Let’s discuss why signing up for a horseback tour on a native Icelandic horse is the best way to see the mysterious and wild landscape of Iceland.
The Icelandic is one of the oldest breeds in the world and is thought to have first arrived on the island with the Vikings between AD 800 to AD 1050.The Vikings, in an attempt to ward off the degeneration of stock brought about by crossbreeding, enforced a ban on the import of foreign horses into Iceland.
So today, no foreign livestock is allowed in the country, and any Icelandic horses that leave the island (such as for an international competition) are never permitted to return.These shaggy haired horses have adapted to thrive in Iceland, living in conditions which have helped secure the hardiness and purity of the breed.
Fast forward a millennium, and the Icelandic horse is today perhaps one of Europe’s most loved and recognizable equine symbols.An intelligent, bold and friendly horse to ride Winters in Iceland can be wet, but not terribly cold.
The Icelandic horse stands on average between 13 and 14 hands, but while Icelandic horses are pony-sized, they are never referred to as ponies but as horses, making them one of the many exceptions to the pony definition.
These spirited little horses are able weight carriers, and they can carry full sized men over challenging terrain competently.