MBL.is reports that there has been a large increase in sales of thoroughbred Icelandic horses to other counties. The weakness of the Icelandic krona is making the highly desirable, but also expensive, Icelandic horse more affordable overseas.
“A good horse is a good investment and much more sensible than stocks or shares. The horse is always there even when finances go down the pan,” says Gunnar Arnarson founder of Iceland’s biggest horse export company.
The sale of Icelandic horses has reduced in recent years, largely because Icelandic horses are increasingly being bred abroad. 2,609 horses were sold abroad in 1995, but 1.765 in 2001 and just 1,497 last year, according to data from the Icelandic Farmers’ Union.
The Icelandic horse is a unique breed, coming from a relatively small population isolated on the island of Iceland for over a thousand years since the Viking settlers first brought them over from Norway.
The horses are known for their intelligence, strength of will and the fact that they have a unique fifth gait that allows quick, long-distance travel where the rider barely bounces at all.
Who cares about dumb horses that is good for nothing. People overseas do not eat horses. Let us just save them for later so we can have something to eat.
Hi Alex, just a quick note about the use of the word “thoroughbred” as an adjective for Icelandic Horse. Thoroughbred is a breed of horse. So, if you are talking about a thoroughbred Icelandic Horse, it may mean the Thoroughbred was bred with an Icelandic, and the result is a cross-bred. I think you probably wanted to use the word “purebred”.
Do you have a link to the information as to how many horses were exported from Iceland to each individual country?
Thanks!