Celebrating the Icelandic Horse 2019

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To celebrate the 2019 International Day of the Icelandic horse (May 1st) The UK Icelandic horse community and their horses put their heads together and came up with Fjölhæfur (versatile) as the theme for this year’s memory book, celebrating the every day alongside the exceptional.

Issy Day and Orvar having a quiet moment. Photo: Charlie Day

Our horses bring warmth and joy to our lives every day in so many different ways.

Luan Crawford & Randver fra Ey age 27 Mic Rushen & Fjalar with Ann Savage & Klettur having a quiet word about their humans…


From the South Coast to the Shetland Islands & Skye the chat group members have shared their photographs of some of the things they do with their Icelandic horses (plus a few friends). Huge thanks to everyone who shared their photographs freely and gave us permission to use them in this publication. Daisy Taylor & Lilja Photo: Frances Taylor

You can follow the Taylor family, their adventures and enjoy Frances’ fantastic photos on My Shetland

Special thanks to Lu Crawford(cover) for her inspiration this year in all her adventures and all the members of Halfkey Icelandic Horses who took the challenge to heart providing wonderful photographs and great stories. Read on.....


We compete monthly in online dressage with haygrazer E-riders, where you ride a test at your chosen level and submit via video and is judged by BD judges. At the end of 2018 I competed in the ruby league with all 4 of my horses (Sept-Dec) where you win points for placings each month, Merkur was reserve in open prelim league; we missed top spot by 2 points! Luan Crawford & Merkur Photo: Jess Photography


Who says Icelandics can’t make it in the showing world? Finalist at Equifest 2018. Martine Bye-Duke & Lois from Siamber Wen Photo: Harriet Bye

Overcoming obstacles when riding isn’t always possible due to health constraints. Lucy & Lady (Isold) turn to agility competitions. Photo: Ann Savage


Photo: Rose Clarke Korrall turning tricks on the circus course at Pitton


Klettur in the North Sea with Ann Savage. Photo by Karen Earth


Home from Home for Hugi and Bjork enjoying a Scottish Winter, with their (now sadly departed) mini Shetland pal Harry Photo: Ellie Mc Millan


In the Mendips on a course with Jens Iverson Photo: Nick Foot

St Ninian's Isle Shetland. Britain's most northerly tombolo. Jo and Tรณr, Fiona and Hreyfing, Carole and Haki, Harry and Fรกkur and Denise and Sparta


Abi, Elska & friends, National Trust Tyntsfield (North Somerset) Photo: Abi Baker

My first hack out on my Homebred Icelandic, Fjola from Solva. Solva March 2019. Rising 6 this year. Fjola was the 1000th Registered Icelandic to GB. Photo: Mic Rushen


1st February 2019 – Portree, Isle of Skye Photo: Sue Merrick

Elska will be 22 this year – but as you can see from Abi’s photos, she epitomises our fantastically versatile horses in the UK. Many people cannot travel their horses, live in remote places and are not necessarily interested in the competetive side of the Icelandic horse world, so we love to celebrate the simple pleasures they give us everyday.


Helena Leigh Levett & Bruni from Hill Lane


Photo: Rose Clarke

Riding out with friends, sound, keen and nearly 22 Photo:Abi Baker


Our Icelandic horses are not forgotten in our human celebrations Radius gets his own advent calendar. Photo:Becca Hughes

Breakfast picnic ride – The Greedy Goose, Gatcombe Farm, Gatcombe What you can’t see is the other 10 horses. Elska was the only one left to graze loose and behaved impeccably. Photo:Abi Baker


This photo was many years ago when a group of us participated in a sponsored ride at Balmoral, where I had the surreal experience of meeting and chatting to the Queen! The more salient point of the photo is that the rider on the chestnut ‘Dreki’ is good friend, Iona - life has slightly taken over now, but the stuff we used to do with those horses! We took them everywhere, and did everything with them, from cross country competitions, to riding through the Scottish hills, to meeting the Queen - always at high speed, and always having great fun! Photo: Liz Phillips


Fi Pugh & Baren modelling for Horses Inside out presentation for the FEIF Judges Seminar March 2019. Photo by Hinrik Mรกr Jรณnsson


Left: 1 month old Kalso meets newborn Magnus from Solva.

Below: This is an old photo, (Calum’s now 15!) but for me, it epitomises Icelandic Horse’s! Blakki was powerful, sensitive, electrifying to ride, and fast, but I would have trusted him with my life. I rode him right up until the day before Calum was born, and I never had any worries about such a tiny wee person being around him. To me, that’s worthy of celebration! Photo: Liz Phillips


Flora with Elva Cooper, Imogen and Rhona’s little helper, and her mum, Sam. 2018 Photo: Imogen Cooper


Champions at an early age – Millie Payne (Winter Tolt 2018) & Kier Liptrot age 7 with Kosning from Oakfield farm, lead rein champion BC’s 2006 (13 years ago)


Foals at Solva Icelandics – Wales Photo: Mic Rushen


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