Random Observations Volume Two: Horses

You do not need to drive very far in iceland to see a herd of a dozen or more adorable horses.  I am almost certain there are more of these fellas in Iceland than there are people.

They are friendly.   This pretty gray one just walked right up to me while we were on a stroll near Lysingttadir.  And it is not uncommon to see a tour bus stopped on the side of the road with ten horses standing near the fence saying hi to the peeps.

They have been bred in Iceland without interbreeding for something like 600 years.  They have very strict rules to ensure this never changes.  No horses are allowed to enter Iceland from the outside.  In fact, if one was to ship an Icelandic horse out of the country, they would never be allowed to bring the horse back into Iceland. 

They are a big part of the rural economy of Iceland.  They sell in Germany for 3,000 Euros and up.  They also charge for tourists to ride them, and (brace yourself) they even eat them.

Sveiner weeds out the less desirable horses from his herd by slaughtering them for food, and this is very typical.

Despite the fact that horses are sometimes dinner, icelanders take have a real fondness for their horses and treat them very well.

Icelandic horses are among the cutest possible things.  They are shaggy and small and come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. 

 Most horse breeds of horses have typical color patterns but this does not seem to be the case with Icelandic horses. 

Our guide Jasmine told us that the most prized pattern is dark body (gray, brown or black) with puffy blond mane.  I have never seen this pattern on other horses, and it is very striking.  

But they are all cute.  And friendly like Labradors too.

They are also very tough.  As we drove around the island we fairly frequently found ourselves in wild winds  and torrential rains.  And just about the time I would become concerned that the winds might blow our tiny car clear off the road, I would look out the window and see a herd of unflappable horses grazing in the gale, their bushy manes flying wildly, but otherwise utterly undisturbed. 

You have never seem anything as casual as a tough little Icelandic horse going about its business in 50mph  winds.  It is as though while eating breakfast with a tornado in their kitchen, they not only still butter their bread, but they also say please when they ask for a second helping of skyr.

Icelandic horses also have a unique gate that other horses do not have.  It is called a tolt, and it is like a smooth, fast trot.

I miss looking out my car and seeing these ubiquitous beautiful creatures.