Is this a fairy-tale story? No, this is a review from one of many happy guests who were riding with Gestur and his family on one of his amazing tours they offer from Kálfhóll Farm. At Kálfhóll farm in the south of Iceland, Gestur Þórðarson has been working with horses most of his life. Gestur has been breathing, training and selling horses and also running horseback riding tours from Kálfhóll for a long time. We asked Gestur about the horses and what makes them so special. “The Icelandic horses have so many unique qualities. Their character is different between horses, but generally, they have strong minds and are easy to work with. For example, it is pretty common for people from other countries who have been working with other horse breeds and had an accident or lost their nerve to start working with Icelandic horses, and most of those people fall immediately in love with them”. Gestur says that this characteristic of the Icelandic horse makes it so well suited for travelling; the horse is always ready to work and its temperament is steady enough to overcome any obstacles that will be on his way. Now Gestur has teamed up with his fellow farmers in the North and North-West, and together, they have formed a company, Íslandshestar. Íslandshestar Íslandshestar is a company offering horseback riding tours in Iceland. Gestur is one of three farmers who own and operate Íslandshestar. The farmers used to operate their tours for another company in Iceland, but Gestur says the farmers’ idea of starting a business of their own will bring the farmers closer to their guests, making for a more personalised experience while enjoying the warmth of their homes, farms and horses. When 98
Gestur riding one of his beautful breeding horses booking a riding tour with Íslandshestar, the guests can be sure that they are supporting the consumer-to-farmer concept. The farmers who offer the best selection of multiday tours in Iceland have many years of experience in operating riding tours for guests from all over the world. Íslandshestar offers both day tours and multi-day riding tours for beginners to experienced riders. The variety is such that everybody should be able to find a riding tour to fit their riding level. The tours are perfect for families, friends and single riders who want to ride the Icelandic horse in unspoiled Icelandic nature with local farmers.
