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Icelandic horses are yet another special horse breed.
Their name refers to the European island country 'Iceland', to which they arrived by the help of the Viking fighters.
Icelandic horses are not a pure breed; they are rather a mixture that resulted from intentional breeding between several European horses.
Though, it is quiet important to mention that Icelandic horses are sometimes regarded as ponies, or 'Large Ponies' as they fall in between.
Icelandic horses are mostly found in Iceland, with a few thousand scattered in other parts of Europe. They are usually less than 1.5 meters in height and less than 400 kilograms in weight.
These horses are known for their easy ride. They also have a very large muscle mass that is quiet above the average muscle/total body weight ratio of other horses. It has very dense bones and can carry on its back between a third and half of its total weight as well as run for very long distances.
Icelandic horses do not really need a special care. Many of their owners prefer to keep them at ease in a somewhat fenced wild nature-like ranch. Though, it is quiet recommended that you provide them with hay during the winter season, in addition to some veterinary-prescribed medical supplements in order to keep them in shape during cold.
Some of the features that icelandic horses may posses are: a white strip going from the forehand down to the nose, a white patch between the nostrils and its mouth, white socks-like patches on the legs (and as a matter of fact, some icelandic horses may have this feature only on the back legs while the front ones are of the same color as the rest of the body).
Some other features that were noticed are some dark stripes below the knees, a light-colored ring around the eyes as well as very short hair on the forehand instead of the usual long one.
In sum, Icelandic horses have some of the most unique characteristics compared to other horses and ponies. This is what makes of them a highly interesting and sought-for breed.
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