In 2025, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the official logo of FEIF – the International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations. FEIF was established in 1969 but did not have an official logo for the first six years.

In 1974 the Norwegian silversmith and Icelandic horse enthusiast, Inge Høivik, designed the well-known symbol for the Norwegian Icelandic Horse Association (NIHF). In turn, Norway donated its symbol to FEIF, and it was adopted as the official logo in 1975.

The story begins in southern Germany during the Germanic Iron Age—around the year 800—the period we refer to as the early Viking Age. Near the town of Heidesheim, a high-ranking woman was buried, and with her lay a silver medallion, likely intended for use on a belt. Several hundred years later, the medallion was discovered by archaeologists during an excavation and sent to the National Museum in Stuttgart. In Norway, the young student Inge Høivik, who studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in Oslo, came across an image of the medallion in a book about Germanic jewelry. The design stood out from the typical depictions of riders, which often included spears and shields. This rider was unarmed, with raised arms. The meaning of the image is unknown, but some believe it is linked to Norse mythology or Christianity and may symbolize a gesture of peace. The design has since been referred to as the ‘peace rider’ or the ‘sun rider’.

Read more about Inge’s story in the celebratory leaflets, first published at the 2025 annual general meeting of NIHF.