Icelandic Horse Hall of Fame

Photos taken at the 2007 World Championships for Icelandic Horses, Holland, by Mic Rushen
www.solva-icelandics.co.uk

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• icelandic
• horses
• icelandics
• horse
• wc2007
• flying
• pace
• ponies
• tölt
• tolt

[Grace4469]

They are usually extremely willing, powerful, brave, intelligent, and very people friendly. Besides all this, they are derived from german horses. So, by character, and by blood, they are horses.

[kalsi4654]

German horses??? If you read Marit Jonsson's research, or any other genetic reseach into the origin of Icelandics, you will see their ancestors are the Celtic Pony, various British ponies, and the Dole horse of Norway.

You don't think ponies are willing, powerful, brave, intelligent or people friendly? How many have you met? (other than Icelandics! ; ))

[Grace4469]

Height is NOT the distinction between pony and horse-it's blood lines!! Icelandic Horses are small yes, but clearly, even by looking at them you can tell tht they are not a pony because of their musculature and athleticism. They can carry very heavy people, have 5 gaits, (no ponies do) and do no have a pony-like personality. They have big horse characteristics, despite their size.

[kalsi4654]

Um, height IS the recognised distinction between ponies and horses in the entire equine world. Physically, Icelandic horses are, indeed ponies, which you can indeed tell by looking at them. Short thick bones, larger heads, short necks, heavy coats etc. BEING CALLED A PONY IS NOT A BAD THING!!! Many ponies carry heavy adults (think of Fell ponies, Haflingers, Fjords - all pony breeds that carry adults. What do you think are "big horse characteristics" that Icelandics exhibit???

[drusla152]

wer is das pferd bei 0:32 ??

[kalsi4654]

Dropi from Salsibury, GB, rider Smari Slater

[threeicys]

They are not a pony breed for one. They also can carry twice the weight a typical American horse can. Almost twice their weight. Pony breeds typically cannot carry an adult either - Icelandics where bred for over 900 years to carry heavy loads. They have some characteristics of a pony but are not a pony. My Icelandic is 15 hands high. A pony cannot be more than 14.2.

Hope this helps.

[threeicys]

They are very fun to ride and make excellent companions. My life is richer because I know them and their heritage.

I laughed after I read your comment the second time...the first time I read through it I thought you said ..'gorgeous little engines' LOL not far from the truth!

[LoveIJslander]

I think they best way to distinguish Icelandic horses from ponies, is that every body keeps calling them Icelandic HORSES

[strayfool]

@kalsi4654 Actually, both Fjords and Haflingers are count as horses, not ponies ;)

[TheAutosAngel]

gotta agree with below comment's first couple of sentences. the icelandic pony that is at the barn i board my APHA Paint at is a brave little jumper. ive been working with her (up to 2'3) to get her in shape for the foxhunting season. (her owner recenlty passed away and i figured i would honor him by keeping his wonderful pony in shape. the man was an older gentelman who was kinda like my barn dad, may he rest in piece and know his pony is doing wonderful!)

[TheAutosAngel]

gotta agree with below comment's first couple of sentences. the icelandic pony that is at the barn i board my APHA Paint at is a brave little jumper. ive been working with her (up to 2'3) to get her in shape for the foxhunting season. (her owner recenlty passed away and i figured i would honor him by keeping his wonderful pony in shape. the man was an older gentelman who was kinda like my barn dad, may he rest in piece and know his pony is doing wonderful!)

[telms]

They may be small but they are really strong based on theyr size. And some icelandic horses are larger than the pony size limit

The word pony is an English invention, probably from the old French word, poulenet, a diminuative form of poulain, or colt. So it defines small breeds on the British Isles like Shetlands, Welch, Dartmoors, Exmoors and Connemaras. But pony is often used imprecisely. For example it's used to describe polo horses and mustangs which aren't necessarily small

Just for fun :)

[CaliforniaBlonde000]

I sure am glad that those horses are wearing bell boots. That gait seriously makes their back legs overreach!