For many years, breeders in Iceland have benefited from regional opportunities to present their horses for assessment—now Germany is following suit.
From April 6th to 11th, the IPZV (Icelandic Horse Association of Germany) organized a FIZO tour with seven stops across the country. Many breeders—some of them less well known—took the chance to showcase their horses.

The first stop was in southern Germany, followed by visits through the southwest and central regions over the next few days. The tour then moved on to the north, with the final stop in the west.

Judges Thorvaldur Kristjánsson and Jens Füchtenschnieder evaluated the horses at every location. After each evaluation, they made time to speak with breeders, explaining the strengths and weaknesses of the horses based on the scores they received. Many interested spectators also followed the events with great enthusiasm.

The idea for this tour was developed last year by Jens Füchtenschnieder and Horst Gerhold (IPZV Breeding Director). The vast majority of participants—as well as other breeders—are already hoping for a repeat in 2026. The IPZV is therefore planning a follow-up tour around mid-April 2026, potentially expanding to even more locations.

Could this be an inspiration for other countries as well?