Icelandic Horse

As the breed’s name implies, the Icelandic horse is native to Iceland. This is one of the oldest equine breeds, dating to about 900 BCE and the time of the Vikings.

The Icelandic horse is also one of the purest breeds, as they’ve been protected through their isolation in their homeland.

Today, Icelandic horses are found all over the world and make good companions for families and those looking for a reliable, sure-footed, and comfortable riding horse.  

Icelandic Horse Snapshot

• Height: 13–14 hands (52–56 inches)

• Weight: 730–840 pounds

• Lifespan: 30 years

• Colors: All colors, but most commonly black, bay, chestnut, gray, and tobiano; can have blue eyes

Caring for an Icelandic Horse

Icelandic horses are a hardy breed and they’re not difficult to look after. Preventive care and regular veterinary and farrier exams can help keep them strong.

Horses who live in Iceland aren’t exposed to many of the same diseases found in other countries. For this reason, the native horses are protected—no horses are allowed to be imported into Iceland, and any that are exported out of Iceland aren’t allowed to return. There are even rules against bringing used horse equipment into the country.

Icelandic horses in Iceland don’t even need to be vaccinated because they’re isolated from contagious disease and kept as healthy as possible. If Icelandic horses are bred in or exported to other countries, they’ll need to get the required vaccinations and annual care based on where they live.

Icelandic Horse Health Issues

The Icelandic horse is a generally healthy breed despite its limited gene pool. However, these horses can be prone to developing the following ailments:

Sweet Itch

Sweet itch is also known by a few other names, including insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) and summer eczema. It’s an allergic reaction to biting insects from the Culicoides genus. Horses who are sensitive to these midges might also develop allergic reactions to other insects, such as mosquitoes, black flies, stable flies, and horse flies.

Because Culicoides insects aren’t found in Iceland, Icelandic horses who are exported to other countries are at risk of having this reaction to them. 

Symptoms of sweet itch might occur seasonally, based on when the insects are active. They include:

• Skin scaling, thickening, crusting

• Itchiness

• Lesions

• Hives

• Hair loss

• Secondary infections

There’s no cure for sweet itch. Once a horse is bitten and experiences symptoms, a veterinarian might prescribe corticosteroids, prescription shampoos, creams, or antihistamines to provide relief.

Products that repel insects and protect horses from insect bites (e.g., fly masks and blankets) can be useful. Keeping the horse in a clean stable with fans, especially during dawn and dusk when the insects are most active, can be helpful too.

Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU)

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), also known as moon blindness, can cause inflammation and pain in the eyes and eventual vision loss. Icelandic horses may have a genetic predisposition to it. In addition to genetics, environmental factors and infectious organisms like Leptospira spp may play a role in its development.

There are three forms of ERU: classic, insidious, and posterior. The Icelandic horse is prone to the classic form, which causes periods of inflammation in the eye followed by dormant periods of little to no inflammation or irritation.

Symptoms can occur in one or both eyes, and include:

• Redness

• Squinting

• Holding the eye closed

• Tearing

• Constricted pupil

• Cloudy cornea

Unfortunately, there is no cure for ERU in horses. Treatments include medications like corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce inflammation—topically with eyedrops and ointment or systemically via IV or oral medications. Severe cases might require surgical removal of the eye. 

Bone Spavin

Icelandic horses might genetically inherit degenerative joint disease that affects the hock joints—known as bone spavin. This osteoarthritis (joint inflammation) can have several causes, such as poor conformation, repetitive impact, or the compression of cartilage.

Symptoms include:

• Stiffness

• Swelling

• Cracking sounds during movement

• Pain

Lameness is the main result of this condition, as it makes it difficult for horses to move properly and can decrease their natural range of motion.

There is no cure for arthritis in horses, but it can be managed with the guidance of a veterinarian. They might prescribe anti-inflammatories, steroids, systemic joint therapies, and supplements to help maintain comfort. Alternative therapies like acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic along with changes in exercise help reduce pain and improve mobility in these cases.

What To Feed an Icelandic Horse

The Icelandic horse is an easy keeper who can gain weight quickly when fed improperly. Keeping them at a healthy weight with the right diet and exercise routine is important, as doing so can help prevent metabolic problems like equine metabolic syndrome (EMS).

Icelandic horses can do well on a diet of forage that is low in starch and sugar. The general rule is to feed them 2% of their body weight in forage daily. As an example, a 750-pound horse would get around 15 pounds of forage every day. 

When your Icelandic horse is grazing, make sure they don’t end up overeating. Grazing muzzles can be useful in controlling how much they eat. 

Talk to your veterinarian about supplementing your horse’s diet with a vitamin/mineral supplement to ensure all of their nutrient needs are met. Fatty acids and joint supplements might also benefit an Icelandic horse.

Your Icelandic horse should also always have access to clean water and salt. 

Icelandic Horse Disciplines

Icelandic horses make wonderful riding companions for people of all ages, including children. Even when ridden over long distances and difficult terrain, these agile horses make the experience comfortable—in fact, this breed is used for riding tours in Iceland.

This versatile breed can also perform well in:

• Endurance riding

• Pleasure riding

• Therapeutic riding

• Carriage pulling

• Dressage

• Jumping

The Icelandic horse has multiple gaits. They can walk, trot, canter, and gallop like other breeds, but can also be trained to perform additional gaits: tölt and flying pace (also known as skeið). The tölt creates a smooth ride, which can range from very slow to very fast. The flying pace can allow these horses to run up to 30 mph, so it’s good for racing over a short distance.

Icelandic Horse Personality and Temperament

Every horse is a unique individual, but overall, the Icelandic horse is known for having a pleasant personality. Riders of all experience levels—from the novice rider to the experienced trainer or equestrian—can enjoy the company of the friendly and eager-to-please Icelandic horse.

Icelandic horses are adaptable and easy to handle. Plus, they are patient, willing, brave, confident, and gentle. So, they have all of the traits that allow them to get along well with children and adults alike.

These are also dependable, calm, and easygoing horses who enjoy being around people. Whether they’re used for riding, competing in sports, working, or as family companions, Icelandic horses are ready to perform. 

Icelandic Horse Training

In Iceland, Icelandic horses may have little to no interaction with people while they are very young. The breed matures slowly, and these horses aren’t considered fully grown until they are 6–7 years old. So they are trained later than other breeds. They are typically trained under saddle when they are at least 3 years old.

Training these horses takes time and patience, as they need to develop the strength and balance to be ridden by people, in addition to learning the cues that riders use to guide them. 

Once they begin training, their temperament should make them easy to work with. The training can start with hand-horse riding. Groundwork helps to get the horses used to interacting with people before they are trained for riding.

During training, gaits like the tölt and flying pace can also be mastered. If a horse can perform the basic gaits of walk, trot, and canter and they can be ridden safely, they can learn the two additional gaits that they’re known for. 

Icelandic Horse Grooming Guide

A standard equine grooming routine will keep an Icelandic horse looking and feeling great throughout the year. These horses don’t have complicated grooming needs, but their skin can be sensitive, so in addition to brushing the coat and cleaning the hooves, protecting against flies can help keep them comfortable. 

Icelandic Horse Grooming Guide

Coat Care

The Icelandic horse has a thick coat, along with a thick mane and tail, and their coat gets even thicker (double coat) in the winter to keep them warm. Because it can trap and hold onto dirt, loose hair, and other debris, it’s important to establish a consistent grooming routine.

To keep the coat clean, healthy, and smooth, use a grooming kit that contains products like a curry comb, face brush, mane and tail brush, and dandy brush. The right combs and brushes will effectively remove dirt and debris from throughout the thick coat, while also massaging the skin.

A shedding blade can be used to remove excess hair, particularly when they shed their winter coat in the spring.

If your horse sweats excessively, clipping their coat may be necessary, as you don’t want them to be wet from sweat in the cold. Some people only clip the hair on the chest and front of the neck—known as the bib clip—to help the horse feel cool without getting too cold. 

Hoof Care

Your horse’s hooves should be checked and cleaned daily with a high-quality hoof pick. This will ensure all dirt, rocks, and other debris are removed to keep the hooves healthy and comfortable. Also be sure to look for signs of problems like abscesses that need to be treated by a veterinarian.  

In addition to daily maintenance of your horse’s hooves, it’s important to use a farrier’s expertise. They can examine and trim the hooves, ensure they’re properly balanced, and put the right shoes on your horse.