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Icelandic horses were often not larger than 140cm, falling within the pony size range. However, the riders of this breed have always insisted on referring to these special quadrupeds as “horses.” With their stocky bodies, strong, well-developed bones and tendons, and incredible endurance, Icelandic horses can achieve remarkable feats. For example, they can easily carry an adult man at high speeds for extended periods without tiring. Therefore, they have been traditionally used as riding horses for adults or even as working horses in their homeland of Iceland.
In Iceland, it is common practice to let the horses graze outdoors on pastures nearly year-round and use them as full-time riding horses for several days during sheep roundups, even without prior training. Icelandic horses are renowned for their exceptional robustness, and their high sensitivity, combined with a willingness to work and please, makes them reliable partners for humans. What makes them truly special is that they have preserved their original gaits, such as the tölt and flying pace. The tölt, in particular, is what makes these horses comfortable for riders during work and long rides, and it has captured the hearts of equestrians worldwide. However, it is important to note that the tölt (and flying pace) place special demands on riders and equipment.
By the way, these sturdy animals can live up to 40 years old—truly lifelong friends!
Noi has been our riding share horse since 2019 and was purchased by us in autumn 2020. That’s how Noi became a member of our family with some minor flaws because at a height of only 131 cm, he is a rather small representative of his breed. Additionally, the gait “tölt” seems to be hidden somewhere in his veins. However, he was ridden in only three gaits for 13 years and never had to deal with the topic of “tölt” until now. So, it remains an exciting task to discover the “tölt” together with him.
Noi stands out with his elegant appearance and always proves to be an excellent model for our photoshoots. He is a friendly, affectionate gelding, with occasional hysterical episodes – but Amelie is not at all impressed by them. She rides him very well in the arena and on the track, focusing on dressage, as well as on fast trail rides. This is where ÍS KNAPAR products are tested live and put to the test. Noi always has a say in it.
Noi has become very dear to us, and so we continue to educate ourselves in all areas of horse care and needs – unfortunately, Noi developed an allergy to hay dust in the last two years. So, you never stop learning – but ÍS KNAPAR is a great help in this regard as we have become excellent in research and finding information! With the help of the internet, veterinarians, and animal naturopaths, we were able to manage Noi’s condition well, and we still have a funny, cheeky little horse that keeps us on our toes.
Ljómi already stood in front of my – Tina’s – camera when he was only 3 days old. From the first foal crop that we witnessed at our stable operator’s foaling, Ljómi was the first foal I laid eyes on. His gentle, cautious nature, coupled with his irresistible gaze, enchanted me from the start. Just half a year later, we acquired Ljómi as a weanling and looked forward to watching him grow up. Ljómi spent the first three years of his life in a large mixed herd of stallions and geldings on spacious paddocks, experiencing life as a horse. In autumn 2022, he moved into our stable with our Noi and is now getting to know the basics of Icelandic horse training in peace, with plenty of time and patience. He is far from being a riding horse yet but continues to captivate us with his gentle and teachable nature. So far, it has been no problem to introduce him to saddle and bridle, attend groundwork and agility courses, or handle daily life on a horse farm.
We are curious to see if Amelie will have a promising competition horse in him. He has the genetic predisposition for five gaits. What he will show under saddle? We will be surprised and are very much looking forward to the future we will share together.
