What Makes Icelandic Horses Different?
Icelandic horses are small in stature but big in personality, and under the surface they are quite special. Their unique build and two extra gaits make them a fascinating breed to look at and study their anatomy and biomechanics in more detail.
A Breed Apart
Standing around 13 - 14hh, Icelandics are sturdy, strong and surprisingly athletic. They have a compact frame, a deep chest and a strong, muscular neck. Their short, powerful build helps them carry riders with ease, and the breed has a reputation for toughness, longevity and a willing temperament.
What makes them really different is how they move.
Five Gaits, Not Three
Icelandic horses have the usual three gaits (walk, trot and canter), plus two more: the tölt and the flying pace.
The tölt is a smooth, four-beat gait with the same footfall as walk, with no moment of suspension, meaning that one hoof is always in touch with the ground.
A high head carriage supports the elevated forelimb movement seen in this pace. Riders often describe it as incredibly comfortable, with almost no bounce.
The speed and relative stillness of the neck and back, provides stability for the movement of the limbs, reduces back movement and this gait extremely comfortable. A racing tölter can reach more than 20mph. Horses with similar gaits include the rack of the Saddlebred, the largo of the Paso Fino and the running walk of the Tennessee Walking Horse.
The flying pace is only ridden for short distances. It is a very fast pace with a long, pushing stride and reaches speeds approaching 30mph. Flying pace is a two-beat lateral gait where the legs on the same side move together, touching the ground simultaneously. Compared to trot, this gait has two moments of suspension per stride cycle. This results in an increase in lateral back movement and a rolling motion through the body as the centre of mass moves from left to right.
These gaits are natural patterns of movement, and they are influenced by the horse’s genetics, conformation and posture.
Why Anatomy Matters
Understanding how these gaits work means looking at how the horse’s body is put together. The way the spine, pelvis, shoulders and limbs connect, and how muscles and soft tissue support them, all shape how a horse moves and how well it can carry a rider.
For Icelandics, posture is especially important. A horse that can lift through the base of the neck and back, engage the hindquarters and coordinate its limbs will move with more clarity, balance and ease. A horse that struggles to find that balance may lose the rhythm of the tölt or become uncomfortable over time.
Knowing the “why” behind the movement helps you spot what is going well, and what might need support.
See It for Yourself
If you would like to explore all of this in more detail, you will love the on-demand recorded webinar Icelandic Horses Inside Out with Gillian Higgins. Using her signature anatomically painted horses and stunning slow-motion footage of Icelandic horses in tölt and pace, Gillian breaks down what’s really happening beneath the surface.
In the webinar, you will explore:
Posture, movement and the biomechanical connections that shape performance
How a deeper understanding of anatomy can transform your riding and training
Practical insights to support your horse’s comfort, soundness and longevity
If you own or ride Icelandics or maybe you just love learning how horses work, this is a brilliant chance to see their unique gaits in a whole new light.
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