Below you can find some news from our latest Newsletter. If you would like to receive our bi-monthly Newsletter, please contact us and we will ad you to our mailing list.
"Icelandic horses Down Under as soon as 1860’s
It is not certain when the first Icelandic horses were brought to Oceania but it is likely to have been soon after the Danish trade monopoly was abolished on Iceland in the mid 19th century. In 1851 the first British merchants got permissions to buy horses on Iceland and bring those to dealers in the UK. The trade was slow at first but grew soon to be several thousands animals a year. Once in the UK the horses were sold at huge animal auctions, like those of Gateshead, and went from there all over the British Isles. In the earlier days many of the horses were bought for colliery purposes but later also as riding horses and for breeding. Towards the end of the 19th century Icelandic horses were even used for harnessed pace racing at race courses all across the UK. British horse dealers also sold Icelandic horses abroad, mainly to the US and Canada but also to other Commonwealth countries. The first mention in writing of Icelandic horses in Australia is from January 1863 when four animals arrived in Hobson’s Bay. The horses came from Liverpool with the carrier Venus after a voyage of nearly 3 months. The Melbourne based newspaper The Argus reported on this unusual freight and mentioned that the horses were in good order. Few days later the Icelandic horses were sold at the Melbourne horse market by the well-known horse dealers W.C. Yuille & Co for the average price of £21 each. The first reporting of an Icelandic horse in New Zealand dates few years later or from December 1868. The Auckland based newspaper Daily Southern Cross informs “that Captain Logan of the s.s. Hero has brought with him from Sidney a beautiful little Iceland pony, witch no doubts he will be willing to dispose of should he get a sufficient offer.” Few days later the animal was advertised for sale in Daily Southern Cross as being an imported Iceland pony, strong, hardy and active; a good hack and excellent in harness."
Read more in our newsletter here.
New Saddles
We have a new model from Stubben Switzerland: the Benni’s Harmony Elegant ribbed seat. This saddle is suitable for the leisure rider as well as for training/competitions. Please contact us for more information.
We also have two second hand ribbed seat Goertz saddles for sale,complete with girth and Icelandic safety stirrups.
If your saddle temporarily does not fit for some reason, a fore-girth could be the solution. Stubben designed an excellent product for preventing the saddle sliding forwards. Due to its special design it will not bother your horse. See also for sale page.
If you would like to have more information on any of these products, please feel free to contact us on: info@vikinghorse.co.nz
