Country
Fire, ice, hooves

Iceland, Volcanic Landscapes and the Pure Icelandic Horse

Saga country
Cold climate
Subarctic climate
Geographic identity
Iceland (Icelandic: Ísland) is a stunningly beautiful place if you enjoy
Geographic identity
Island (isländisch [ˈist͡länt]
Landscape
We were also surprised at how much green we saw seemingly everywhere.
Culture and heritage
Today, there are about **80,000 horses in Iceland!
Culture and heritage
** Horseback riding is almost part of the Icelander's culture and thousands of
Equestrian life
The Icelandic horse is one of the purest and most distinctive horse breeds in
History and art
The Icelandic horse is one of the purest and most distinctive horse breeds in
History and art
Its history, characteristics

What defines riding in Iceland?

Iceland is a volcanic island in the North Atlantic where glaciers, waterfalls, and green pastures meet black sand beaches and lava fields. About 80,000 Icelandic horses inhabit this land, a breed shaped by over a thousand years of isolation. Horseback riding is woven into Icelandic culture, with thousands of residents riding regularly.

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Riding climate in Iceland, with this rider weather you can expect:

87Great riding days· 119 rideable days

Mostly spring to autumn.

Limited riding climateWindyCold wintersBest months: Jul–Aug
  • Expect frequent strong winds — a real factor for nervous or spooky horses, especially in open terrain.
  • Hard winters with frequent frost and snow limit riding for long stretches.

5-year ERA5 climate normals, via Open-Meteo

Which regions lie in Iceland?

East Iceland

East Iceland

Cold climate
Norðurland eystra

Norðurland eystra

Cold climate
Subarctic climate
Reykjavík

Reykjavík

Cold climate
Suðurland

Suðurland

Vesturland

Vesturland

Westfjords

Westfjords

Cold climate
Subarctic climate

Riding stables & barns for Iceland

We're building a directory of riding stables, barns, and yards around Iceland. Sign up and we'll let you know as soon as the first stables are listed.

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