The fascination of Icelandic horse riding – why is Icelandic riding so popular?

Iceland – the land of volcanoes, elves, legends and of course horses. The island is a country that captivates adventurers, nature lovers and romantics alike. And not without good reason is Iceland also called the land of fire and ice. The island is not just a holiday destination, but an attitude to life, a passion that is evident in the typical patterns of the famous Iceland jumpers. But it is not only the breathtaking nature that captivates its inhabitants and holidaymakers. It is above all the small, robust Icelandic horses that Iceland’s inhabitants are particularly proud of.

The horses of the Vikings – what distinguishes Icelandic horses?

Icelanders – the shaggy horses of the Vikings are among the most popular horse breeds in our latitudes. Of the 700,000 Icelandic horses that exist worldwide, only 78,000 live on the island itself. But why are the Icelandic small horses with five gaits so popular with riders big and small?

The history of the Icelanders goes back to the 1,000-year-old empire, when the Vikings brought the first horses with soft gaits to the Nordic island from their conquests. As early as 938 AD, they passed the law, which still exists today, that no more animals could be imported in order to protect the domestic horses from disease. In this way, they created a pure breed of horses with strong character, endurance and strength, whose nature and versatility are still appreciated today.

Icelandic horses are characterised by an open-minded and loyal character, they are uncomplicated and cooperative at work. They present themselves expressively at competitions under experienced riders and can also carry young riders safely through rough terrain. Icelandic horses are the perfect family horse with their sturdy build and a height of 13-14 hands.

Since Icelandic horse breeding places more emphasis on character and usability, and colour is not given any importance, Icelandic horses have one of the widest colour ranges within a horse breed.

First of all it should be mentioned that Icelandic horses are real „late bloomers“. They are not considered fully grown until they are seven years old, which is why their training should begin at the age of four, or even better, five, and should therefore proceed more slowly than with other horse breeds.

Why can Icelandic horses tölt and pace?

Another special feature of the Icelandic breed is that it has two additional gaits: the tölt and the skeið (pace). While other gaited horse breeds can also tölt – e.g. Paso Finos or American Saddlebreds – Icelandic horses are the only ones with the ability to pace. Both gaits are genetically anchored in the mutation of the DMRT3 gene. The gene variant of the DMRT3 gene leads to a coupling of the nerve cells in the spinal cord, which enables the foot sequences of tölt and pace. Horses that do not have a mutation in this gene, basically all non-gaited horses, are also unable to tölt or pace. Nevertheless, even within the Icelandic breed, the gene mutation is not equally pronounced in every horse.

In order to save years of intensive training if the horse does not tölt or pace in the end, a horse genetic test should be carried out beforehand. This will clarify whether the necessary gene variant of the DMRT3 gene is present. If this is not present, the horse does not need to be trained further in tölt or flying pace. Because if the mutation is not present, even an Icelandic horse cannot tölt.

If the „gaited horse gene“ is present, the horse can be trained and encouraged in the gait variations. Because tölt over long distances, as well as flying pace over short distances, cost the horse a lot of muscle strength, which must be systematically built up beforehand.

The tölt is a four-beat gait without a suspension phase, as at least one hoof is on the ground in each of the eight phases. This makes the movement look extremely low in vibration and is comfortable for the rider to sit on. Although it looks very comfortable for the rider, the tölt is not without its difficulties for the horse: the tölt is a balancing act that requires a lot of collection and bending of the legs from the Icelandic horse. For an untrained horse, the tölt is exhausting over long distances and leads to loss of rhythm due to the lack of muscling. There are natural tölters who prefer tölt to trot even at foal age. But as soon as a rider comes into play, the gait becomes a balancing act that should be trained.

The pace is a lateral movement in which the pair of legs on the same side move synchronously. In addition, the pace has a suspension phase, with the hooves only briefly touching the ground. For spectators, it gives the impression that the horse is flying. At gaited horse shows, the pace is only ridden over a short distance of 100 to 250 m at a racing speed of up to 45 km/h. The flying pace is very strenuous for the horse, which is why the horse should be well trained for it.

In addition, the flying pace should not be ridden too often and for too long, so that the horse does not tire and wear out.

Which disciplines are required at gaited horse shows?

At gaited horse shows, different classes are distinguished, among others the gait test, which is held on an oval track and the pace track. The quality of the gaits walk, trot, canter, tölt and flying pace is judged and evaluated. The evaluation includes the manner of the Icelandic horse, how relaxed it moves and whether it can carry itself and to what extent the rider has to intervene. In addition to the gait test, there are also flying pace and tölt races on the designated pace track. The curves of the oval track are not suitable for the high speeds, which is why the straight and level pace track is preferred. Furthermore, Icelandic horses can compete in a skill test, which takes the form of a trail. In the trail course, obedience as well as the precise execution of the obstacles is evaluated.

Of course, Icelandic horses can also be shown at classic competitions, for example in dressage. However, training a four- or five-gaited horse in this area is more difficult for higher levels, which is why Icelandic horses are found less in the arena and more on the oval track. Nevertheless, the Icelandic horse needs flatwork to build muscles and train balance, which he eventually needs for tölt and pace.