Landsmót

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 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.

Gestur riding one of his beautful breeding horses

The Icelandic horse is a majestic breed but sometimes they get lost in the dramatic landscape of the highlands - photo by Gigja Einars

The other farmers – Halldór and Haukur

The other owners of Íslandshestar are the farmers Halldór and Elín and Haukur Suska. Halldór and Elín at Bjarnarstaðir Farm are known for offering Íslandshestar’s guests the chance to witness the most incredible sights in North-East Iceland. Halldór is often called the mountain man up in the North. He owns many sheep which he drives and herds back from the Northern Highlands every autumn and offers his guests to join him as well. His most popular tours are Northern Exposure and Arctic North. He also offers our most unique tour of all – Under the Mystique Midnight Sun, where our guests start riding during the night time on the summer solstice and rest during the day.

Our guests lining up for a photo - photo by Gigja Einars

Haukur Suska lives, along with his children, at Hvammur Farm in Vatnsdalur in North-West Iceland. Haukur operates several of our tours and offers accommodation for our Kjölur tour as well. Haukur has four children and over 100 horses. His wonderful family helps him operate the tour. Haukur is always cheerful, and it is so much fun when he takes out his guitar and starts playing and singing with our guests.

What makes riding with Íslandshestar so special

Gestur says there are many reasons why riding in Iceland is so popular and unique. Some riders own their own Icelandic horse but dream of experiencing the horse in its natural environment. Iceland is the least densely populated country in Europe, with a pure, unpolluted and truly magical landscape, which is another reason why riders want to ride in Iceland. The best way to travel in Iceland is by a horse, and riding the

The colourful horses from Káílfhóll farm are sure-footed while crossing rivers - photo by Louisalilja

horses in their native habitat is an authentic riding experience. While horseback riding, you can go to places that no cars can go or are allowed to and focus on experiencing the landscape and nature all around. Icelanders have been travelling that way since they first settled here and the horses helped us get to places that we could not otherwise. The Icelandic horse is also very gentle and friendly. They have a big character which make them fun to get to know and ride. One of the most desirable reasons to come horseback riding in Iceland is the Icelandic horse’s unique Tölt gait. The Icelandic horse is considered to be the only breed in the world that has five gaits. The unique gaits are Tölt and Flying pace. Tölt is a four-beat lateral gait, very smooth and comfortable for the rider, especially on a longer tour. The reason why Tölt is so smooth is that there are always one or more legs touching the ground, and that is the