Icelandic Horses Have Unique Gait By Carolyn White Strong, hardy, and friendly, the breed of horse which is described as a gallop-like walk known as Icelandic is gaining popularity covering 20 miles an hour. It is so smooth across the United States. that a rider can drink from a glass of water Averaging 12 to 13 hands high, “They without spilling a drop. are big horses in little bodies,” according to Another, the “fl ying pace,” is a two-beat Bayley Donahue. movement that’s most commonly used for Donahue exercises the Icelandics that are short-distance racing. In the pace, both legs raised at Hanging Valley Ranch, outside on one side alternate with both legs of the of Carbondale, Colorado. She rides nearly other, allowing the horse to reach speeds of every day, regardless of the weather, and says up to 30 miles an hour. “They have a lot of go, with no spoiled-pony The owners of Hanging Valley, Garry and attitudes.” Sharon Snook, imported three prized mares Oakton Applegate, manager of the ranch, after falling in love with them in 1999. likes their consistently calm dispositions. He Using artifi cial insemination, they “mixed explains, “If you don’t ride a Quarter horse and matched” the mares with three prized for six months, he’s going to be salty. An stallions to get the fi nest animals. In 2015, Icelandic stays smooth, sensible, and willing two of their horses were judged “highest to please.” evaluated in the U.S.” Most are sold for trail, Shortly after taking the job in 2005, pleasure, and competition, being shipped as Icelandic horses have a natural ability to “tolt” - a gallop-like walk so smooth that a Oakton traded in his own Quarter horses. A far away as Alaska, Kentucky, and North rider can drink from a glass of water without spilling a drop. lifelong hunter, he once tested a four-year-old Carolina. thus ensuring that pureness. when foaling,” Oakton said. Although there Icelandic by tossing a cougar carcass over its The I celandic is one of the purest-bred Temperatures rarely rise above 50 degrees is a spacious barn on the property, “we only neck. “It didn’t spook at all, but just stood horses in the world, having originated in their native country, so Icelandic horses are stall an animal if it’s being inseminated or there,” he said. around 865 A.D. with stock that belonged well-adapted to harsh weather. They grow needs special care.” But the most unique thing about Icelandic to Norsemen. No other breeds have been thick, heavy coats and long, luxurious manes For more information go to horses is their natural ability to gait. Besides brought into the country since then. Once an and tails. icelandicmountainhorses.com or email the walk, trot and canter, they do a “tolt,” animal leaves, it cannot be brought back in, “We leave ours outside all year long, even [email protected]. English Fell Pony Numbers On The Rise It didn’t take long for Jenifer Morrissey to get hooked on Fell ponies when she purchased her first one in 2000. She immediately appreciated their rarity, hardiness and intelligence. And in time she found them to be good working partners at home and in the Colorado logging and construction business she and her husband run. When fi rst introduced to them, there were only 30 Fell ponies in North America, with The Canadian Horse breed played a big role in establishing other North American 6 of them in Colorado. Now there are about breeds. 600 Fell ponies. Morrissey has 10 of them and breeds, trains and sells them. Canadian Horse Breed The Fell name comes from the Norse word for hill, which refl ects the environment where Making A Comeback the breed is from. Indigenous to Cumbria, England, likely since pre-historic times, the After dropping to an estimated 400 registered ponies were used by Vikings to pull sledges animals in the 1970’s, the Canadian Horse and plows. Later, Fell ponies transported all breed numbers around 6,000 head today. manner of goods including ore, fl eece, fi sh, The breed was fi rst sent to Quebec by King and woolen goods. Louis XIV in 1665. Over time the Canadian Today’s Fell Pony is typically bred for or Canadien (in Quebec) became known as less stressful work like riding, including Fell Pony helps pack gravel into a road- “Le Petit Cheval de Fer” or “The Little Iron competitive trail and dressage, and driving less area. Horse.” It survived early harsh winters with including Le Trec and CDE. But Morrissey smart enough to know where to place their little feed and lots of hard work to spread says she is dedicated to maintaining the old feet and not slip,” she says. “I love playing across the country and across the border traits that make Fells useful work ponies, with them. I do a lot of young stock training. with the U.S. so she also uses them for packing and draft I have a 2-year-old stallion and make him “Thanks to genetic testing, we know In the past they were used as war horses work. stand still with a tub of hay on his back. He that the Canadian was a foundation breed and today growing numbers are being put “I’m focused on maintaining pony appreciates that kind of interaction.” in developing almost all North American to work on farms. characteristics and keeping them at or below With growing appreciation for the breed, breeds such as Morgans, Tennessee Walkers, The versatility of the breed also shows the breed average of 13.2 hands tall. The pony the Fell Pony is in great demand. Foals can be Saddlebred, Missouri Fox Trotter and up in its genetics. Horses vary in type and phenotype is that the length of the leg and purchased for $4,000, and older, kid-friendly Standardbreds,” says Tina Morrison, Ontario size, ranging from large, big boned horses depth of the barrel are the same. Backs and Fells cost $5,000 to $10,000. Breeders can be director for the Canadian Horse Breeders to smaller, Morgan-like animals. necks are short. Ears are small,” she says. found throughout the U.S. and in Canada. Association. “Its versatility and heritage are Although there are only 6 recognized The Fell Pony comes in 4 colors - black, More information about the breed can be remarkable. Many people think of Canadians bloodlines, breed size varies from 14 to 16 grey, bay and brown. seen on the website, The Fell Pony Society as driving horses, but they excel in dressage, hands and 1,000 to 1,400 lbs. Most frequently The Fell ponies easily fatten up, so they in England, www.fellponysociety.org.uk. The eventing, jumping and are great backyard black, they may also be brown, bay or need attention to work or they will get bored most active North American organization horses. They can do whatever you want them chestnut. and “entertain themselves”, Morrissey says. is the Fell Pony Society of North America, to and are very sociable and intelligent.” Morrison reports that registered, trained To do that she keeps them active and www.fpsna.org. Available ponies can easily In addition to the breed’s role in establishing Canadians average around $5,000. More moving, and the climate stress of Colorado be found by internet search. Morrissey’s other North American breeds, the Canadians highly trained horses will run higher. Stud helps keep them hardy. website and blog have lots of information, have been a warhorse. Thousands were fees run around $800. She and her husband put them to work as some of which is in her 5 books about the exported to the U.S. during the Civil War. The Canadian Horse Breeders Association often as they can. Most recently that included breed. Canadians were also exported to Africa for is looking for people interested in expanding hauling gravel 1/4-mile in pack saddles with “It is my goal to put these ponies to use use in the Boer War, and more than 150,000 the breed, says Morrison. She notes a new bottoms that open, for example. as they have been in the past so that future were shipped to Europe during World War I. website has been set up to identify breeder Because ponies are shorter, it’s easier to generations can enjoy them as a living “The Canadian Horse breed may be our locations with available stallions. put a pack or harness on them or hop up on working partner,” Morrissey says. country’s best kept secret,” says Morrison. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, them for a bareback ride. They also are great Contact: Jenifer Morrissey, Willowtrail Fell “In 2002, it became the National Horse of Canadian Horse Breeder’s Association/ for trail riding. Ponies, P.O. Box 1034, Walden, Colo. 80480 Canada, which achieved a lot of recognition. Société des Éleveurs de Chevaux Canadiens, Morrissey adds that she is impressed with (ph 970 723-4316; www.fellponiescolorado. However, it is the work of really dedicated 59 rue Monfette Suite 108, Victoriaville, Que. their intelligence. com; [email protected]). breeders who have made a real effort to Canada G6P 1J8 ([email protected]; “It’s icy in the winter, and I have ponies increase breed numbers.” www.lechevalcanadien.ca). 10 • FARM SHOW • vol. 42, no. 6 • www.farmshow.com • www.bestfarmbuys.com • [email protected] • 1-800-834-9665 .