Of course Icelandics can and do enter competitions for "ordinary" horses. They have been successful in most disciplines (particularly Endurance riding - the horse standing 2nd overall in the USA is a 13hh Icelandic which covered 2500 miles in vetted competitions last year) and can turn a hoof to anything. But there are special competitions for Icelandic horses designed to show off the gaits of the horses.

Icelandics are bred for use, not show. They're the Border Collie of horse breeds. You won´t find an Icelandic competition with in-hand classes or a great preoccupation with turnout. Instead, classes are designed to show what the horse can do. They take place on a 250m oval track, or on a long straight pace track and there are always at least 3 judges - 5 in larger competitions.

The surface of the competition track is harder than a dressage arena - more like the surface used on a trotting track. The corners of the oval track may be banked to allow for speed. The entrance may be anywhere on the track but the horse must start and finish the test in the middle of the short side. The oval track often has hardly any fencing; white railings placed on the ground on the long sides and a few inches high on the short sides and corners may be used to define the track.

The pace track may adjoin the oval track or be completely separate. Starting boxes are often used for gallop and pace races. The current record for 150m pace is 13.8 seconds.

The oval track classes most commonly found at Icelandic competitions are Tölt, 4-gait and 5-gait. There are different classes within each depending on the level of horse
and rider. For instance, in Tölt T1 (an advanced class) the rider must show one round of working tempo tölt, then change the rein and show one round of tölt with extension on the long sides and collection on the short sides, and one round of fast tölt. In a novice class, riders may compete in small groups, and the speaker will direct them. They won´t show extension either. In Tölt T2, another advanced class, the riders show various speeds of tölt and also tölt on a completely loose rein - this class is ridden in a group.

In 4-gait, the riders show walk, trot, tölt (fast tölt too in more advanced classes) and canter. In 5-gait, they add pace on the long sides of the track. In advanced classes riders usually compete individually, but there are also group classes. In the finals, the riders placed 1 - 5 compete together on the track. Sometimes when there are sufficient entries there are "B" finals (for riders placed 6 - 10) and "A" finals (for riders placed 1 - 5, with the winner of the "B" final allowed to compete in the "A" final).

There are several different classes held on the pace track. Pace race, over 150 or 250m, either from starting boxes or with a "flying start", is fast and exciting to watch, with horses reaching speeds in excess of 30mph. Pace Test is more like a pace version of dressage, with an accurately ridden test contributing towards the final mark.

Some shows include dressage classes, which are much the same as for "ordinary" horses. However, as part of the test the horse must at some point show tölt.

In all classes the judges look for harmony between horse and rider, perfect rhythm in all gaits (especially tölt), speed and reach in the gaits, and an impression of pride and power from the horse. Horses are never plaited up, and any form of artificial aid is frowned upon, though over-reach boots are often used for protection. There are strict rules covering the types of bit allowed, and shoes and boots are rigorously checked to make sure that no abuse occurs - a problem in some gaited breeds. Welfare of the horse is always foremost. Even trimming whiskers and ear hair, or unnecessary clipping, is expressly against the rules.

The rulebook for Icelandic horse sport competition is called the FIPO. You can download it free of charge from the FEIF website.

Back to "About the Icelandic Horse"