Icelandic Horse
Small, sturdy gaited horse with five gaits (including the tölt), known for its friendly, even temperament.
Origin & history
Brought to Iceland by the Vikings in the 9th/10th century and bred in complete isolation ever since - one of the purest horse breeds in the world, with over 1000 years of unchanged genetics.
Care
Very low-maintenance and weather-hardy, but needs regular exercise and appropriate training for its extra gaits.
Ideal environment
Extremely weather-hardy, year-round pasture keeping possible even in cold weather. Needs social contact within a herd, tolerates the Swiss climate well.
Feeding
Very undemanding: sparse hay and lean pasture are usually enough, avoid weight gain from overly rich feed.
Health
A very robust, healthy breed thanks to strict isolation from other horses - importing horses into Iceland is banned as a result. Few breed-typical conditions.