07/20/2026
Training Thoughts
If you know me well, then you have probably heard me rant about the importance of international breed assessments. And if you have asked me what I am most passionate about as a rider, then you have probably heard me rave about how much I love showing breeding horses. Coming off of this spring’s breeding assessments at Harmony Icelandics, I thought I should put the proverbial pen to paper (more like thumbs to iPhone) and elaborate on why breed assessments are so important for our breed and important to me.
A historic and scientific approach
Icelandic horse breeding assessments have a long, meticulously recorded history. Because of this, today’s breeders have an exceptional opportunity to be very scientifically informed in their breeding decisions. Breeding assessments are essentially field tests that gather objective data points (like physical measurements) and subjective valuations of conformational and ridden traits. The information we collect, how we collect it and how we value it has led our breed on an ever-developing journey towards accurately ascertaining genotype from phenotype. It has quite literally shaped the breed into what it is today, and it continues to educate our choices for the future.
It’s all about the horse
I love breeding assessments in particular because the horse is the focus of the entire process. The process has four sections: physical measurements, conformation assessment, first ridden assessment of ten passes on the straight track (presented individually), and second ridden assessment of six passes on the straight track (presented with other horses). The trainers/riders who are showing the horse can switch between sections. They can also assist and coach each other throughout the process. It’s not about us - it’s about presenting the horse. Collaboration and playing to the individual strengths of different riders is the name of the game. We team up to present the horse at its highest potential.
High Level of Professionalism in Judges & Riders
Breeding assessments require our industries’ leading professionals on all fronts. Breeding judges are international experts. They undergo extremely rigorous testing and generally some sort of higher education degree. They have a minimum numbers of horses to judge each year to keep their licenses- this is to ensure they are referencing a large sample size / breadth of experience when judging. Presenting a horse in international assessments requires professionals that know how to bring out the absolute best in that individual horse, through systematic preparation in training, a high level of skill and thoughtful strategy in presentation. Many trainers end up specializing in breeding assessments. The process of preparing and presenting young stock at a high level requires both natural talent as a rider but also extensive experience.
The valuing of many traits and balancing of the whole
Breed assessments are the epitome of Icelandic horse nerdiness. The weighted percentages of each scored trait is a cause for constant contemplation and debate in our community. We are forever adjusting our system as we notice new correlations between measurements, conformation and ridden results. As breeders and trainers, we are always reassessing how to breed and develop the horse that has the best combination of traits to succeed in the system. As judges and researchers who vigilantly watch the results of our system pan out in the breeding, we are constantly petitioning to readjust the value we put on certain breeding traits. The core principle of breeding for the best of 17 judged traits keeps us from falling into extremism of any single trait. Noticing correlations and heritability through generations helps us course correct if a value we have proves misguided. The data guides the system, the system guides the breeders, and the breeders are able produce better and better generations of horses.
Integrated systems
What many folks don’t realize is the degree to which the breed assessments feed data into our entire ecosystem. A breed assessment stays on the horses permanent record. The data collected is the basis for each horses Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) that every horse now has in WorldFengur. A horses assessment impacts not only their individual BLUP score but the scores of all their relatives. Breed assessments contribute the most data to our international systems and ability to run studies on all sorts of topics. The data is available for researchers to explore and use to investigate all sorts of questions. It is our key to better understanding and improving the future of our breed.
Strict Guidelines
Because we are trying to ascertain genotype from phenotype, we have strict regulations in place per equipment, shoeing and boots used in breeding assessments. Because these variables play a huge role, these regulations make sure their impact is minimized. For example, in breed assessments, the maximum weight of a permitted boot is 120g per foot, while in sport competition, that number is basically doubled. This forces us to work with what the horse offers on their own, and it limits greatly how much we can manipulate results through auxiliary means. It’s our job to take advantage of every millimeter, gram and any general wiggle room we can - but the these rules “level the playing field” by minimizing the individual impact of these variables.
It’s fun as a rider
I personally love presenting in breed assessments because it’s a very creative puzzle of trying to present the horse you have in the best possible light. Minimizing problems and playing to the individual horse’s strengths. You get to show all the gaits with maximum speed and power (who doesn’t love a good gallop). You get to make all sorts of decisions about what you show when and how you show it. Within the rules, you can be very creative and follow your instincts moment to moment. It is a very compelling puzzle of strategy and intuition, all with the horse as the central focus.
Celebration of Breeders and their Dreams
Here in the USA, the ability of an American bred horse to make it through full assessments is rare unto itself. It is already a huge win if your horse shows enough trainability, stable character, good conformation, and ridden abilities to make it through a full assessment. It is even more of a win if that horse is young. Horses that can make it through assessments are the result of blood, sweat, tears and a serious financial investment that is hard to admit. They are the result of breeders’ dedication through careful matches, proper husbandry through the early years, and investments (time and/or money) in good training. Breed assessments are the moment where all of those things can come together in that special moment when the horse is presented. Good breeding is a labor of love, and there are no quick returns. It’s so important that we celebrate the culmination of that passion project.
The future of our industry
Terral and I were sitting at the breeding track a couple years ago at Landsmot and a dear friend came and sat down with us. We told her that the breeding assessments were our favorite thing to watch and she laughed and said “that’s because you are getting older and learning to truly appreciate the value of what is going on here.” That stuck with me, because I think there is something more mature and selfless in a love of breeding and our breeding assessments. If you care to understand and appreciate assessments, you are showing care for the future of our Icelandic horse industry. You care about generations you might not even live to see. The real super stars are the foundation horses of the past, and the real excitement and intrigue lies in what horses will make their mark on the future. There is nothing more special than being apart of the making of that history, whether it be as a breeder, rider, judge or spectator.
Photos by Ebba Meehan
