About Icelandic Horses

The Icelandic Horse has a thousand year history. Purebred since the 10th century, the Icelandic Horse is renowned for being hardy, athletic, independent, spirited, friendly, adaptable, and sure-footed, with five natural gaits. These are the Walk, Trot, Canter, Tolt, and Pace. Averaging 13 to 14 hands tall, the Icelandic Horse is a versatile family riding horse, bred to carry adults at a fast pleasing gait over long distances. It is distinctive for its thick and often double-sided mane and long tail, and remarkable for its wide range of colors. In addition to formal horse shows and competitions, Icelandic Horses are widely used for cross-country rides and long-distance trekking. They have also competed in dressage, jumping, and endurance races

TOLTThis is the four-beat, lateral gait of the Icelandic Horse, which is very comfortable to ride. It is sometimes compared to the rack of the American Saddlebred, but there is a lot of variation in this gait, from horses which move somewhat like a Paso Fino to ones which tolt similar to the running walk of the Tennessee Walking Horse. The tolt is a natural gait, meaning that the horse is born with the ability to perform the gait (although it is best brought out by good training and riding), and it doesn't require the use of manipulative training devices, extreme shoeing, etc. A four-gaited horse will possess the tolt, in addition to the walk, trot and canter.

An incorrect tolt is closer to two-beat than four-beat is the "Pig's Pace" (similar to the lateral gait sometimes seen in gaited breeds which rely on shoeing and training). A tolt/canter combination, sometimes seen in young, untrained horses, or in horses which mix their gaits, is the "Valhopp." Neither of these gaits are desirable, and they can be uncomfortable for the rider.FLYING PACEAlso known as the skeith, not every Icelandic Horse exhibits this fifth gait. This is a very fast lateral gait, very slightly four-beat, with a period of suspension in which all four feet are off the ground. The Icelandic Horse is the only breed in theworld which performs this distinctive gait and, unlike the pace of the American Standardbred, it is comfortable to sit. Icelandics Horses are raced in flying pace under saddle (like Thoroughbreds), not pulling a sulky (like Standardbreds). A five-gaited horse will possess the flying pace, in addition to the tolt, walk, trot, and canter.