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Do I look like the kind of girl who would strap on a pair of leather boots, muck out a stall, and hop on a stallion, riding around a ranch all day?
Not really. I would wear the boots. That’s it.
But after learning about Icelandic horses, I thought going horseback riding would be a nice activity to try. Icelandic horses have been carefully bred for thousands of years into a style that you don’t see anywhere else in the world. They’re pretty much the Robin Williams of horses: short, furry, and full of boundless energy.
Iceland also takes a lot of steps to protect them. You can’t expose Icelandic horses to pathogens from any other horses. Forget bringing any leather riding gear into the country, and any non-leather gear that you do bring from outside Iceland must be sanitized in boiling water. (A few people in my group didn’t quite get this. “But it’s only Denmark!” “It doesn’t matter!”)
After getting in touch with one of the most popular horseback riding companies in Iceland, Ishetar Riding Tours, I was invited on their half-day Lava Tour — a short ride through lava fields outside Reykjavik.
Like most Iceland tours, Ishestar picked me up at my hostel. Upon arrival, as a beginner, they paired me with a gentle horse named Skeggi. The instructors encouraged me to get to know Skeggi, stroke him, and talk to him gently for a few minutes before hopping on top of him (which I did about as gracefully as Tobias Funke hiding from the blind).
Horseback riding really takes teamwork between you and the horse, and we had to establish trust before riding out into the countryside.
And we were off — riding through the lava fields, enjoying the volcanic scenery of Iceland. Skeggi stayed steady and I was able to nudge him along as I wanted, picking up into a faster gait whenever I felt like it.
Halfway through, we stopped to give the horses a break, and I led Skeggi around — or, rather, he led me — as he chomped on grass and drank water. Bright blue streams, snow-covered mountains, and petrified lava in every direction — this was the Iceland I was growing to love. I hopped back on Skeggi and rode him back to the stable.
The half-day tour was short — we probably spent about 45 minutes riding in each direction. If you’re a hardcore rider, the half day tour probably won’t be enough for you; if you’d just like a taste of riding, as I did, this is a good choice for you.
The other nice thing is that you can pair Ishestar horseback riding with another tour or activity — hiking, snorkeling, the Blue Lagoon — and they’ll take you straight there afterward. I was just booked onto the one tour, but I liked having enough time to do another activity in the afternoon.
And so I said goodbye to my sweet horse Skeggi, my lovely companion for this activity — and kept up the hope that perhaps there’s a bit of cowgirl inside me after all.
More on Iceland:
- My Actual Iceland Trip Cost: Detailed Budget Breakdown
- 35 Awesome Things to do in Reykjavík, Iceland
- Things to Know Before You Visit the Blue Lagoon, Iceland
- Why Iceland is Great for First-Time Solo Female Travelers
- How to Visit Studlagil Canyon, Iceland
My Favorite Places in Iceland:
- How to Visit Kvernufoss, My Favorite Iceland Waterfall
- A Look Inside the Sky Lagoon, Iceland
- Sail Through the Sky with FlyOver Iceland
- Snorkeling Silfra: The Cold Neon Waters of Iceland
- Visiting Stokksnes and Vestrahorn Mountain, Iceland
- Guide to the Gorgeous Tröllaskagi Peninsula, North Iceland
- Are the Vök Baths Iceland’s Best Geothermal Spa?
Many thanks to Ishestar Riding Tours and the Iceland Tourist Board for hosting me on their Lava Tour. All opinions, as always, are my own.
I did the same tour with Ishestar! I thought it was great. I wanted to smuggle my horse home with me, she was so adorable.
I’m truly not a horse person, but even I have to admit those little guys are adorable!!
Not sure what I liked most about that article – the horses, the scenery or the Arrested Development mention. 🙂
Tobias!!!
What beautiful horses! I’m not much of a rider, but the few times I’ve done it, I’ve really enjoyed myself. Great way to explore the countryside.
What a great way to explore the country. I love horseback riding, it gives you such a different perspective.
I’m going to be horseback riding in Iceland one week from today! Woo hoo, thanks for the added excitement Kate 🙂
Have a great time, Alex!
Riding through Iceland is great. I’ve been 4 times and hope to go again (after my 60th birthday!) you need stamina, nerves and a good selection of clothing for all weathers. But it’s great, the horses are wonderful, so tough and plucky and fast. Remember to take a mosquito net for your head – the insects are horrid without one. Just pull it over your helmet and face and get some peace and quiet from the horrid little things.
Mosquitos? Seriously? I was there in May and didn’t notice any mosquitos in Iceland.
You were lucky then. And it depends on current climate. Dry summers mean less of them I think, and they’re not really mosquitos, they dont bite but they invade every place they can and then buzz around in your ears, your nose, your shirt…. If you didn’t meet them, lucky for you!
I grew up riding and remember learning about Icelandic horses – so cute! I’d love to do the full-day tour.
Those furry horses are too cute! I’d love to see one of them make a face like Robin Williams.
Love that you did this even though you wouldn’t usually do it. The horses look spectacular, I would love to go ride there, and I’m a beginner too, so I’m glad the tour can fit me as well.
This is an absolutely perfect tour for beginners!
Icelandic horses are so adorable. I used to have a poster of them hanging on my wall when I was younger. This tour sounds like a lot of fun and I’ve bookmarked the company if I ever make the trip to Iceland!
If you want to find out a bit more about Icelandic horses, the best and most special horses on he planet…. then take a look at my ‘scoop it’ page. http://www.scoop.it/t/icelandic-horses I hope this link works for you. I’m collecting some nice pages and videos for everyone to enjoy.
Hi Kate
nice and informative writing ,,,,, were u not scared of riding a horse ……,,, poor horse must have done effort to carry you , felt pity on him ?
Lovely photos! I personally like white color horses too much. No doubt horseback riding is good choice to enjoy holidays fully. I love horseback riding with my sweet heart but she is not good in horseback riding before but after training from Winding Hill Riding Club, she is expert now we enjoy together horseback riding.
I did that tour last year! A horse at the back of the line got spooked and started a stampede; riders were getting flung off and trampled and the guides were screaming for everyone to jump off their horses. We all had to walk our horses back. It was great!
Actually, I’m pretty sure that chestnut one next to the white horse was mine.