about icelandic horses

breeding and keeping of icelandic horses north of the polar circle

The aim of the breeding of the Icelandic horses is to get good and strong riding horses which can be used for riding tours in the wilderness and mountain areas.

The horses should not loose any of the original features and the climate in North Norway (Finnmark) gives an ideal situation to reach this goal.

In all breeding it is very important to select parents with wanted features. We are using high classified mares (Dirfska and Yrpa) and some of the best stallions available (Skorri frá Blönduósi, Galdur frá Sauðárkróki and Heljar frá Vatnsleysu).

a unique race

Why all this interest? One reason may be that the Iceland Horse is a unique race with some rare peculiarities, which can be traced back many centuries. The settlers of Iceland brought with them horses from Western Norway and the British Isles. Those strong and enduring animals, with their small muscular and sturdy bodies, were of great value to their masters in peace as well as warfare.

man's best friend

It would not be an exaggeration to maintain that without the horse the Icelanders would in all probability not have survived in their barren, mountainous, and remote island. Not only was the horse man’s “most useful servant” (his title of distinction in Iceland), but also his best and most loyal friend, taking part in his festivities and celebrations, standing by his side in times of need, despair, and natural catastrophes.

the five gaits

The five gaits of the Iceland Horse are frequently to be found in one and the same animal. Good tÖlt and pace are the overriding policy in Icelandic horse breeding along with good disposition and spirit.
The walk or step (fetgangur) is the idling speed of the horse. The beat is quartered and the gait proceeds without a glide. The step was used when the horses were tied together in a train and had loads on their backs. IT is still used by packhorses when traveling cross-country.

a feast of colours

The Iceland Horse has a rich variety of colours, probably richer than any other European breed. An Icelandic scholar, Broddi Johannesson, made a study of horse colours mentioned by name in ancient sources, and found them to number no less than 64 varieties. Some of those varieties are not to be found in modern horses.

Updates at last! :))

It is long time since we updated our news, it has happend so much and so lot of things to do!
The greatest news are that we are going to move from Finnmark! We bought a small farm in Southern Norway (Hedmark) and are going to move during April 2011. We sell "Laugen". Of course, it is a lot to do in this connection, so now we have not so much time for horses and dogs and to update our site. But we will do our best! Thanks to all of our friends who write to us and leave comments, we really appreciate that!
Now few pictures from this winter :))

Skjóna enjoys her training in Balsfjord (Troms) / Skjóna trives med sin trening i Balsfjord (Troms)

Skjóna enjoys her training on Stornes farm in Troms. This photo we got from Agnete Kristoffersen and there is "Fúsi" who trains her here.

Skjóna trives med treningen på Stornes gård i Troms. Dette bildet fikk vi fra Agnete Kristofferse: "Fúsi" har arbiedsøkt med Skjóna.

Our litle Snotra becomes "big" ! / Vår lille Snotra er blitt "stor" !

Our Snotra, 1 year old mare, has been quite litle through the winter, while her halv brother Snarfari has been growing whole the time. We started to think that Snotra was going to be a very litle horse.... But just during May and June she has been growing a LOT!!! She became at least 1,5 times bigger than she was in the beginning of may, and today she turnes to become a very nice young horse!

Vår ung hest Snotra, 1 års gammel hoppa, har vært ganske liten i vinter/vår, mens hennes halfbror Snarfari har vokst hele tiden. Vi tenkte at Snotra vil være en veldig liten hest.... Men, bare i løpet av mai og juni klarte hun å vokse enormt! Hun er blitt i all fall 1,5 ganger større enn hun var i begynnelsen av mai! I dag er hun en veldig fin unghest!

Skjóna and Gæfa are in Stornes farm (Troms) for training

Our young 4 years old meres, Skjóna and Gæfa, are delivered to Stornes farm in Troms for training. There are Agnete Kristoffersen and Thorsteinn Marinósson who own the farm and arrange the horse training now. Sigfús comes 5th of July and Jón William Bjarkason comes 2 weeks later. Those professional trainers will work with the horses for Icelandic horse show and competition which will take place 17 -19th of September at Stornes farm.

icelandichorse.no

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