Iceland’s réttir: The traditional sheep roundup

Sheep are integral to Iceland: some 400,000 roam the country, more than the human population, and they’ve sustained the island’s inhabitants for centuries. Best of all, they’re almost entirely free-range. After lambing time in May, farmers turn their flocks loose to graze on the lush highland grasses and berries of Iceland’s interior.

September brings réttir – the nationwide roundup where people on foot, ATVs or Icelandic horses retrieve their stock from the mountains and valleys, aided by trusty sheepdogs. The grueling endeavor sometimes requires days in the saddle, and entire communities turn out in support.

The ancient tradition is followed by sorting at réttir, circular pens with radiating sections where farmers separate their herds. It’s a grand country party, where friends, family, and neighbors come together to play music, picnic outdoors, and help each other marshal their sheep.

Below, images capture iconic moments of réttir in Skagafjörður, North Iceland, photographed by Ross Weinberg and Rebecca Stumpf. Text by Karen Carmichael.

It’s important to note that réttir is not a tourist attraction. For rural people in Iceland, it’s among the busiest and most important workdays of the year.

Experienced horse riders can often join tours that are involved in the réttir, while spectators are usually welcome at public events but are advised to observe from a distance. Some tour companies offer day trips to observe réttir in country areas.

The roundups are held around the country in September. A schedule for réttir events is usually released close to September (in Icelandic, in the local farming newspaper), broken down by region.