Their Tusted Steed
What's short and diminutive, but long-lived and long-maned?
Icelandic horses, of course.
If you ever drive around egg-shaped Iceland on its oval-shaped Golden Circle route, you’ve seen these as stout shifting silhouettes, sometimes trotting, but mostly grazing on the stubby vegetation that grows in the rugged terrain.
But don’t mistake their miniature size for weakness; these were brought in by none other than the Vikings over a thousand years ago, so hardly lack in strength fitness, or intelligence.
In fact, they’re extremely strong for their short-legged, pony-sized stature, and versatile for use as being ridden, sheepherding, hunting, racing, transportation, and, it’s obligatory to mention, even as meat.
Due to their isolation, they’re also one of the purest breeds known today, have no disease, and are at least as strong as your everyday equines.
There are a little over 300,000 people living in Iceland, and oh, yes, just 80,000 horses. None of these have been brought into Iceland in at least the last thousand years, which is why before you leave the island, you should take the time to stop with your family and say “Hi” to these very hardworking and friendly equines.
