If visiting Iceland you will probably get some new cool friends as this one.
When travelling around Iceland you will most definitely notice some horses on your way and probably you will see lots of them. I recommend you stop the car at least once because they are really charming and fun to connect with and always willing to mingle. As soon as they notice you they will approach you immediately. Most of the time they are behind a closed fence so they are not totally free.
Our horses are very curious and sweet and are always willing to pose for you or allow you to feed them with some grass if possible. Yes they are fun and friendly !!
The icelandic horse is said to be long lived and hardy and has played a key role in the life of Icelanders from the beginning. In heathen times the horse was highly respected and well known in Norse Mythology. It was very common that the Norse Gods owned horses that played major parts in the mythical stories. the vikings treaded their horses with great respect and to a warrior a good horse was essential.
Today there are approximately 80.000 horses in Iceland which is an incredible number for a nation counting 300,000 people so as you can imagine you wont miss them. The horse is used for pleasure riding, travelling and competition purpose and it still plays a practical role in the annual sheep and horse round -ups where farmers use horses to round up sheep and horses in the highland. If you are in Iceland when the farmers do their round up (in September) I recommend you drive to some farm and take a look because there is a lot going on there and everyone is allowed to watch and even participate.
The Icelandic horse is also exported to some countries but importing horses is forbidden and once they have been exported they can´t be imported again due to regulations. The horse is a favourite among Icelanders because they are very intelligent, good tempered, versatile and beautiful. It's the most colorful breed in the world with over 40 different colors. In winter time they get their extra thick winter coat which is also beautiful to see.
If travelling and driving around in Iceland I promise you that the Icelandic horse will make your journey more enjoyable and fun. If interested you also have the possibility to do some horse riding because we offer some exciting horse riding tours. Also there are several horse rentals around the island.
Happy travelling !!
My name is Jorunn and I live in Reykjavik. I have great passion for photography and travelling. Icelandic nature is a big inspiration for me. The light and the unique landscape is phenomenal and gives one endless opportunities for photography. I specialise in landscape photography but have also been doing portraits and macro work. I love to share my experience with others and advice people that are planning a visit to Iceland. I have experience doing photo day tours with small group of people to places as Snæfellsnes peninsula, Reykjanes peninsula, the south coast of Iceland and the Golden circle. Im also willing to offer you a tailor made tour of your choice. If you want some great tips about travelling or photographing in those areas or join me on a photo tour please send me a line.
