Icelandic Horse: Health, Temperament, Care & Costs

The Icelandic horse is a compact, sturdy riding horse developed in Iceland and kept as a closed breed for centuries. Most stand about 12.1 to 14.1 hands and weigh roughly 660 to 880 pounds, but they are strong for their size and known for excellent balance, hardiness, and sure-footed movement. Their thick winter coat, full mane, and calm expression make them easy to recognize.

Temperament is one of this breed’s biggest draws. Many Icelandics are friendly, willing, and people-oriented, with a sensible mind that suits trail riding, pleasure riding, and family use. They are also famous for the smooth tölt, and some can perform the flying pace as well. That extra gait often makes them especially comfortable to ride over distance.

These horses usually mature a bit more slowly than some larger breeds and often stay active well into their 20s. For pet parents, that can mean a long partnership. Even so, their small size can be misleading. Icelandics still need thoughtful training, regular hoof and dental care, weight management, and a routine preventive plan with your vet.

Icelandic horses are generally considered a healthy, durable breed, but they are often described as easy keepers. That means they can gain weight quickly on rich pasture or calorie-dense feed. Extra body fat raises concern for equine metabolic syndrome, insulin dysregulation, and laminitis risk. If your horse develops a cresty neck, fat pads, or unexplained foot soreness, talk with your vet early rather than waiting for a crisis.

Imported Icelandics also have a well-known tendency toward insect bite hypersensitivity, often called sweet itch or summer eczema. This is an allergic skin reaction to biting insects, especially midges. Signs can include intense itching, mane and tail rubbing, hair loss, crusting, and skin thickening. Management usually focuses on reducing insect exposure, protecting the skin, and treating flare-ups with your vet’s guidance.

Some Icelandics may also struggle with equine asthma or other environmentally triggered airway inflammation, especially in dusty barns or with poor-quality hay. Chronic cough, nasal discharge, exercise intolerance, or increased breathing effort deserve a veterinary exam. Like many horses with long useful lives, older Icelandics can also develop arthritis, dental wear problems, and age-related endocrine disease, so routine monitoring matters.

The purchase cost range for an Icelandic horse varies widely based on age, training, gait quality, pedigree, and location. In the United States, many pet parents will see a broad starting range of about $8,000 to $20,000+, while highly trained or competition-quality horses may cost more. Because this breed is relatively specialized, transport and limited local availability can add to the total.

Ongoing care is where the bigger long-term commitment usually shows up. A realistic monthly cost range for one Icelandic horse is often $500 to $1,800+ depending on whether the horse lives at home, is on pasture board, or is kept at a full-care boarding barn. Board is usually the largest line item. In many areas, pasture board may run about $250 to $700 per month, while full board commonly falls around $600 to $1,500+ per month.

Routine health and maintenance costs also add up. Farrier visits every 6 to 8 weeks often run about $50 to $90 for a trim, with more if shoes are needed. Annual wellness care commonly includes an exam, vaccines, fecal testing, and dental work. A maintenance dental float often lands around $120 to $225, and farm calls frequently add $60 to $120+. Feed costs may be moderate because many Icelandics do well on forage-based diets, but easy keepers can still become medically costly if weight gain leads to laminitis or metabolic disease.

Most Icelandic horses do best on a forage-first feeding plan. Because they are often easy keepers, many maintain weight well on good-quality hay or carefully managed pasture plus a ration balancer or vitamin-mineral support if needed. A common starting point for many adult horses is around 1.5% to 2% of body weight per day in forage, but the right amount depends on body condition, workload, hay quality, age, and medical history. Your vet can help tailor the plan.

The biggest nutrition mistake with this breed is overfeeding energy. Rich spring grass, unrestricted pasture, sweet feeds, and large grain meals can push some Icelandics toward obesity and insulin dysregulation. If your horse gains weight easily, your vet may recommend lower non-structural carbohydrate hay, slower feeding systems, limited grazing time, or a grazing muzzle. Weight control is not cosmetic here. It is a major part of laminitis prevention.

Fresh water, free-choice salt, and consistent feeding routines are important. If your Icelandic is in heavier work, pregnant, lactating, growing, or older with dental wear, the diet may need to shift. Senior horses, in particular, may need softer forage options or soaked feeds if chewing becomes less efficient. Any major feed change should happen gradually over 7 to 10 days to lower digestive upset risk.

Icelandic horses usually have a moderate activity level and thrive with regular, purposeful movement. They are athletic, balanced, and often very willing under saddle. Many enjoy trail riding, pleasure riding, gaited work, light sport, and conditioning rides. Their smooth tölt can make longer rides comfortable for both horse and rider.

Because many Icelandics gain weight easily, exercise is also part of preventive health. Daily turnout plus consistent riding or groundwork helps support healthy metabolism, hoof health, and mental well-being. For a healthy adult, that may mean several riding sessions each week along with as much safe turnout as possible. Horses coming back from time off should return to work gradually, especially if they are overweight, older, or have any history of laminitis or airway disease.

These horses are tough, but they are not maintenance-free. Watch for stiffness, shortened stride, reluctance to move forward, coughing during work, or changes in gait quality. Those signs can point to pain, poor conditioning, hoof imbalance, respiratory trouble, or tack issues. If your horse’s performance changes, your vet can help sort out whether the problem is fitness, discomfort, or an underlying medical issue.

Preventive care for an Icelandic horse should include regular exams with your vet, body condition monitoring, hoof care, dental care, vaccination, and a targeted parasite plan. Adult horses generally need a dental exam at least once a year, and some older horses or those with known dental problems need checks every 6 months. Hoof trims are commonly scheduled every 6 to 8 weeks, though the exact interval depends on growth, terrain, and use.

Vaccination plans should be individualized by region and lifestyle, but core equine vaccines are a routine part of adult horse care in the United States. Your vet may also recommend risk-based vaccines depending on travel, boarding, breeding status, and local disease patterns. For parasite control, current guidance has moved away from automatic rotational deworming. Many horses now benefit from fecal egg count testing once or twice yearly, with deworming timed to shedding status and herd risk.

For Icelandics specifically, preventive care should also focus on weight control and itch prevention. Keep a close eye on body condition score, crestiness, and pasture intake. During insect season, physical barriers like fly sheets, masks, and strategic turnout timing can make a big difference for horses prone to sweet itch. Early action is often easier, less stressful, and more affordable than treating advanced skin disease or laminitis later.