Fighting the Bit

This horse is fighting the bit from the first step to the last.

At what point is someone going to do something about it?

Is the horse supposed to put up with the pain from the bit? the hands?

Is the horse supposed to get used to it?

Reasons Not to Ride on Ice

Icelandic Horses Fall Through Ice Video

We do not support demos of Icelandic Horses riding on ice, either on rivers, lakes, rinks, or arenas. It is too dangerous, and may be detrimental to the horse's long-term soundness.

If a child tries this, we may lose the child and the horse.

Think about it. Just because it may be done in Iceland, does not mean it is right, or good.


Pounding the horse's metal shod foot against the hard ice must be uncomfortable, if not painful to the horse. Additionally, there is the problem of the ice nails grabbing the surface and interfering with the normal action of the foot to slide into place, and putting torque onto the hocks.

Please. Put your thinking caps on!

Playing with the Icelandic Horse / Islandpferd

Horses like to play games with people. Like kids who enjoy spending special time with Mom or Dad, horses also enjoy engaging with people. It adds to the relationship, and makes a smarter horse, one more willing to have two-way communication.

Icelandic Horses (aka cheval islandais, island hast, islandske hest, island pferde, islenskir hestar, ijslands paard, islanninhevonen, islenskihesturinn, islandisches pferd, hestur, islandpony, icelandic pony) really seem to enjoy interacting with humans in ground work, games, toys, clicker training, or anything in a positive, relaxed learning atmosphere.

Icelandic Horses Resting

These are my two Icelandic Horse mares (pinto and palomino) resting in the morning sun after breakfast.

For more information about Icelandic Horses, see the Icelandic Horse Connection website.

Below is the pony.

Icelandic Horse in Cart Training