The Icelandic horse is a type of horse developed in Iceland. Though a small horse, sometimes a horse-sized, most registrars to Iceland call it a horse. Icelandic horse is long and strong. In their home country they have few illnesses; Icelandic laws prevent horses from importing into the country and exported animals are not allowed to return. The Icelandic features two other tracks in addition to walking, running, and the canter/gallop commonly featured by other breeds. The only type of horse in Iceland, they are also popular internationally, and a sizable population exists in Europe and North America. This breed is still used for traditional pastoral work in its home country, as well as for fun, performances, and racing.
Developed from a pony brought to Iceland by Norse settlers in the 9th and 10th centuries, this breed is mentioned in literature and historical records throughout the history of Iceland; the first reference to a named horse appeared in the 12th century. Horses are glorified in Norse mythology, a custom brought to Iceland by the early settlers of the country. Selective breeding for centuries has developed this breed into its present form. Natural selection also plays a role, as Iceland's harsh climate removes many horses through cold and hunger. In the 1780s, most breeds were destroyed after a volcanic eruption in Laki. The first breed community for Icelandic horses was created in Iceland in 1904, and today the breed is represented by organizations in 19 different countries, held under the parent association, the International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations.
Video Icelandic horse
Karakteristik karakteristik
Icelandic horse weighs between 330 and 380 kilograms (730 and 840 pounds) and stands on average 13 and 14 hands (52 and 56 inches, 132 and 142 cm) tall, which is often considered the size of a horse, but breeders and breeders always refer to Iceland as a horse. Several theories have put forward why Iceland is always called a horse, among which is a diverse temperament and a great personality. Another theory suggests that weight, bone structure and load carrying ability mean it can be classified as a horse, rather than a horse. The breed comes in many coat colors, including chestnuts, dun, bay, black, gray, palomino, pinto and roan. There are more than 100 names for different colors and color patterns in Icelandic. They have a proportional head, with a straight profile and wide forehead. Short, muscular, broad neck on the base; wilt width and low; the inside of the chest; shoulder muscled and slightly tilted; the long back; croup wide, muscular, short and slightly tilted. The legs are strong and short, with relatively long bones and short marks. The full tail and tail, with coarse hair, and tail are set low. This breed is known as hardy and an easy guard. This breed has a double coat developed for extra insulation in cold temperatures.
The characteristics differ between different groups of Icelandic horses, depending on the individual focus of the breeder. Some focus on animals for packs and work plans, which differ in concrete terms from those raised to work under the saddle, are carefully chosen for their ability to perform traditional Icelandic slang. Others are bred only for horse meat. Some breeders focus on the preferred fur color.
Breed members are usually not ridden until they are four years old, and structural developments are not complete until the age of seven. Their most productive year is between eight and eighteen, though they retain their strength and stamina into their twenties. An Icelandic horse living in Denmark reaches the age of 56, while another horse, living in Great Britain, reaches the age of 42 years. The horses are very fertile, and both sexes are suitable to breed until the age of 25 years; horses have recorded childbearing at the age of 27. The horses tend not to be easily frightened, perhaps the result of having no natural predators in their native Iceland. Iceland tends to be friendly, docile and easy to handle, although also enthusiastic and confident. As a result of their isolation from other horses, the disease in breeds in Iceland is largely unknown, except for some types of internal parasites. The low prevalence of the disease in Iceland is maintained by law preventing horses from being exported from the returned countries, and by requiring that all horse equipment be brought into the state to be new and not used or fully disinfected. As a result, the original horse has no immunity to the disease; the plague on the island would be very damaging to breeds. This presents a problem with showing the original Icelandic horses against others from breeds from abroad, since no cattle of any species can be imported into Iceland, and once a horse leaves their country it is not allowed to return.
Gaits
The Icelandic is a "five-gaited" breed, known for its sure-footedness and ability to traverse rough terrain. As well as typical typical walking, running, and canter/sprint, the breed is noted for its ability to perform two additional times. Although most horses consider the canters and gallops as separate gauges, on the basis of slight variations in footsteps, Icelandic registrants consider canters and run fast, hence the term "five-gaited".
The first additional gait is the four-tone lateral rocking style known as tÃÆ'¶lt . This is known for its acceleration and explosive speed; it is also comfortable and closed. There is considerable stylistic variation in gait, and thus tÃÆ'Â ¢ tt t t is different than that of a lateral echo similar to Saddlebred shelves, largo from Paso Fino, or walking from Tennessee Walking Horse. Like all lateral ambling echoes, the footstep pattern is the same as walking (left rear, left front, rear right, front right), but different from the road at it can be done at various speeds, from typical fast speeds running to normal canter speeds. Some Icelandic horses prefer tÃÆ'¶lt, while others prefer to run; Proper training can improve the weakness of gaits, but tÃÆ'Â ¢ t is a natural gait that is present at birth. There are two varieties of tÃÆ'¶lt that are considered untrue by the breeder. The first is an unbalanced walking style called "Pig's Pace" or "Piggy-pace" that is closer to a two-beat speed than a four-beat amble. The second is called Valhopp and is a combination of inventions and canters most commonly seen in young horses or untrained horses that mix their echoes. Both varieties are usually uncomfortable to drive.
This breed also performs a step called skeiÃÆ' Â , flugskeiÃÆ' Â ° or "flight rate". It is used in pacing races, and is fast and smooth, with some horses able to reach up to 30 miles per hour (48 km/h). Not all Icelandic horses can do this style; animals that do t'¶lt and fly speed in addition to traditional pantuan are considered the best of breeds. The flight speed is a two-horsepower force with suspension moments between foot steps; each side has both ground legs almost simultaneously (left rear and left front, suspension, right back and right front). This is meant to be done by a well-trained and well-balanced horse with a skilled rider. This is not a walking style used for long distance travel. The slow step is uncomfortable for the rider and is not recommended when training the horse to do the gait. Although most horses raced in harness using sulkies, Icelandic horses were driven while riding.
Maps Icelandic horse
History
Icelandic horse ancestors may be brought to Iceland by Viking Age Scandinavians between 860 and 935 AD. The Norse settlers were followed by immigrants from the Norse colonies in Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Western Isles of Scotland. The settlers then arrive with ancestors of what will be elsewhere into Shetland, Highland, and Connemara horses, which are crossed with previously imported animals. There may also be a connection with the Yakut horse, and this breed has a physical similarity to Nordlandshest of Norway. Other breeds with similar characteristics include the Faroe horses in the Faeroe Islands and the Norwegian Fjord horses. Genetic analysis has revealed the relationship between Mongolian horses and Icelandic horses. Mongolian horse is believed to have originally been imported from Russia by Swedish traders; these imported Mongol stocks then contribute to the Fjord, Exmoor, Scottish Highland, Shetland and Connemara breeds, all of which are genetically linked to Icelandic horses.
About 900 years ago, efforts were made to introduce eastern blood to Iceland, resulting in stock degeneration. In 982 AD, Icelandic Althing (parliament) passed a law prohibiting the import of horses into Iceland, thus ending a cross-breeding. This breed has been raised in Iceland for over 1,000 years.
The earliest Norse people honored horses as a symbol of fertility, and white horses were slaughtered at ceremonies and sacrifices. When these settlers arrived in Iceland, they brought their faith, and their horse, with them. Horses play an important role in Norse mythology, and some of the horses play a major role in the Norse myth, among them an eight-foot horse boyfriend named Sleipnir, owned by Odin, head of the Norse god. Skalm, a horse that was the first Icelandic horse known by name, appeared in the Book of Settlements from the 12th century. According to the book, a chieftain named Seal-Thorir set up a settlement on which Skalm stopped and laid down with his pack. Horses also play a key role in the story of Iceland Hrafnkel's Saga , Njal's Saga and Grettir's Saga . Although written in the 13th century, these three saga have been around since the 9th century. This early literature had an influence today, with many horseracing clubs and herds of horses in modern Iceland still carrying the names of horses of Nordic mythology.
Horses are often regarded as the most precious treasure of a medieval Iceland. Very important for warriors, war horses are sometimes buried with their fallen riders, and stories are told of their deeds. Iceland also arranges bloody fights between stallions; it is used for entertainment and to choose the best animals to breed, and they are depicted in the official literature and records of the Commonwealth 930-1262 AD period. Horse fights are an important part of Icelandic culture, and fights, both physical and verbal, are among the audience. Conflict in horse fights gives rivals the opportunity to improve their political and social status at the expense of their enemies and have vast social and political impacts, sometimes leading to the restructuring of political alliances. However, not all human fights are serious, and the incident provides a stage for friends and even enemies to battle without the possibility of major consequences. Pairing between young men and women also often occurs in horse fights.
Natural selection played a major role in the development of breeds, as large numbers of horses died from lack of food and exposure to the elements. Between 874 and 1300 AD, during better climatic conditions of the warm period of the Middle Ages, Icelandic breeders are selectively raised in horses according to specific rules of color and conformation. From 1300 to 1900, selective breeding became less of a priority; the climate is often severe and many horses and people die. Between 1783 and 1784, about 70% of the horses in Iceland were killed by volcanic ash poisoning and starvation after the 1783 LakagÃÆ'gar eruption. The eruption lasted eight months, covering hundreds of square miles of land with lava, and replaying or drying some rivers. The population slowly recovered for the next hundred years, and from the beginning of the 20th century selective breeding again became important. The first Icelandic breed community was founded in 1904, and the first breeds registry in Iceland was founded in 1923.
Iceland was exported to England before the 20th century to work as pit ponies in a coal mine, due to its small strength and size. However, the horses were never registered and little evidence of their existence remained. Iceland's first official export to Germany in the 1940s. The first official British import was in 1956, when a Scottish farmer, Stuart McKintosh, started a breeding program. Other breeders in the United Kingdom followed in the footsteps of McKintosh, and the British Icelandic Horse Society was formed in 1986. The number of Icelandic horses exported to other countries has continued to increase since the first export in the mid-19th century. Since 1969, many communities have worked together to preserve, enhance, and market these horses under the auspices of the Iceland International Federation of Horse Associations. Today, Iceland remains a breed known for its pure lineage, and is the only horse in Iceland.
The Icelandic is very popular in Western Europe, Scandinavia, and North America. There are about 80,000 Icelandic horses in Iceland (compared with the human population of 317,000), and about 100,000 people abroad. Nearly 50,000 are in Germany, which has many active horseback riding clubs and community proliferation.
Usage
Icelandic horse still plays a big role in the life of Iceland, despite the increased mechanization and repair of roads that reduce the need for this breed type. The first official Icelandic horse race was held at Akureyri in 1874, and many races are still held across the country from April to June. Both horse races and speed races are held, as well as class appearances featuring unique breed features. Winter events are often held, including races in frozen waters. In 2009, such events resulted in horses and riders falling into the water and needing to be rescued. The first show, which focused on animal quality as a breeding stock, was held in 1906. The Icelandic Agricultural Society, together with the National Association of Riding Clubs, now organizes regular performances with various classes. Some horses are still bred for slaughter, and many meats are exported to Japan. Farmers still use breeds to collect sheep in the Iceland highlands, but most horses are used for competition and recreation.
Registration
Today, Icelandic horses are represented by associations in 19 countries, with the International Icelandic Horse Association Federation (FEIF) which serves as the international holding governing body. FEIF was founded on May 25, 1969, with six countries as original members: Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands and Switzerland. France and Norway joined in 1971, and Belgium and Sweden in 1975. Later, Finland, Canada, England, United States, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Italy, Slovenia and Ireland became members, but Ireland went on due to lack of members. New Zealand has been granted "associate member" status since its membership base is small. In 2000, WorldFengur was founded as an official FEIF registry for Icelandic horses. The registry is a web database program used as a studbook to track the history and lineage of Icelandic descent. The registry contains information about genealogy, breeders, owners, descendants, photographs, evaluation of breeding and assessment, and unique identification of each listed horse. The database was founded by the Icelandic government in collaboration with FEIF. Since its inception, about 300,000 Icelandic horses, alive and dead, have been registered worldwide. The Islandpferde-Reiter- und ZÃÆ'¼chterverband is a German rider organization and Icelandic horse breeders and associates of all Icelandic horse clubs in Germany.
See also
- Icelandic Cattle
- Icelandic Chicken
- Iceland goat
- Icelandic sheep
- Icelandic Sheepdog
References
External links
- Breed Associations
- Icelandic Horse Association International Federation
- Canadian Icelandic Horse Federation
- Icelandic Horse Congress of the United States
- The Icelandic Horse Society of the United Kingdom
- Belgian Story Books about Icelandic horses
- Icelandic horse guestbook
- Another Website
- Iceland Horse magazine
- TÃÆ'¶lt News - US Icelandic Horse Magazine
- Landsmot - National Horse Show
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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