What on Earth is the Tölt of the Icelandic Horse? And Why You Must Experience it

In Iceland you’ll find endless horizons, volcanic drama, and a horse so talented it makes your rental car look redundant (and probably has more horse power).

This is about sharing in a tradition and discovering a gait so smooth it feels like cheating physics, and yes, you can actually try it for yourself, with your local Icelandic horse sensei master (Viggó and the team).

Better still, you don’t need to raid a Viking ship to do so, just book a tour with Viking Horses and get ready for the most comfortable adventure of your life with a four-legged guide who knows exactly how awesome they are. And one is named Thor (Þór) who is extra awesome.

A Gait So Smooth You Could Sip Champagne While Riding

The tölt is not just a gait, it is a national treasure disguised as a four-beat shuffle, perfected over centuries of selective breeding.

Imagine riding across volcanic plains, weaving between mossy lava fields, even clattering down a gravel track, and still not spilling your drink, and you’ve got the idea.

It is the Icelandic horse’s party trick, equal parts science and sorcery, and by goodness, it delivers with a grin-inducing smoothness you’ll brag about for years.

The Icelandic Horse: Smaller, Cuter, and Infinitely More Talented

Do not call them ponies unless you enjoy the wrath of an entire nation, because Icelanders take this insult very personally indeed, after all this is not an Old Spice advert.

These horses are bred for centuries to survive volcanic winters, swim glacial rivers, and look annoyingly photogenic in the process with windswept manes and soulful eyes perfect for Instagram.

They are remarkably strong for their size, capable of carrying adults with ease, and yet maintain an elegance that defies their sturdy build.

And, what's their hidden superpower? The tölt, a gait that sets them apart from every other horse breed on Earth (so you won't want to miss the chance of riding one).

What Actually Is the Tölt?

It’s not trotting, cantering, or galloping, because the Icelandic horse refuses to be ordinary and frankly considers such gaits beneath its dignity (or at least, that's what I assume).

The tölt is a four-beat gait where at least one hoof is always touching the ground, giving the rider an enviable sense of smooth stability, meaning no bumping about like a sack of potatoes or clinging on for dear life.

It’s elegance meets efficiency, Iceland style, and it allows riders to cover great distances comfortably at speed, a living fusion of practicality and panache.

Why the Tölt Is Better Than Business Class

Forget turbulence, forget the awkward shuffle down the aisle and the sound of someone kicking the back of your seat.

The tölt is smoother than a politician avoiding the truth, more soothing than first-class champagne refills, and infinitely more stylish.

You will glide across lava fields, glaciers, and meadows as if transported by invisible luxury hovercraft (or hairycraft as I like to call it), cushioned as though your horse were secretly part limousine, part magic carpet (no part Aladin).

A Viking Legacy With Extra Sass

The gait was prized by Vikings who, unsurprisingly, valued not being jostled while riding into battle, especially when clad in heavy armour and carrying weapons sharp enough to slice their own thighs if they bounced too much.

After all, what warrior wants to arrive with a bruised backside before the fight has even started, or worse, a cracked helmet from clattering around like a loose potato in a sack?

The tölt was, and still is, a weapon of comfort and endurance, allowing horse and rider to travel long distances swiftly without fatigue, which is a secret advantage in both raids and modern-day trail rides.

Why You Must Experience the Tölt Yourself

Reading about it is like reading about chocolate, utterly useless without tasting, because words cannot capture the buttery glide of the tölt.

When you feel the tölt beneath you, you will smirk with the smug satisfaction of someone who just discovered a cheat code in Icelandic travel stories (Viggó has plenty), an almost guilty pleasure you want to share but also selfishly keep secret.

It is not a ride, it is a revelation, a whole-body awakening that makes you laugh at every clumsy trot you’ve ever endured and wonder why all horses don’t move this way.

Where to Try the Tölt in Iceland

You can of course attempt to tölt anywhere there is an Icelandic horse, which is essentially everywhere, from windswept farms to remote fjords here on this breezy rock we call home.

But if you want the real experience of lava fields that look like lunar landscapes, windswept views that feel like a postcard come to life, and the company of horses who know they’re better than you, our intimate small-guided tours are your answer.

Here you’ll meet the finest tölt ambassadors this side of Valhalla, guided by experts who pair storytelling with saddle time so you leave not only with aching cheeks (you'll be wanting that heated seat from your rental on the way back) from smiling but also with a newfound appreciation for this magical gait.

The Final Word: Stop Reading, Start Riding

The tölt is not something to ponder, it’s something to experience, or an adventure that simply refuses to be captured in words alone.

Book your ride, meet your horse, and prepare to glide across Iceland like a Viking with a very comfortable secret, surrounded by landscapes that look like they’ve been borrowed from another planet (similar to how Viggó thinks of his coffee).

Trust us, your spine will thank you, your Instagram followers will envy you, and you’ll leave with a story that makes even the biggest story-topping loving travellers lean in with curiosity.