Total number of horses exported worldwide from Iceland in 2024 was 1.318. The group contains a vide variety of horses such as: leisure horses, breeding horses, competition horses, young horses, yearlings and foals. IS-horses were transported to 19 countries of which four share the biggest portion of import, total 75,2% of whole (DE 45,2%, DK 11,7%, AT 9,5%, SE 8,8%).

A few statistical features of the  exported group ´24:

• Gender
  • Male 722 / 55% (thereof 31% not castrated).
  • Female 596 / 45%.
• Age
  • Older than 8 years: 20%.
  • 4-8 years of age: 58%.
  • Younger than 4 years: 22%.
• Stallions, or geldings, with complete registered FEIF breeding assessment: 85 (15% of exported adult males, 4 years and older).
• Mares with complete registered FEIF breeding assessment: 86 (19% of exported adult females, 4 years and older).
• Breed in Iceland by foreign breeders/parties: 190 (14%).
• Registered origin in Iceland is a Breeding name: 132 (10%) / Further on Breeding names: https://www.rml.is/is/forrit-og-skyrsluhald/hrossaraekt/raektunarnofn
• Origin in Iceland, regions of IS, roughly:
  • Southern Iceland: 39,2%
  • Northern Iceland: 32,2%
  • Western Iceland: 11,3%
  • Breeding names: 10,0% (origin can be located in every region of IS).
  • Reykjavík, capital: 3,4%
  • Eastern Iceland: 3,2%
  • Vestfirðir: 0,7%

From the whole group of 1.318 a total of 436 (33%) already had registered DNA-sample, as a basis for ISAG-analyzis and parental verification.

• Thereof fully confirmed (available DNA-samples from both parents): 88,9%.
• Thereof confirmed father only (no available sample from mother): 9,9%.
• Tereof confirmed mother only (no available sample from father): 0,7%.
• Thereof no samples available from parents: 0,5%.

Note! All horses with registered FEIF breeding assessment are DNA-tested – according to FEIF Breeding Rules and Regulations 2024.

A valid thought of interest, for buyers and breeders, would be to increase number of DNA-verified horses among the exported; keeping in mind that once departured from IS – there is no turning back due to IS enormously important health-laws and regulations for protecting IS-livestock. The same idea on promoted DNA-verification is of course worth considering for other FEIF-nations, breeding and selling abroad.

(Origin of data: WorldFengur – The Studbook of Origin for the Icelandic horse, January 07. 2025 / www.worldfengur.com ).

Pétur Halldórsson
Ráðunautur í hrossarækt / Horse breeding consultant
Ráðgjafarmiðstöð landbúnaðarins – RML / The Icelandic Agricultural Advisory Center.
Netfang / email: petur@rml.is

Text / Photos: Anna Guðrún Grétarsdóttir