Past Activities

ICELANDICS IN NORTH LANCASHIRE

As a new member of NLBS – I asked Sheena  if I could ‘advertise’ our breed by giving some information about  the Icelandic Horse whilst briefly describing our ride.

April 29th dawned sunny and bright, perfect weather to take part in the annual charity ride organized by the NLBS I had warned my Icelandic mare Ræna that we faced a 15mile ride. She just looked at me.. “So?” she seemed to say. I was really looking forward to this ride as we were going to be an Icelandic group riding together.

We met at the appointed former tip on the outskirts of Carnforth. What a change there! It has now been landscaped and is perfect for a gathering of horseboxes and their passengers. After tacking up we set off, making the main street of Warton ring to the clatter of horseshoes on the tarmac. Ræna was in a bossy mood, quite normal for her, and we walked and tölted merrily down the street. I was with close friends Phil and Nadene Butler,(2 other new NLBS members) and we were joined by  7 other members of the IHGSB.(Icelandic Horse Society of Great Britain) Another  friend, Jane Cooper, was mounted on her very handsome Arab Rocky. She was generally just ahead of Ræna and me, not a pleasing thing for my mare who expects to lead any line of horses. I was more than aware of Ræna’s nose almost touching the high tail carriage of Rocky who himself is a born leader.

We had the most wonderful ride along a route painstakingly chosen and marshalled by the organizers. I think that to view one’s own corner of our beautiful land from the saddle is just the best experience. It is exhilarating to ride amongst people who are of the same opinion. We wound our way around the Yealands, a very historic and truly breathtaking area. Our own band of little (but big in their minds) Iceys had a wonderful ride. I suppose we could bore for England about our amazing horses, but then, we are not alone are we? Every other rider thinks (and knows) that their horses are the best!

So, a little more about Icelandic Horses and why we think they are the best;
Descended from the naturally gaited horses on northern Europe, the Icelandic horse is the very same breed of horse that the Vikings used in their exploration and conquest of Europe during the middle ages.

When the Vikings set out to explore and settle the lands of the North Atlantic they took their beloved horses with them in open boats, making long and hazardous journeys across the raging  seas, As space was limited, only the best of their horses were chosen to accompany them, and only the very toughest survived to become the fantastic breed we know today.

1200 years ago, these Viking settlers landed with their horses in Iceland. Around 900AD a law was passed in Iceland that prevented any further importation of horses and livestock, primarily to stop the spread of disease. This law is still in effect today, and means that there is no other breed of horse in Iceland, and that the breed has remained pure for over 11 hundred years. It also means that once a horse has left the country, it can never return.

As a result of this isolation over the centuries, the Icelandic Horse has adapted amazingly to the harsh climate and rugged geography of their volcanic island just below the Arctic Circle. Icelandic Horses are now known as the thoroughbreds of the North, and there are few breeds of horse so purely bred.

The Icelandic Horse is naturally gaited and historically the Vikings, and now the Icelanders, have valued these horses for their smooth gait called tölt, and for their thrilling, racing gait called flying pace. The Icelandic horse can be compared to a fine sports car: powerful, smooth, nippy and manoeuvrable, and with extra gears. And like a fine sports car, it is a mistake to be fooled by their small size. The Icelandic Horse, as a breed, averages between 13 and 14 hands; however, they can carry 200-pound riders (that’s 14 stone) for long distances

Someone once said to me that Icelandics seem to scurry along. To  hear their impatient and urgent sounding footfall as they tölt along the road certainly sounds different, but it is far from scurrying!

Tölt is a 4-beat lateral gait, where the footfalls are the same as in walk - left hind - left front - right hind - right front, in an even rhythm. Although this is a gait which can be performed at all speeds (from a fast walking speed through to canter speed) there is no moment of suspension as there is always at least one foot in contact with the ground. This makes the tölt very smooth and comfortable for the rider.

An Icelandic which can walk, trot, canter/gallop and tölt is known as a "four gaited horse". Some Icelandics prefer trot, others prefer tölt. Correct training can improve the horse´s weakest gaits, but many Icelandics tölt completely naturally - it´s common to see foals tölting after their mothers.

There are also Icelandics which are "five gaited". These horses can walk, trot, canter/gallop, tölt and pace.

Pace is a two beat lateral gait with a moment of suspension. The footfalls are left hind - left front - - - - - right hind - right front. The hooves on the same side land almost simultaneously. This is a fast gait used for racing, and some Icelandics can reach speeds of up to 30mph. Some horses pace slowly, which is uncomfortable for the rider and not encouraged. Flying pace is a gait for well-balanced, well-trained horses with good riders - it´s not generally used as a "day-to-day" travelling gait.

Of course Icelandics can and do enter competitions for "non-Icelandic" horses. They have been successful in most disciplines (particularly Endurance riding - the horse standing 2nd overall in the USA is a 13hh Icelandic which covered 2500 miles in vetted competitions last year) and can turn a hoof to anything. But there are special competitions for Icelandic horses designed to show off the gaits of the horses.

Icelandics are bred for use, not show. They're the Border Collie of horse breeds. You won´t find an Icelandic competition with in-hand classes or a great preoccupation with turnout. Instead, classes are designed to show what the horse can do. They take place on a 250m oval track, or on a long straight pace track and there are always at least 3 judges - 5 in larger competitions.

Ræna was right to be unimpressed by the thought of the 15 mile trek. It was me the rider who was more than a little stiff the following morning. There’s nothing for it, I shall just have to retire from work and simply ride every day. We can but dream!

Thank you all the people who organized such an enjoyable ride. We, the riders really appreciate all the work that you do. Here’s to more and more success and, consequentially, more and more open and useable bridleways.

Vicki Graham (number 6)

For further information on Icelandic Horses please visit : www.ihsgb.co.uk