05/03/2026
There are two common misunderstandings in our industry.
The first is the familiar phrase: “All I want is a trail horse.” The challenge with that statement is, quite simply, all good Icelandic horses are good trail horses.
What’s often overlooked is the word “only.” Being calm, confident, and responsive in any situation, weather, environment, or with different riders is not something to minimize. A truly reliable trail horse is developed through years of experience and strong partnerships. In other words, you aren’t “only” riding your horse on the trail — being a great trail horse is actually one of the most impressive and high value qualities a horse can have.
The second misunderstanding is the idea that being a “competition horse” excludes a horse from fitting into another role. One of the great strengths of Icelandic horse breeding is the ideal that a horse should do many jobs well: a safe kids’ pony and a first-prize breeding stallion, a pace racer and your most dependable partner at a tricky water crossing, a top competitor and your go-to horse for ponying youngsters.
A powerful example of this is Smári frá Tjarnarlandi.
This exceptional first-prize stallion has been an outstanding ambassador for the Icelandic horse, wearing many hats over the past 12 years. Before coming to the U.S., Smári competed at the largest competition in Iceland - Landsmót Hestamanna.
After being imported in 2017, he built a remarkably diverse and successful career—as a Knights of Iceland team member, a top competitor in Loose Rein Tölt, a children’s lesson and trail horse, a children’s competition mount, and the highest-scoring PP1 horse in the U.S. in 2024 and the first horse to make the World Ranking list in PP1 Pace Test.
Beyond the accolades, Smári has been an exceptional teacher—introducing many amateur riders to pace and serving as a trustworthy partner for riders of all levels. Through his kind, willing nature—and his beautiful tölt—he has helped hundreds of newcomers fall in love with the Icelandic horse.
Thank you, Kathryn Love, for sharing this incredible horse with the U.S. We are deeply grateful for your dedication to exceptional horses and your generosity in sharing them with the community.
