SCOTTISH ICELANDIC HORSE ASSOCIATION
ICELANDIC HORSES
Icelandic horses were brought to Iceland by the Vikings and over the past 1000 years have developed in complete isolation into a unique and special breed. The Icelandic horse is very well suited to the natural environment in Scotland and has a special place in the fabric of our equestrian history and culture in Scotland as a distant relative of our native breeds. It meets the needs of the modern day rider looking for a fun, challenging but easy-to-keep horse in the demanding world of modern life.
They come in many colours including dun, roan, palomino, skewbald, chestnut, black, bay and many rare colour combinations. They are compact, yet powerful, growing to between 12.2 and 15 hands high. Icelandic horses are of good character, are willing and spirited to ride and are very hardy, being able to live out comfortably all winter given an adequate food supply.
Icelandic horses are very versatile and compete in events such as dressage, endurance, Le Trec and cross country, as well as in competitions for the special Icelandic gaits.
THE ICELANDIC GAITS
Icelandic horses are unique in the fact that in addition
to the three conventional gaits of walk, trot and canter/gallop they
also posses two additional gaits known as tölt and pace. These gaits
were common throughout
Europe and Scandinavia at the time when the Vikings first settled in
Iceland but have now all but disappeared in most other breeds. There is
scientific, historical and archeological evidence of the existence of
these gaits in many breeds of horse in those times for example on some
of the ornate carved Pictic and Celtic stones found in Scotland and on
paintings and tapestries throughout Europe.
Tölt
Tölt is a four beat lateral gait. The footfall is the
same as walk but there is always at least one foot on the ground
(whereas walk always has three feet on the ground at any one time). The
tölt is a very smooth gait that can accelerate from slow speed to as
fast as canter, and has been likened to riding in an open topped sports
car! The horse naturally has a higher carriage and a degree of
collection. The rider sits comfortably in the saddle and often at
displays the smoothness of the gait is demonstrated by carrying a full
glass of beer without spilling a drop! Tölt is used by the horse
naturally to cover the ground at moderate speed over level plains.
tölt
pace
a pace race at Landsmot
Pace is a two beat lateral racing gait, during which the horse moves its legs in pairs, therefore for example the near hind and the near fore hit the ground at the same time. There is a moment of suspension between each stride giving the gait its name "flying pace" when the horse appears to be flying momentarily.
The Icelandic trot is usually a very powerful diagonal movement from the shoulder with the ability to cover a lot of ground. It is traditionally used for covering distance on uneven terrain.
trot
The Scottish Icelandic Horse Association is a charity registered in Scotland