ICELANDIC HORSE

The island country of Iceland is nestled where the waters of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans meet, with Greenland to the west and Norway to the east. It’s a country of approximately 370,000 people, and is home to one of the world’s most beloved gaited breeds: the Icelandic horse.
Imagine a breathtaking icy landscape, inhabited by hardy, rugged horses that are well-suited to life in a cold northern climate. The horses have plenty of substance, abundant manes and tails, and five distinct gaits: the walk, trot, canter, tdlt, and flying pace. They’re endearingly beautiful and enduringly long-lived. There’s a lot to love about Icelandics!
Are They Ponies?
Sharp-eyed readers may point to the Icelandic’s height of 12 to 14 hands and say, Hey, that’s not a horse—that’s a pony!” And while it’s true that most horse/pony divisions hinge on the critical 14.2 hands asa reference point, there is no word for pony” in the Icelandic language. This might be because there was historically only one type of equine on the island, and thus no need for multiple words to differentiate between them. But there’s more to it than that—the Icelandic horse has a shape and characteristics that are more reminiscent of a horse’s build than a pony’s, similar to the way Miniature Horses retain horse proportions despite their tiny size.
No Equine Imports
Esta historia es de la edición November - December 2022 de Young Rider.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición November - December 2022 de Young Rider.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar

The white Stuff
If you dream of seeing your name on the cover of a book, becoming an author might be the right career for you!

BUILD A BETTER HAIRNET
A young equestrian saw a need and decided to solve it herself.

Keepina Cool
Celebrate summer while staying safe by being aware of heat dangers for riders.

JUMPING JITTERS
Overcome nerves and tackle the biggest challenges to get your jumping on track.

RARE COLOR RULES
Discover some of the rarest horse colors and the genetics behind them.

Beach Riding
This summer, why not plan the ultimate adventure with your horse?

AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE
America's most popular breed has many programs for youth riders.

Three Sister Act
A trio of sisters help out at a pony camp in Canada.

CHIP CHIP HOORAY!
Dip into summer with horse-shaped chips and salsa.

RIDING WITH RESPECT
Learn arena etiquette to keep you and your horse safe in any large show class.