Do Iceland Ponies make good trail horses??

Answer 1

I have to disagree with you guys. Icelandic Horses are usually less spooky because if they were born in Iceland, they have no real natural predators, so they have less to fear. However, Icelandics bred here in the United States tend to be more spooky . . . do the math. So if you wanna trail horse as an Icelandic horse go for an older horse bred and born and probably trained in Icelandic that's been imported. However, other breeds are better suited for trails. Icelandics also have to be clipped in warmer climates during the summer and warmer times, so it can be a hassle. However they have very unique personalities and are very cute! My friend raises Icelandics so I know . . . you can also look this up on the internet. Icelandics are typically used for getting around and such in Iceland, but in America, they are used for gaited events, and a little jumping.

Though some Icelandics may be hyper, as those others said, many can be calm as a cucumber. My friend has a horse that's extremely calm and gentle and is one of her main lesson horses because of this. However, I do agree that a Quarter Horse, Morgan or most other breeds may do you better for trail riding. Arabians are great for endurance riding but can be extremely spazztic, depending on the horse and age of course, and may not be too great . . . i would go with a naturally calmer dispositioned horse.

Answer 2

I don't know where people get these biases against the Iceland. In the UK they are used as children's hacking ponies because they are hardy with excellent feet. As someone has said, its all in the care and training, no one breed is foolproof.

Regarding temperament, this is from wikipedia:
"The Iceland horse is less skittish than other breeds of horse. Considering that they have had no natural predators for 1200 years (save for man — the Icelanders eat horsemeat on occasion), many generations have selected for an animal that looks before it bolts, a curious animal willing to check out something new; a horse that thinks before it acts."

Answer 3

Arabs and Arab crosses make really good trail horses. they have loads of stamina even when they are old. For most trail horses 15-20 years are there prime. I have an Arab and he is like 22 and I participate in horse a thons ( really long trail rides ) and it was 20 miles long last time and he didn't even break that much of a sweat! So I would choose an Arabian because they are famous for their excellent stamina. I hope I helped. Best Wishes

Answer 4

sure they do
It's not the breed that makes a great trail mount, It's the training you give them

I'm a big fan of Iceland Ponies, I'd like to have one one day

Answer 5

I copied and pasted the writings below about Icelandic Ponies. Why is it that you would like specificially an Icelandic Pony? Fjords are excellent kids ponies with quieter dispositions. Connemara's are also nice kids ponies as are Quarter Ponies and POAs. The Welsh Pony can also be a bit "hot" meaning they have lots of stamina and go.

But as with ALL breeds of horses including the Arabian it is all in the training as too how well behaved or how psyco your horse is.

Feeds and how you feed them play a huge role in how hot or psyco your horse can be. Unless your horse is in heavy training and working hard they simply do not need grain or concentrates (grain) especially ponies. Ponies are for the most part easy keepers.

If you want to give them treats buy them horse cookies. And ponies don't need to have a lot of pasture time in the green grass either. Keeping them trim and fit is a good thing.

Dawn


A Horse Of Course, by Don Blazer

You say you want a tough horse to do a full day's work.

But you don't want him to eat too much.

And you don't want him to go lame, but you do want him to live a long, long time.

How about a horse that thinks it's normal to work three or four days in a row without stopping for rest or food? And when he does get fed, he's happy with a few salted herrings.

How about a horse who knows it's a "no-no" to go lame."

That's great you say, but how long does he live, you ask?

Well, when one was 20 he was sold to an elderly man who used him to pull a milk wagon. When the horse was 50 years old, both he and the old man retired.

When the horse was 58 years old, the old man died.

This remarkable horse is actually not a horse at all—he's a pony, an Icelandic Pony, and for the past 20 years his popularity in the U.S. has been growing in "tolts".

So what's a "tolt?"

For Icelandic ponies, it's a fifth gait—a single-foot or running walk. All Icelandic ponies walk, trot and canter. Most will also pace—move both legs on the same side at the same time. They pace as a way of resting after a fast gallop. Some will even tolt.

The tolt is a four-beat gait, with the footfall sequence the same as the walk, for example right rear, right fore, left rear, left fore. The Icelandic Pony can escalate the swiftness of the gait to great speed.

The Icelandic Pony ranges in size from 12 to 14 hands. He was brought to Iceland by the Vikings about 1000 AD.

Iceland is a volcanic island in the North Atlantic, skirting the Polar Circle. More than 10 per cent of the country is covered with glaciers.

Most of the interior consists of lava fields, devoid of vegetation. There are a lot of sand and stone deserts.

More than a quarter of a million people live in Iceland, and they count on more than 50,000 Icelandic ponies for help—help to survive. The climate isn't suited to cattle, so sheep and ponies became the meat mainstay.

Therefore, more ponies are bred than are needed for riding. (This is really selective breeding. If a pony isn't a good one for work, pleasure or disposition, then he's a good one for dinner.)

The Icelandic Pony is extremely intelligent. Most of the time he had to fend for himself, so he learned to live at the highest altitudes where the early frost deep-freezes the grass while it is still green.

He developed a special way of breathing—taking short shallow breaths—so he could work hard in cold weather. Taking in small amounts of air at a time helps relieve him of excessive heat during work, and prevents lung damage from large amounts of very cold air.

In appearance, the Icelandic Pony is stout, big-boned, with the conformation needed to pull heavy loads. He comes in all the normal horse colors and is quite shaggy unless in show condition.

When at work, the Icelandic Pony is an energetic, high-stepping, smooth-moving animal.

About the only thing Icelandic ponies don't do too well is grow up fast. They are not full-grown before they are seven or eight years old, and they are seldom ridden before they are four or five years old.

As their numbers continue to grow in the U.S., I hope prosperity and affluence aren't too much for them!

If you want to know more about Icelandic ponies contact the Icelandic Horse Adventure Society, 795 Entrance Rd., Solvang, CA 93463, or the Icelandic Horse Trekkers, PO Box 414937, Kansas City, MO 64141, or the U.S. Icelandic Horse Congress, 38 Park St., Montclair, NJ 07042.

Answer 6

no they do not. They over heat easily and they can be jumpy/spooky. But if properly trained they would be good on short rides.

I would recommend a quarter horse cross - they are great all round ponies.

Answer 7

Yes. Excellent, very hairy though, would need lots of grooming, stripping, clipping etc. Very tough though and excellent for trail riding.

Answer 8

i agree-they arent good trail horses.

get a quarter horse/pony. they are amazing on trails.

Answer 9

yes, as a matter of fact they do. my BFF is iclelandic and loves riding them on trail! i hope this helped you out!

Answer 10

no, an arab or qut. horse would be a better choice.