One photo, one story: The horses that can never go home
One photo, one story - a series where we tell a story behind one photo from our travels
We hadn't originally planned to visit Iceland. It ended up being a stopover on a much bigger trip, so when we landed in Reykjavík, we only had two things booked: our hotel and a visit to the Blue Lagoon.
Looking for something else to do, we booked a Golden Circle tour (which you can read more about here). On the drive to see the famous geysers, our guide casually suggested we make a quick stop to visit a couple of his local friends. Suggestions like that can be a bit hit or miss. Sometimes they're really just an opportunity to separate tourists from their money. This wasn't one of those times.
Instead, we pulled into a local farm and came face to face with some beautiful Icelandic horses.
Icelandic horses are a legendary breed descended from the horses brought over by Norse settlers in the 9th and 10th centuries. They've been isolated for more than 1,000 years, making them one of the purest horse breeds in the world. Although they're about the size of a pony, they are considered horses and grow a thick double coat that helps them survive Iceland's harsh winters.
To protect that unique bloodline, Iceland has some remarkably strict rules. No other horse breeds are allowed into the country. Even more surprisingly, once an Icelandic horse leaves Iceland, it can never return. The rule helps protect the island's horses from diseases and parasites that could be introduced from overseas.
Our guide jokingly told us that if we ever saw an Icelandic horse outside Iceland, we should remember it would never see its family again. It's a surprisingly emotional way to explain an important biosecurity law, and it's one of those travel facts that has stuck with me ever since.
This stop wasn't listed on the official tour itinerary, but our guide clearly knew the farm owner, making it feel like a little bonus just for our group. The horses were gentle, curious and incredibly photogenic.
Neither of us are particularly "horse people", but spending a few minutes with this remarkable breed, while hearing the stories behind them, ended up being one of the unexpected highlights of our time in Iceland.
Bonus Nerdy Fact
Ever wondered why we call them geysers? The English word comes from Geysir, the famous hot spring in Iceland's Haukadalur Valley. The name comes from the Icelandic verb geysa, meaning "to gush" or "to rush furiously".
