Why should I choose an Íshestar tour?

Expertise
Íshestar was founded in 1982 and has over 40 years of experience in leading riding groups through Iceland. Our main goal is to offer our guests exceptional service, excellent horses and a safe ride in the Icelandic nature. We also ride with the most experienced guides that know the areas very well and can take the groups off the beaten track.

Exclusivity

We take great pride in our Smaller Groups, Bigger Herds commitment. This means that we ride in smaller group (max 14 guests) and with more horses than most of the other riding companies.

Commitment
We make sure that you are well taken care of, from before booking the tour until it ends. We help you finding the right tour for you, according to riding abilities, accommodation preferences (huts or farm-/guesthouses), length of the riding days and the overall tour, geographical preferences, etc. We are happy to customise your trip and make your experience unique.

We send out extensive information to prepare for the tour, like packing lists, itineraries, organisational details, fun facts, etc. We are also doing everything we can to accommodate any extra requests around the actual riding tour, like transfers or renting sleeping bags, biking/hiking tours, setting up visits to breeding farms and horse trainers to facilitate buying a horse in Iceland, just contact us for any help.

Animal Welfare
Today Íshestar is the industry leader in Iceland when it comes to animal treatment and welfare and we actively work with MAST (Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority) improving our procedures and caretaking methods with the health and life quality of our horses in mind.

Most frequently asked questions - Multi-day Tours

Can I bring my own tack on a multi-day tour?

Due to geographical isolation and strict import regulations, Iceland has largely been spared from serious animal diseases. It is icelandic law to protect this favorable disease status and to take every possible measure to prevent the introduction of harmful infectious agents into the country. When traveling between countries, it is essential to observe the strictest biosecurity measures! It is prohibited to bring into the country: Used riding equipment, such as saddles, bridles, halters, leg wraps, saddle pads, blankets, whips, etc. Used riding gloves Washing and disinfection: Used riding clothing must be washed in a washing machine or dry-cleaned before arriving in the country. Used riding clothing that cannot be machine washed or dry-cleaned must be cleaned and disinfected in the following way: Wash thoroughly with soapy water Dry completely Spray with 2% VirkonS® solution (20g per liter of water) Store for at least 5 days before the equipment is used around horses in Iceland. Read the Mast regulations about importing tack here https://www.mast.is/static/files/import/dyraheilbrigdi/smitvarnir/hestamenn/hoi-2023-mast-lets-protect.pdf

Can I wear my own riding clothes?

Riding gear (riding trousers, jackets, etc.) needs to be washed (40°C) or dry cleaned. Items which can not be washed or dry cleaned (riding boots, riding hats) need to cleaned and disinfected at least five days prior to arriving in Iceland. The Icelandic Veterinary Authority recommends the broad-spectrum disinfectant Virkon S for disinfection. Used riding gloves, whips, saddles, bridles, chaps and other used leather gear may not be brought into the country.
Please understand that these precautions are necessary because there are no contagious animal diseases in Iceland. Horses are not vaccinated and are therefore susceptible to infectious agents from abroad. Please help us to protect Iceland’s fragile nature! For further information please take a look at: www.mast.is

What do I need to bring with me on Multi-Day tours?

You should be ready for all kinds of weather as the weather can change very quickly. We recommend that the following items are included when preparing for our longer tours:
• Warm jacket or overcoat
• Warm (woolen or fleece) sweater
• Warm socks and gloves
• at least two pairs
• a scarf and a cap or hat
• Warm underwear, long if possible (protects also from chafing)
• For the ladies – sports bra
• Riding trousers
• A pair of slippers to wear in the accommodation (Icelanders take off their shoes when entering a house)
• Swimsuits
• Towels
• Soap, etc.
• a small camera to take with you on the ride
• Band-aids and second skin plasters for chafing
• Insect repellent, gnat net headcover
• Chocolate or glucose sweets for strenuous riding days
• Sun lotion for face and lips (with high sun factor)
Additionally, for sleeping bag accommodation:
• Sleeping bag
• Small pillow to sleep on
• Earplugs (Some people snore)
Íshestar provides:
• Saddle bags
• Rain wear
• Safety helmet

What is the maximum weight on a rider?

Maximum weight for a rider is 110kg/242lb for both Day-tours and Multi-Day tours.

How do I find the right tour for my riding skills for the Multi-Day tours?

We have established a new way to categorize riders based on their capabilities. This approach ensures clarity in communication about riding skills, bridging any cultural differences. The ``Rider Ability Levels`` at Ishestar explain the different skills riders need for our horseback tours. We created these levels to avoid confusion, as horse riding terms can mean different things in different cultures and cover overall experience with horses. Find out your Rider Ability Level here

What kind of tack do you use Multi-Day tours?

The tack used for Icelandic horses is slightly different than the tack ordinarily used for other breeds. The saddle is built close to a dressage saddle and has a relatively flat seat. Saddles come with plain or quilted seats. Riding style used on Icelandic horses is close to English riding style, but stirrups are worn long. Bits used are mostly simple snaffles. Bridles have a detachable noseband and clip on reins.

Why riding in Iceland?

The Icelandic Horse: The breed is best known for its four-beat smooth gait, the “tölt”, which is very comfortable for the rider, especially on a longer tour. Riding an Icelandic horse in its native habitat land is an authentic riding experience.Herd: Herding along free running horses is the traditional way of travelling in Iceland since horses are changed at least once a day on longer tours. You get to ride a variety of horses. Icelandic Nature: Iceland is the least densely populated country in Europe, with a pure, unpolluted and truly magical landscape.

What is the group size on the multi-day tours?

Group size usually ranges from 8-14 riders.

What are your cancellation terms?

A cancellation made by e-mail with more than six weeks’ notice is subject to a cancellation fee amounting to 30% of the tour price. A cancellation made by e-mail with less than six weeks, but more than three weeks’ notice is subject to a cancellation fee of 50% of the tour price. A cancellation made with less than three weeks’ notice means that the full price is due. If rescheduling is a possibility we try our best to accommodate that instead of cancellations. Íshestar reserves the right to change a day’s itinerary if road or weather conditions prove unfavorable.

CONTACT

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