Riding an Icelandic horse: gaits, routes and questions before booking
The Icelandic horse can do more than three gaits, and that changes the question to the stable.
What FEIF says about the breed, which rides on Icelandic horses are in our selection and what to clarify beforehand.
What FEIF says about the Icelandic horse
According to FEIF the Icelandic horse descends from horses that came to Iceland during the settlement between 874 and 930. According to FEIF it has remained on the island for more than 1,000 years without genetic input from other breeds. Today more than 280,000 Icelandic horses worldwide are registered in the WorldFengur database. According to FEIF the Icelandic horse is a versatile riding horse for leisure riding over short distances as well as for longer journeys.
The gaits
According to FEIF the basic gaits are walk, trot and canter. In addition there are tölt and pace. In riding and breeding there is, according to FEIF, a heavy emphasis on the gaits, tölt and pace are considered the most desirable, and the versatility of the horse is also highly valued. The goal is to keep the gaits pure and clearly distinguished. For you that means: do not ask only about walk and trot, but whether tölt is ridden on the ride and whether it suits beginners. Whether tölt is planned on the ride is stated by the provider.
Which rides are in our selection
Questions for the provider
- Are tölt or other gaits ridden, and can I stay at a walk?
- Which level does the ride require, and is there a weight limit in kilograms? You can read the reasons for limits in our guide on weight limits.
- How long are you really in the saddle, how long do the introduction and breaks take?
- What weather is to be expected at your start time, and what is supplied?
- How many guests and how many guides are there?
- Until when is cancellation free?
Sources
- FEIF, The Icelandic horse, feif.org/the-icelandic-horse/ (origin 874 to 930, more than 1,000 years without genetic input from other breeds, more than 280,000 horses in WorldFengur, gaits walk, trot, canter, tölt, pace, emphasis on gaits, leisure riding and travelling). Read in the browser on 11 October 2026. FEIF is an association, and the statements are its own description of the breed.
- Offers: Viator pool and GetYourGuide hand cards, as of 11 October 2026.