- The goal of Icelandic Pony breeders is to produce a robust, peaceful horse with a smooth gait. Performance is more important than appearance.
- The strongest feature of the Icelandic Pony is its gait. A true Icelandic Pony can walk, trot, canter and gallop. In addition, it has two other gaits – the tilt and the pace. The tilt can be compared to the walk. During the walk, the Icelandic Pony always has two or three hooves on the ground. In the tilt, only one or two hooves are on the ground at a time. During the pace, legs on either side of the horse work together. Because this gait is difficult for the horses to keep up, races are limited in length.
- Icelandic Ponies are not comfortable in warm, closed stables. They are used to having freedom. They feel best in the open air and in a herd, which is what they have been used to for hundreds of years. Ideally, the horses should have access to shelter, but not be confined to one. They will usually only make use of a shlter when it is raining heavily, when the sun is too hot, or when they are bothered by flies. Their coats are so thick that snow and cold do not bother them.
- Before the 1850’s, Icelandic Ponies were found only in Iceland. They began to be exported in 1850. At that time, the small tough Icelandic Ponies were used to pull heavy coal wagon in the depths of the coal mines in England. By 1950, Icelandic Ponies were being exported to Germany. In 1970, an international association called the European Federation of Friends of the Icelandic Pony was formed. This organization now lists over 25,000 Icelandic Ponies living in areas of the world beyond Iceland.
- Today, Icelandic Ponies have a huge following throughout Europe. Their calm, but tough, personalities make them excellent riding horses. They can easily cover 25-30 miles (40-50 kilometers) a day without problems. They enjoy going on outings in large groups and rarely fight among themselves along the way. Icelandic Ponies are also good competitors in sports activities.
Icelandic Pony Facts
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