Everything you need to know about Icelandic horses

By far the biggest celebration of the Icelandic horse breed takes place on May 1 every year.

Across the world, members of the Icelandic horse community will come together to showcase and celebrate their horses, oftentimes opening their stables for people to visit.

The National Icelandic Horse Competition, known to Icelanders as Landsmót, was first held at Þingvellir National Park in 1950.

The main event is called “Gæðingakeppni”, where riders of all ages can compete with their horses, performing the five gaits of the Icelandic horse. The rider with the best performing horse will take the gold, and there is a specific Tölt Champion title that celebrates the Icelandic horse’s unique gait.

While representing an opportunity for riders to show off their horses, Landsmót is also a family and community affair – an excuse to get together, enjoy live performances, feast on Icelandic cuisine, and for kids to play together.

Réttir is an annual event that takes place in September, as the season turns from summer to fall.

During réttir, horses and sheep are rounded up from the mountains where they’ve spent their summer months. Horses that have stayed on the farmland during the summer months also play a pivotal role in réttir, helping the farmers to round up their flock.

The farmers drive the animals down from the mountains and into pens, where they separate their flock from the rest of the sheep.

Roughly 200 réttir events take place across the country and travelers often enjoy watching the event.