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Icelandic Horse Small But Growing
With an average height of 12.3 to 13.1 hands at the withers, Icelandic horses are small compared to most horse breeds. They look like playful little ponies but breeder Phil Pretty says looks can be deceiving. "Get on one, and it doesn't feel small," he says. "In Iceland, they are traditionally a man's horse and ridden
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Icelandic Horse Small But Growing AG WORLD 30-2-22 With an average height of 12.3 to 13.1 hands at the withers, Icelandic horses are small compared to most horse breeds. They look like playful little ponies but breeder Phil Pretty says looks can be deceiving. "Get on one, and it doesn't feel small," he says. "In Iceland, they are traditionally a man's horse and ridden like motorcyclesàall out."
Pretty is co-owner with his wife Robyn Hood of Icelandic Horse Farm. At 29 years in business, the Vernon, B.C. enterprise is one of the oldest and largest breeders of Icelandics in North America. Pretty is also president of the North American Icelandic Horse Breeders Association (NAIHBA).
First imported to North America in any numbers in the 1970's, there are now estimated to be nearly 30 serious breeders in the U.S. and Canada.
Icelandics can cover 817 ft. in 20 sec. at their æflying' pace. Pretty explains that the horses are trained to start out at a fast gait and then slow down at the rider's direction, not start slow as with most breeds.
The flying pace is a racing gait akin to a sprint. Here, the horse moves both feet on the same side together, most commonly seen in sulky or harness racing in North America.
Pretty says the pace is so smooth and so fast that flying is the only way to describe it. Not every Icelandic can do the flying pace.
The best Icelandics have five gaits. While the pace is impressive, it is the fourth gait called the t÷lt that has made the Icelandic horse famous. This pace which varies from gentle and regal to equal in speed to a full gallop is know for its smoothness. In fact, demonstrations of the t÷lt are often done with the rider holding a full glass of beer in one hand, the reins in the other and riding without spilling a drop.
Other gaits include the walk, the trot and the canter or gallop. Only the best of the breed are able to manage all five gaits.
The breed is also colorful, with more than 40 different colors with about 100 variations.
Pretty says people interested in buying an Icelandic need to get to know the breed and try as many horses as possible before buying.
"We try to discourage impulse buyers," he says. "We like to see people visit lots of different breeders and ride lots of animals."
Pretty counsels buyers to always get a bill of sale and make sure it references that registrations will be provided. If possible, he adds, get a copy of the animal's registration papers at the time of sale.
Pretty points out that perhaps because they haven't been threatened by predators for more than 1,000 years, they are unusually steady and easy to train.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Icelandic Horse Farm, 5435 Rochdell Road, Vernon, B.C. V1B 3E8 Canada (ph 250 545-2336 or 800 255-2336; fax 250 545-9116; icefarm@shaw.ca; www.icefarm.com) or NAIHBA, P.O. Box 546, Grapeview, Wash. 98546 (ph 360 275-7542; info@icelandic horsebreeders.org; www.icelandichorse breeders.org).
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