People usually start looking into Icelandic Horses when they’re weighing up a sensible trail horse, checking whether the famous tölt is real (and comfortable), or trying to understand why this compact breed is so carefully protected in its homeland.
They’re small enough to look pony-like, sturdy enough to carry adults, and distinctive enough that a few details really matter — especially gaits, biosecurity rules, and health risks that can show up after export. Here’s a clear, grounded guide to what an Icelandic Horse is like to live with, and what owners tend to get right (or wrong) early on.
Quick facts (at a glance)
Height: commonly around 13–14 hands (about 130–145 cm at the withers)1, 2
Weight: often around 350–400 kg (varies with type, sex, and condition)2
Colours: many colours and patterns are seen across the breed2
Life expectancy: many live into their late 20s and 30s with good management (individual variation is normal)1
Diet: pasture and hay (most of the diet), with concentrates only when genuinely needed8
Distinct features: thick mane and tail, winter coat, and (often) extra gaits: tölt and sometimes flying pace1
Origin: Iceland; developed from horses brought by Norse settlers in the 9th–10th centuries1, 2
Population: not “rare” globally; there are substantial populations in Iceland and overseas, with figures varying by registry and reporting method2, 3, 4
What makes an Icelandic Horse different
An Icelandic Horse is a study in practical adaptation: compact body, strong bone, and a coat built for long, cold weather. In Iceland, the breed developed under isolation and strict biosecurity, so today’s horses still carry a distinct “island” consistency in type and temperament.1, 2
The gaits: walk, trot, canter — plus tölt (and sometimes flying pace)
Many Icelandic Horses are five-gaited, meaning they can perform the usual walk, trot, and canter/gallop, plus the smooth four-beat tölt and the fast two-beat lateral flying pace.1
Not every Icelandic Horse paces. Some are described as four-gaited (they have the tölt but not a reliable flying pace), and some individuals prefer trot over tölt depending on conformation, training, and comfort.1, 7
History, isolation, and why exports can’t return
Icelandic Horses descend from animals brought to Iceland by Norse settlers in the 9th and 10th centuries. Over centuries, a harsh climate and rugged terrain selected for hardiness, sure-footedness, and an efficient way of travelling over distance.1, 2
One detail matters for anyone buying overseas: horses exported from Iceland are not permitted to return. The goal is disease prevention — protecting a population that has long been sheltered from many equine infections found elsewhere.1
Temperament and suitability
Well-bred, well-handled Icelandic Horses are commonly described as sensible, forward without being frantic, and people-oriented without being clingy. They’re often a strong match for riders who want a comfortable all-day gait and a horse that copes with weather and varied terrain.1, 2
As a family horse
Their manageable size can feel reassuring, but it doesn’t automatically make them “easy”. They’re strong, athletic animals with opinions, and they do best with clear handling, consistent boundaries, and a saddle fit that allows free shoulder movement for the tölt.1
Training and exercise
Icelandic Horses usually respond best to calm, consistent training with good timing. The aim is not to “force” a gait, but to build balance and relaxation so the horse can offer the tölt without bracing through the back or rushing.1
Daily movement matters. Many do well with turnout plus riding or in-hand work several days a week, adjusted for age and soundness. Variety helps: hills, poles, gentle transitions, and long straight lines are often more useful than endless circles in an arena.
Health notes that matter for this breed
Icelandic Horses have a reputation for toughness, and many stay sound and useful well into older age. The main risks aren’t mysterious breed curses — they’re often management problems that show up when a “good doer” is fed and stabled like a larger performance horse.
Sweet itch (insect bite hypersensitivity)
Sweet itch (also called insect bite hypersensitivity) is a common allergic skin disease triggered mainly by biting midges (Culicoides). It can cause intense itch, rubbing, hair loss, and skin damage, especially around the mane and tail head.5, 6
Icelandic Horses exported from Iceland can be particularly prone, because Culicoides midges are not present in Iceland, so horses raised there may not have early-life exposure before moving overseas.6, 9
Metabolic risk: “easy keepers”, obesity and laminitis
Many Icelandic Horses hold weight easily. That can be a gift in hard weather, but in rich pasture conditions it can tip into obesity and increased laminitis risk. Practical prevention is mostly ordinary horse management: body condition scoring, controlling pasture intake when needed, and keeping fibre as the dietary base.8
Feeding: keep it simple, keep it fibre-first
Most Icelandic Horses do best on good-quality hay and pasture, with concentrates added only when workload, pregnancy/lactation, or poor forage quality genuinely demands it. Overfeeding starch and sugar is a common pathway to trouble in a breed that often thrives on less.8
- Base diet: pasture and/or hay.
- Add only as needed: a ration balancer or mineral supplement if forage is lacking key nutrients.
- Watch-outs: rapid spring pasture growth, unlimited access to rich grass, and “because the bucket looks empty” grain feeding.
Coat care and grooming
The winter coat can be thick and weatherproof. In spring, shedding can be dramatic and grooming becomes a daily practical job: curry comb, shedding blade, and patience. Keep an eye on skin under the mane and tail, especially in midge season if the horse is prone to sweet itch.5, 6
Common misconceptions
“They’re a rare breed”
They’re distinctive, but not truly rare. Registry-based sources and reported statistics show a large global population, with substantial numbers in Iceland and strong overseas communities as well.2, 3, 4
“All of them have the flying pace”
Many Icelandic Horses tölt, but not every horse has a clear, rideable flying pace. Pace tends to be more specialised, and some horses are effectively four-gaited in practice.1, 7
“If I import one, it can go back to Iceland later”
Exported Icelandic Horses are not allowed to return to Iceland, as part of the country’s long-running disease prevention approach.1
References
- Wikipedia – Icelandic horse (overview, history, gaits, export/return note)
- NordGen – Icelandic Horse (origin, typical height/weight, population notes)
- WorldFengur – the studbook of origin for the Icelandic horse (population/registry data; open-access on PMC)
- NordGen publication: Equines in the Nordics – Icelandic horse population statistics (WorldFengur-based figures)
- British Horse Society – Sweet itch (what it is, causes, signs, management)
- UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine – Insect Bite Hypersensitivity (cause, control; higher incidence in exported Icelandic horses)
- Wikipedia – Five-gaited (context on tölt and flying pace; four-gaited vs five-gaited)
- World Horse Welfare – Laminitis (risk factors and prevention guidance relevant to easy-keeper management)
- Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica (BMC) – Prospective study on insect bite hypersensitivity in Icelandic horses exported from Iceland
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom