Icelandic horses are released into the mountains every summer – the roundup is captivating

Imagine residing in an area where wild horses are around all the time. Farmers in northern Iceland do precisely that. Icelandic horses are wild animals that live and wander freely in the highlands. Each fall, the farmers gather the horses and bring them inside to stay for the winter.
This circumstance has lots of advantages. During the summer, the farmers are exempt from providing fodder for the horses. Horses have time to grow, build their muscles, and improve their agility since they roam freely in the wild. The horses may get stronger and healthier as a result of this setting rather than if they were raised in confinement.

As the video depicts, the roundup is a sight to behold. The farmers round up the horses using trained horses because the animals are unhandled. The usage of pens aids in organizing and safely containing the Icelandic horses.
Icelandic horses are an exceptionally rare breed. The Icelandic Horse Park asserts that between 860 and 935 A.D., the Icelandic horse was probably introduced to Iceland. Since then, the breed has been closely protected for more than a millennium. In order to maintain the purity of the breed, Icelandic horses that leave Iceland are not allowed to come back. Additionally, it helps shield the horses from infections that can potentially infect them if they come into contact with foreign cattle.

The five gaits of the Icelandic horse are well-known. Icelanders can walk, trot, and canter, but they also travel at a flying pace known as a tolt (a racing gait). Because of their very smooth gaits, Icelandic horses make excellent mounts for lengthy riding days. These horses are the size of ponies and only stand 13 to 14 hands tall, yet they are extraordinarily robust and can easily carry humans.

Make sure you have the chance to see these unusual horses in their natural settings if you ever get the chance to travel to Iceland.