FAQ about Icelandic Riding

1. Do all Icelandic horses have the genetic predisposition to tölt and pace?

The mutated DMRT3 gene is mainly responsible for the predisposition to tölt and pace. The mutation ensures a corresponding coupling of the nerve cells in the spinal cord, which in turn enables the fast four-beat gait.

The first evidence of the „gaited horse gene“ dates back to 850 AD, when the mutated gene was first found in two horses in England. These two horses carried the „gait gene“ further across continental Europe. When the Vikings conquered England in the 9th century and recognised the advantages of the small horses with the comfortable gaits, they took them with them to Iceland. There they began a sophisticated breeding programme to focus on the gaits tölt and pace. Since the Vikings passed the law as early as 938 that no foreign horse was allowed to enter the island, pure breeding developed and the mutant gene was able to consolidate within the breed. That is why most Icelandic horses have the tölt disposition.

However, not every Icelandic has the talent for tölt or pace, which cannot be forced with training and education. This is because the mutated DMRT3 gene is not present and expressed in the same way in every Icelandic horse. In order to be sure of a tölt predisposition, a horse genetic test is recommended, because the gene is already detectable from birth.

2. How much does an Icelandic saddle cost?

Inexpensive models and second-hand saddles are available for as little as £500, while brand-name products in mint condition can climb up to £3,000 in price. Custom-made saddles can cost several thousand pounds. The price is not exclusively determined by the quality, but often depends on the material used. An Icelandic saddle made of artificial leather is cheaper than a gaited horse saddle made of genuine leather.

3. Is an expensive Icelandic saddle always better?

There is no general answer to this question. Of course, quality has its price, as genuine leather, for example, is of higher quality and more durable than artificial leather. Another decisive factor for the price is whether the gullet plate can be adjusted or exchanged so that the gullet width can be adapted to the width of the horse.

A saddle has to fit the horse first and the rider second. The price has nothing to do with the fit, but only with the quality of the workmanship and the materials. So every Icelandic saddle needs a good saddle service that fits the saddle to the horse.

4. What is the difference between Icelandic saddles and classic saddles?

Icelandic saddles, unlike classic saddles, have the centre of gravity that is set relatively far back to allow the Icelandic horse the high, wide movement of the forehand. The seat is kept very flat to provide the rider with sufficient seating area. In addition, the stirrup bars are almost in the centre, which supports the rider’s backward seat. The saddle flap of the Icelandic saddle is elongated, similar to a dressage saddle, and the stirrups are also elongated.

5. What alternatives are there for Icelandic saddles?

Due to their special movements in tölt and pace, as well as their small, stocky build with a short back, Icelandic horses have requirements for a saddle that differs from those of other horse breeds. Therefore, a gaited saddle is advantageous for an Icelandic horse.

However, not every Icelandic horse fits a gaited saddle, just as not every Icelandic rider feels comfortable in a flat gaited saddle. Alternatively, you can use a dressage or general purpose saddle. It is important that the saddle panels are not too long and do not press on the lumbar region. In addition, the gullet width must be wide enough to give the horse’s shoulder enough freedom to rotate and to allow the forehand to move forward and upwards.

In addition, the seat area for the rider must become larger, i.e. the flatter the seat, the greater the horse’s range of movement. As with every saddle fitting, the horse and rider must be examined and assessed in their entirety and their interaction and then it can be concluded which saddle is suitable as an alternative.

6. How heavy can the rider be for an Icelandic horse?

The question of reasonable rider weight has been hotly debated and criticised in recent years. The rule of thumb was that a horse should only carry a maximum of 10-15% of its body weight on its back. With Icelandic horses, however, one often sees riders sitting on top who go beyond the 15%. With Icelandic horses, the guideline of 20% of the horse’s body weight has become established. This is because the full-grown Vikings men already used the small, stocky horses as pack and working animals.

Icelandic horses have an almost square, very compact build. With their stable foundation and sloping croup, they have been bred over the centuries to be beasts of burden. But not only their build plays a role. Their fitness and physical condition also influence the extra weight they are capable of carrying without tiring. In addition, the gait itself and the speed ridden determine how much the horse can carry. An Icelandic horse that walks at a steady pace can carry the rider for a longer time without tiring than if it is ridden 100 metres at a flying pace, which is very tiring.

Other important influencing factors come from the rider. The rider’s physical fitness as well as his seat and balance influence the carrying capacity of the Icelandic horse.

It does not make sense to give a fixed guideline, because too many factors are involved in the evaluation. Research is currently being conducted on the carrying capacity of the Icelandic horse. Results can be expected in the coming years (status: 2021).

7. Can Icelandic horses be trained in dressage?

Tölt and Pace have to be prepared very well. You cannot immediately train the horse in the gait variations if it does not have the musculature for it at all. Often the horse is ridden in a high upright position with a tensed lower neck, it has a weak topline, weak hindquarters and this quickly leads to problems with the rhythm.

Instead of correcting problems in the tölt directly, one should take a step back and focus on the basic work. Even though Icelandic horses have gaits that other horse breeds do not have, they still need to be trained and built up correctly. There is no way around the classical exercises (travers, renvers, half pass, shoulder-in). This is because classical dressage is basically there to enable the horse to carry more rider weight effortlessly and to balance itself. With good dressage work, the Icelandic horse develops a correct posture, which is not only important at gaited horse shows. It is also of great importance for keeping the horse healthy.

Icelandic horses can also be trained for haute école. However, the training can be more tedious than with three-gaited horses, because especially the physique of the Icelandic horse can get in the way of classical training from time to time.

8. Why are fly rugs alone not suitable as sufficient protection against insect bites?

Fly rugs are usually made of a loose mesh fabric. The mesh fabric prevents insect bites when the horse is in motion. A fly rug is well suited for hacking or, for non-sensitive horses, for turnout. Fly rugs usually only cover part of the horse and are therefore not suitable for horses that have an allergic reaction to insect bites.

If your horse overreacts to gnats, black flies and the like, i.e. has sweet itch, you should use a sweet itch rug. This has the same purpose as a fly rug, but the horse is completely covered – from the ears to the rump to the tail. Some models even have leg protection. In contrast to simple fly rugs, the fabric is closed or more closely meshed and thus impenetrable for the fine proboscises of the insects. Sweet itch rugs are much more robust than ordinary fly rugs and can therefore be worn around the clock. Especially for sweet itch sufferers, a robust rug that tears less quickly is recommended.

9. Do Icelandic horses born outside Iceland have less sweet itch than horses imported from Iceland?

According to studies, more Icelandic horses imported directly from Iceland become ill, while sweet itch develops less frequently in horses bred outside Iceland. The study results showed that the highest prevalence was in imported Icelandic horses between 7 and 15 years of age. The fact that imported Icelandic horses in particular develop an allergy to gnat bites is due to the fact that this species of mosquito does not occur in Iceland. The horse’s immune system is not adapted to handle the allergens that are inflicted on it and reacts with an overproduction of histamine, which triggers the itching. For a more detailed explanation of what sweet itch is, read our sweet itch guide. If you would like to know how to protect your (imported) Icelandic horse from mosquitoes, please read on here.

10. Is Icelandic wool scratchy?

Icelandic wool and therefore the Icelandic jumper can be quite scratchy at first. Especially if the jumper has not been worn much. To soften it, the Icelandic jumper should be washed by hand in lukewarm water with a dash of hair conditioner. Never put your Icelandic jumper in the washing machine, this can cause the wool fibres to become matted! The hair conditioner should not remain in the jumper. Rinse the woollen jumper thoroughly and squeeze out the excess water with a towel. Then leave the jumper to flat dry.

The more often the Icelandic jumper is worn, the less itchy it will become.

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