Icelandic Horse: Everything You Need to Know

Did you know that the Icelandic horse can achieve five gaits while most horses only have three or four? Thanks to Iceland's stringent import/export policies, the Icelandic horse can walk, tölt, trot, pace and canter/gallop.
In this websiode, I get the thrill of riding an Icelandic horse on a black-sand beach, learning how to tölt for the first time and watching an expert rider attempt the flying pace on a championship Icelandic horse.
I learned to ride an Icelandic horse with Viking Horses, who offers everything from small group tours in lava fields to lavish private tours that can include a helicopter ride over Bardarbunga Volcano. To book a tour or learn more about the Icelandic horse, visit www.vikinghorses.is.
Like what you see? Please subscribe to my channel to see more of our adventures in Iceland and leave a comment below. #JJiceland
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Icelandic Horse: Everything You Need to Know : • Icelandic Horse: Every...

[@lordzkidz]

In 1996, we purchased a horse for our 13 year old daughter. She was a volunteer at our local special riding organization, and the horse she would work with came up for sale because he was a bit too feisty for the handicapped riders. We purchased him for $600. The only paperwork that came with him was a handwritten note saying that the Special Riding Association had purchased him from a meat truck a couple years earlier. We thought he was a haflinger, due to his size and coloring. Our daughter began working with Roscoe, and soon after purchasing him, she took him to an all-day riding clinic. As they were working on the different gaits required for show, Roscoe began tolting! A few minutes of detective work, and the clinic leaders determined that Roscoe had to be Icelandic. Once we did more research, everything made sense...his coat and super thick mane, his stocky body, and even his notched ears! And yes, he does do a flying pace! How did this treasure ever end up on a meat wagon? After she owned him for a few months, he was accepted back into the handicapped riding program as a volunteer horse. He ended up being the best, most gentle horse imaginable! He is still alive, and the vet estimates him to be about 40 years old. (Another advantage of being Icelandic!) He is retired, and eats soaked food because he's pretty much toothless! He is still super healthy, and he enjoys his own apple pie every week.

[@JoanJetsetter]

What a remarkable story! And Roscoe get's an apple pie every week? Lucky fella.

[@theend1199]

Deb Ramirez great story.Mine is 34 and still has all her teeth.I dont ride anymore but the horses are pretty expensive where im from (The Netherlands).I dont know if its because of the export from iceland to The Netherlands.But dont be suprized if they cost over €10 000 allso depends on priceclass and how many gaits the horse has.600 dollars is a great deal!Ha just sad the horse was on a meat wagon..jeez

[@kathryncarter6143]

Thanks for taking such good care of him.

[@Shadowpolish]

I'm a bit confused as to why you show the horse at a gallop, while explaining the flying pace.

[@helenakristinsd]

I think it was just some mistake in making the video :)

[@ferociousgumby]

I noticed that too. I was quite disappointed.

[@kathryncarter6143]

I'll that the purpose was to demonstrate how the horse rides into the 5th gate, as you can see where the gate changes.

[@ceo_potato2090]

I have 4 yo icelandic horse and I’m absolutely in love with them. I started enjoying this horses when I was a child❤️. Btw you explain the flying pace when he is galloping 😉

[@MegF142857]

0:42 trot gait. 0:45 gallop gait, then pulls back 0:48 into what looks like a fast tolt. 1:03 walking gait. 1:13 - 1:19 gallop gait. 1:21 - 1:29 is into a flying pace and then falls into a regular pace gait. 2:15 freeze of flying pace in the air. At 3:10 when video describing the flying pace with slow motion the horse is doing a gallop, which is often used to move into the fast flying pace. The video doesn't have good examples of the tolt, which is the gait you'd want to be riding. The flying pace is hard work and only doable by the 5 gaited Icelandic horses, so hopefully you didn't try to get that on video too much and just enjoyed the time out instead. Looks like a great fun outing with Icelandics. I so want to get to Iceland to ride someday!

[@JoanJetsetter]

MegF if you're interested in seeing more of the flying pace, we also made this video of a championship Icelandic horse riding the flying pace at maximum speed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXnOaoOojKeSaLs

[@vermillionskye3298]

I like my Thoroughbreds, Arabians, and Warmbloods... But holy shit, I would definitely have an Icelandic if I could.

[@gliceria398]

what an AWESOME video! there is nothing prettier than an icelandic horse...

[@kathryncarter6143]

God, that was totally awesome & fantastic. Add in that perfect riding beach, I'd love every second.

[@JoanJetsetter]

It was pure joy.

[@molliesmith742]

Thanks for suggesting this video. Awesome! I want to go to Iceland 🇮🇸now!!

[@JoanJetsetter]

Iceland is truly magical!

[@Mikeandash]

Added to my bucket list

[@ArchYeomans]

Icelandic horses are epic, just like the country and its stories.

[@projectkj7643]

Thank you for posting this great video! Going to be in Iceland next month (Oct '15) and will be riding one of these awesome horses! :-)

[@3rdclovervalleybrownies661]

5 gaits. Originated from iceland. Existed over 1,000 years ago. I know enough..

[@EmAViking]

I'm going out to a competition on Saturday where I'll be showing Tölt, and four gaits (Tölt, Trot, Walk, Canter - in that order) but the horse I'm riding is so keen on pacing instead of cantering >_> Still love it though, the icelandic horses are just the best!

[@JoanJetsetter]

How did your competition go?

[@EmAViking]

JoanJetsetter It went really well! It was the first time showing the gaits so it was a really good experience and I placed 13/26 in the Tölt and 13/28 in the Four gaits. So I'm really pleased as I went there primarily for the learning experience. Thank you for asking :3

[@JoanJetsetter]

Wow impressive! well done Em!

[@Pepsithegoat]

Em A Viking if you manage to read this even though it's much later than the comment, I've learned with my Icelandic that he paces when there is more pressure of the rein and canters when he has a loose rein. He seems to need the support of the rein to tölt and pace so it's easier for him to canter when he doesn't have the pressure/support.

[@Lady_Odi]

my best friend has 7 icelandics. i jus fell in love with them

[@TristanMoon]

I grew up with the icelandic horses

[@dreamsofturtles1828]

This looks like one horse i would be able to stay up on, and even if i couldnt, the fall wouldnt be too far.

[@JoanJetsetter]

pretty much ha

[@kathryncarter6143]

I kinda thought the same thing

[@kentucky-barrelracer]

🌟So cool my horse is Icelandic she is in my last video love your videos

[@ostekagen4018]

Im in Danmark an we have lots of ICH here and its the best breed ever even better than danish warmblood and ICH can carry big guys they are calm and strong as f...

[@kkdoc7864]

Is the Tolte like the “rack”? I read that there are slight differences, but not sure if I can tell. Fascinating.

[@freethegays]

sucks that they all look like theyre in pain

[@plunnyfunny3546]

Kaitlin Clarke They are not

[@freethegays]

they def look like they are!

[@plunnyfunny3546]

Kaitlin Clarke They look but aren’t

[@freethegays]

sure lol. keep telling urself that.

[@k_ytie]

Their ears aren’t really pinned and the horse is responding just fine. If the horse was uncomfortable, they would not cooperate and/or try to throw the human off.

[@MartyBeardFace]

FYI those beaches are all public land in Iceland. So is pretty much everywhere else :)

[@JoanJetsetter]

In this particular stretch of land, Viking Horses had to get permission from three farmers before we could access the beaches. Not sure if that is an unusual protocol, but it was worth it. Have you traveled to Iceland a lot? Any Iceland tips for us Marty Beard Face?

[@MartyBeardFace]

We went for just over a week last year (2014) and it was amazing. Rent a car and get out there. I come from the desert so anywhere we went was amazingly beautiful. So many waterfalls just driving east of Reykjavik right off the road. Plans to go back in 2016 and travel to the north side of the island, but even just seeing the southern sites was mind blowing. The people are so great, it was eye opening coming back to America just how different we are. I hope you have a chance to get back to Iceland, it's easily the best place i've ever traveled.

[@xxAlchemistressxx]

Rarest as in they have gaits I hope. There's over 200.000 of them all across the world :)

[@robertmiller1842]

they are beautiful animals! they ain't sporting horses, not many things happen fast is frigid climates. they are very strong and steady, and safe.

[@JoanJetsetter]

I agree. Gorgeous creatures.

[@kathryncarter6143]

They must be tough. I was so surprised to see it voluntarily went into the water. That has to be ice cold!

[@kwokonfat3990]

How's Iclandic horses VS Mongolian horses? Who's tougher?

[@kathryncarter6143]

Good question. I'd like to know that too.

[@marieconstant6452]

thank you to Ezek.13 and his revelations

[@joejacoby2464]

Headed for Iceland in 2 months, who should I contact for a day excursion on Icelandics (intermediate rider)?

[@checkmateknightracing7134]

You showed him at as gallop not a flying pace when you where saying "showing the flying pace ?

[@johneli495]

that's a funny looking horse

[@holachntl1422]

John Eli its a beautiful one!

[@doramfylling1182]

Ég elska að vera í ísland im from icaland i ride them

[@IheaWs98]

I also ride islandic horses. I take riding lessons.

[@Angie-vp7wh]

Cantering and galloping are not the same thing lol

[@EmAViking]

It's essentially the same foot pattern though.

[@Angie-vp7wh]

Nope. Cantering is a 3 beat gait and galloping is 4

[@EmAViking]

Angie I said essentially, not exactly :)

[@Angie-vp7wh]

Em A Viking so what's your point then in saying that 😂,

[@EmAViking]

Angie That they're very similar, which is why we in many countries don't use different words for canter and gallop.

[@Rynwlms]

Done it!

[@JoanJetsetter]

Nice!! When did you go? Did you go out with Viking Horses?

[@Rynwlms]

+JoanJetsetter We did! My wife and I with our 9yo Daughter and 12yo son. It was fantastic! Guide was so great. Highly recommended!

[@JoanJetsetter]

Thats so awesome!! The Viking Horses people were so cool.

[@pplicker4462]

Can you only get them or ride them in Iceland? Or can you ride them in America too?

[@JoanJetsetter]

That's a good question. I'm not sure about that. Anyone have an answer to this?

[@drekastelpa]

There are Icelandic horses in America, Canada and other parts of Europe. As far as I know there aren´t many Icelanders in America.

[@drekastelpa]

@@emilyrose1610 That is correct. Our breed has evolved? grown? in isolation. (on a island) So we don´t have as much of a variety of diseases that your horses have, so importing a horse to our country can have devastating effects on our horses and native wildlife.

[@lilianphillips6940]

Yes there in america too 👍 it is true that you can't take a horse into Iceland but I live in France and have two adorable Icelandic horses !!

[@endederfahnenstange4283]

They are very common in Europe, too. IIRC we have more of them in Germany, than in Iceland. (I think it was 100k in Germany and around 80k in Iceland). My GF has ridden them in Italy (Tuscany), Denmark and in Iceland (for sure). In the end she bought a very calm, very nice mare with excellent gaits, breeded in Germany.

[@armandoarocha5250]

I never tried horseback riding! :(

[@Polopony20.]

its really fun! you should try it! But a fair warning: your legs will hurt afterwards if you take a lesson!

[@kathryncarter6143]

Ya gotta try if then. The animals have an intensely warm spirit. Any good riding instructor will be sure to put you on a gentle horse & only have you walk at first. You only go faster when you think you've gotten comfortable with the whole idea. At least go check them out. It's an amazing experience just to stand close to them, even if you never get on.

[@ostekagen4018]

Rarest breed LoL in all of Scandinavia its that breed u see most often.

[@pubgmobile-ry8ff]

laykta at tamami ban sana atdim şayk

[@katiethedoghd6614]

Looser reins please,at 3:09 it's mouth is open, showing that it's in pain

[@charlottebonnie5320]

Icelandic Horse...../ Jan. 7th, 2021: Thanks for your attention and courage for criticism.

[@andreastojkovic404]

is that a pony? o.o so sweet

[@JoanJetsetter]

+Andrea Andy Bigland Some Icelandic horses are small enough to be pony-sized.

[@andreastojkovic404]

+JoanJetsetter thanks

[@helenakristinsd]

nope not a pony :)

[@helenakristinsd]

not many Icelamders are under the pony size....and we dont call them ponies :)

[@gaithorses5969]

THAT'S A HORSE. H O R S E.

[@ida2300]

am i the only one who noticed that the white horse is in pain 90% of the time? stop pulling! -_-

[@bloop9847]

Ya and i thought you need to have a Ssaddle pad under the saddle so you dont harm the horses back....

[@yrsahjalmars1338]

+Lea :3 well they dont need to,im kinda new to horses but i think it only when they are old orweak but the saddles are now good for theyr back :)

[@solveigheidasteinarsdottir4194]

+Lea :3 we usually don't use saddle pads in Iceland, only gel pads. Saddle pads are actually supposed to be used to protect the saddle from getting dirty, not the horse.

[@baksteen3162]

some icelandic horses are kinda forward (mine is too) and they just need to learn to go slower.

[@majasigurd9763]

they know what they're doing, I really don't think they need your advice.

[@JoanJetsetter]

Shadowpolish if you're interested in watching the flying place, check out this video we made of a championship Icelandic horse riding the flying pace at maximum speed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXnOaoOojKeSaLs