be related to the mere circumstances of this transportation.
Some claim that the animals were chosen because of their short but sturdy stature which made them ideal for overseas travelling.
Since then, selective breeding has made the Icelandic horse what it is today. It has also changed and adapted to its surroundings, seasonally sporting a thick winter coat which it then sheds come springtime.
The horse is undaunted by high winds and snowstorms and capable of feats like wading glacial rivers and crossing rough terrains.
In 982 AD, the
Icelandic parliament passed laws that prohibited any importation of other horse breeds into the country, meaning that for over a thousand years, the breed has been kept in complete isolation within the island.
Consequently, it is one of the purest horse breeds in the world. Although individual animals may be exported, once gone, they may never return. Last year 2000 horses were exported.
About 900 years ago, there were attempts to introduce eastern stock into the Icelandic blood, but this experiment resulted in significant degeneration and came close to wiping out the species.
Great care has since been put into protecting the stock, and as a result, it is exceptionally healthy and long-lived. The average animal might live for up to 40 years, with the oldest reportedly reaching the ripe old age of 59.
The Icelandic horse comes in a rainbow variety of colours of with more than forty basic colourings, as well as over a hundred variations. Additionally, the Icelandic people have long since believed that a horse's colour might reflect its personality.
Is the animal a pony, or is it a horse? You never ask an Icelandic
person that question, ever but by definition, ponies are smaller (under 144 cm) and stockier than horses, with a thicker mane, coat and tail. Although the Icelandic horse might, in some cases, fit that bill, locals will always argue, in length and detail, that the Icelandic animal has the genetic makeup, intelligence and strength of a horse.
The horse he rode today called ‘Scandal’ was 9 yrs old
The national pride Icelanders take in their horse breed dates back to ancient times.
According to Folklore, the first Icelandic book of law states stealing someone's horse was punishable by banishment and convicted horse thieves were outlawed. During the Viking Age in Iceland, all outlaws could be legally killed on sight.
The burial customs of the Vikings was burying the dead with their personal belongings, with so-called grave goods that one might need on their journey to the next world. The higher your rank in society, the more valuable possessions you were able to bring.
It was, therefore, the likes of kings and powerful chieftains that got to have their horse buried with them.
The names of Icelandic horses hold an entire
tradition of their own. Some refer to their colour, like Bleikur (the pink), Gráni (the grey) and Kolfaxi (black-maned).
Others refer to their temperament or personality, like Farfús (likes to travel), Háski (daredevil), Ljúfur (dear) or Prakkari (trickster). Many names furthermore derive from Norse mythology.
The owner explained about the 5 different gaits.
The Walk, The Trot, & The Canter
The uniqueness of the Iceland Horse lies in its two other gaits, the tölt and the flying pace.
The Tölt is a natural, fluid gait, during which at least one foot always touches the ground. The tölt is an extraordinarily smooth four-beat gait, which allows the rider an almost bounce-free ride.
The Flying Pace is a fast, high speed gait (48 kmh - 30 mph), during which both legs on one side of the horse simultaneously touch the ground.
Being a two-beat gait, at one interval all four hooves of the Icelandic Horse are suspended off the ground during a flying pace.
Having absorbed all this information we saddled up and went for a walk, trot, canter, & tölt.
Well these virtual tours are certainly
very diverse and such fun.
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