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Keeping Icelandic Horses
FEEDING ICELANDICS
Icelandics are generally very easy to feed. The main problem is not
allowing them to become too fat. If you have good grass throughout the
year they will probably not need any extra food unless you are working
them hard. In the spring and summer, you may need to restrict your
horsesī grazing time to stop him getting too fat. Provide a salt and
mineral block with free access, and of course plenty of fresh water that
wonīt freeze in the winter.
If you have a "real" winter, then your Icelandic will need good hay or
haylage. Silage is too rich, but good quality straw can be used as a
"filler" for greedy horses. If you are working your horse hard, or using
it for breeding, or it is very old, then it will probably need extra
food. Avoid food which is too high in protein, and remember that even
though Icelandics are tough, any food which they have must be of good
quality.
HOW TO TELL IF YOUR HORSE IS THE CORRECT WEIGHT
Weight tapes and weigh bridges are fine but thereīs a quick and easy way
to check your horseīs waistline. To know if your horse is fat or thin,
you need to touch him. Unless he is grossly overweight and on the verge
of laminitis, or half-starved, you cannot do it just by looking at him.
Put your hand flat on his side, mid-way between his shoulder and his
flank. With a little pressure you should be able to feel his ribs. If
you need to press really hard or use just your fingertips, your horse is
probably too fat. If you can easily feel every rib, heīs on the thin
side. If you can see his ribs heīs definitely too thin.
This method isnīt totally infallable as a few Icelandics carry much of
their fat on their necks, so check the crest is soft and wobbly just to
make sure. If your horse is losing weight, the skin over his ribs will
be very loose. If heīs gaining weight it will feel quite tight.
SHOULD I CLIP MY ICELANDIC?
If your horse is sweating up a great deal in the autumn and winter you
may need to clip him. A wet sweaty horse should never be turned out if
the weather is cold or wet; he should be kept in a stable until he is
dry or he will be at risk from cold and chills. A clipped horse does not
sweat as much and dries much quicker. A bib clip (clipping the hair on
the underside of the neck and on the chest) will keep your horse cooler
when working but he will still have enough fuzz to keep him warm in bad
weather. A more radical clip (a trace or full clip) will mean that you
may have to put a rug on your horse in cold, wet or windy weather.
SWEET ITCH
This allergy can be a problem, particularly in horses imported from
Iceland, and it is thought that around 35% of horses imported from
Iceland may get it. It is much less common in Icelandics born in Britain
or Europe (no more common than in any other breed of horse or pony), and
does not appear to be passed on through the generations. It is caused by
an allergy to the saliva of Culicoides midges, and affected horses
experience intense itching, particularly on the mane and the top of the
tail. Some horses will also rub their faces, bellies and chests -
occasionally the itching is so bad that the horses will rub themselves
raw, causing bleeding sores and eventual thickening and ridging of the
skin. Sweet itch is an allergy and is not cureable. A horse which is
prone to sweet itch will sometimes not show symptoms for several years
after importation, and in some areas of the country sweet itch is almost
unknown. It is more common in damp, low-lying areas with plenty of trees
and little strong wind.
Sweet itch is relatively easily managed, with care. Many Icelandics with
sweet itch wear blankets which prevent midges from biting at all. These
are very effective and available from
retailers. Blankets can be worn 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week during the midge season, and owners can apply fly
repellent to areas not covered by the blanket. Bringing the horse into a
stable at dawn and dusk will also help. Occasionally, in very severe
cases, it may be necessary to give the horse steroids (from the vet) to
suppress the immune system and prevent the allergy.
Sweet itch is reasonably common in ALL breeds of horse and pony, and is
certainly not unique to Icelandics.
Back to "About the Icelandic Horse"
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