Special Sub-Topic: The Icelandic Horse Click Here To Play: The Icelandic Horse

Which country does the Icelandic horse originate from?

Iceland. The Icelandic horse's name is true to its country of origin. Developed in 865 A.D., the Icelandic horse is around 12 to 14.2 hands high.

What is the maximum number of gaits an Icelandic horse can have?

5. While some Icelandic horses only possess three gaits (walk, trot and canter), most members of this breed showcase four or five gaits: the walk, trot, tölt (a smooth, four-beat lateral gait that is similar to the rack of a Tennessee Walking Horse), canter and (in the case of 5 gaits) the Flying Pace. The Flying Pace is a lateral racing gait that can equal the speed of a full gallop and is used in Iceland for racing. To Icelanders, riding at the Flying Pace is considered the crown of horsemanship. According to the website www.icehorse.com, an Icelandic horse has been clocked at 35 miles per hour during the flying pace!

Which of these coat colors can the Icelandic horse have?

all of these (palomino, black, pinto). According to the Icelandic horse website (icehorse.com), the Icelandic horse can appear in 42 different color combinations, with more than a hundred variations! Aside from appearing in so many different colors, they can also carry 1/3 of their body weight, which I found very interesting!

Which of these is the Icelandic horse used for?

All of these (Endurance riding, Dressage, Racing). They have been used for all of these, and many more. The Icelandic horse is truly an all around horse.

Could the Vikings have ridden the Icelandic horse?

y. Yes, apparently they were the horses that the Vikings themselves rode. The breed is much like it was so many years ago because there was a ban on importing horses into Iceland-a ban which is still in effect as of 2004.

Which is not a well-known Icelandic horse gait?

Gallop. The Icelandic horse has five gaits, the walk, trot, canter, tolt, flying pace and gallop. The tolt is a very fast walk, while the flying pace is like the name suggests-a very quick pace, which is when the legs on the same side move in unison.

About what age is the Icelandic horse trained with tack?

4. According to the Icelandic Horse Homepage, and the website www.icehorse.com, the training of an Icelandic horse begins at around the age of 4. That's because the Icelandic horse matures slowly. At age 5, the real training begins, with competitions and everything, although to see a five-year old is very unusual.

Which 2 breeds is the Icelandic horse thought to originate from?

Dole Horse of Norway & Celtic Pony. The Celtic pony is also the ancestor to the Exmoor and Shetland pony. The Icelandic horse comes from Northern Scandinavia and the British Isles-and has remained a pure breed throughout the years.

What is an allergy that 1/4 of all Icelandic horses imported from Iceland get?

Sweet Itch. Sweet Itch is caused by an allergy to the saliva of the Culicoides midges. Since Sweet Itch is an allergy, it is not curable, and the allergy may not show up until several years after importation.

Why was the Icelandic horse first brought to Britain?

To work in the coal mines.. They were first brought over to work in the coal mines, much like the Connemara's worked in the mines. All of my information came from three websites, which were The Icelandic Horse Society of Great Britian (http://www.ihsgb.freeserve.co.uk/), the Icelandic Horse Homepage, which is also known as Icelandic Horse Acres (www.icehorse.com), and the Icelandic Horse Home Page (www.imh.org/imh/bw/iceland.html)