Horse breeds · from TrotleyIcelandic Horse weight and height, with sweet itch and gait test notes
Icelandic horses average 13 to 14 hands and 330 to 380 kilograms, small enough to be called ponies yet often ridden by adults, and horses exported from Iceland are prone to a midge allergy.
Short answer
Icelandic horses average 13 to 14 hands and 330 to 380 kg, about 730 to 840 pounds.
Oklahoma State University gives an average height of 13 to 14 hands and an average weight of 330 to 380 kg (728 to 838 lb). The University of Kentucky also lists 13 to 14 hands, while the International Museum of the Horse puts the average at 12.3 to 13.1 hands.
Oklahoma State University, University of Kentucky and International Museum of the Horse
| Source | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma State University (averages) | 13 to 14 hands | 330 to 380 kg (728 to 838 lb) |
| University of Kentucky | 13 to 14 hands | Not given |
| International Museum of the Horse (average) | 12.3 to 13.1 hands | Not given |
| University of Minnesota, 53 adult ponies of mixed breeds | Average 51 inches (12.3 hands) | Average 722 lb |
The first three rows describe the breed. The Minnesota row is a mixed group of ponies and is shown for comparison only.
Small, but built to carry riders
Oklahoma State describes the Icelandic as small, sturdy and hardy, but not light in build. The University of Minnesota adds that, compared with the average Arabian, Icelandic horses are more compact with thicker cannon bones, and are regularly seen carrying adult riders.
Researchers testing Icelandic horses under loads of 20 to 35% of body weight found no muscle soreness after one to two days of work, and most worked aerobically up to 23%. That is research on tour-riding horses, so it does not replace the 20% guideline for a horse you do not know.
Daily hay for a 780 pound Icelandic Horse
The midpoint of Oklahoma State’s 330 to 380 kg is 355 kg, or about 783 lb, so the arithmetic uses 780 lb. Replace it with your own horse’s weight and the amounts scale with it.
Merck gives 2 to 2.5% of body weight in dry matter as the usual daily maximum, with at least 1.5 to 2% from forage, and lists most ponies among the easy keepers. These figures are our arithmetic from 780 lb, counting hay as 90% dry matter.
- 1.5% of body weight: 12 lb (5 kg) of dry matter, about 13 lb (6 kg) of hay
- 2% of body weight: 16 lb (7 kg) of dry matter, about 17 lb (8 kg) of hay
- 2.5% of body weight: 20 lb (9 kg) of dry matter, about 22 lb (10 kg) of hay
A weight tape example for an Icelandic Horse
The horse weight calculator uses the adult equation in the Merck Veterinary Manual: heart girth squared times body length, in inches, divided by 330. With a heart girth of 66 inches and a body length of 59 inches gives 66 x 66 = 4,356, times 59 = 257,004, divided by 330 = about 779 lb (353 kg). Those measurements are our illustration of the formula, not a real horse.
Merck says weight tapes can be used on ponies and horses, tend to read low, and are best for tracking change.
Sweet itch after export
UC Davis calls insect bite hypersensitivity, also known as sweet itch, an allergic skin disease caused by the bites of midges and similar insects of the genus Culicoides. It says Icelandic horses exported to other countries have a particularly high incidence because these insects are not present in Iceland, and that genetic risk factors are likely.
Signs include itching, thickened skin, hives and hair loss, usually on the mane, tail, face and trunk. There is no cure, so the work is prevention: stabling at dawn and dusk, fans, blankets, fly masks and repellents. Treatment is a conversation for your vet.
The gait test
The UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory offers SynchroGait, a DNA test for a variant in the DMRT3 gene. It says Icelandic horses with two copies of the A variant have a predisposition to five gaits, including the pace, while horses with none or one copy are more likely to perform only four. Training still counts, and the test is mostly a tool for buyers and breeders.
Laminitis in small horses
UC Davis reports that ponies and older horses make up more laminitis cases than other groups. Neither it nor Merck names the Icelandic, but for any compact easy keeper the sensible rule is to watch weight, limit lush pasture and call your vet at the first sign of foot pain.
Body condition
Merck advises a score of 4 to 6 on the 9 point Henneke scale, and a score of 7 or more counts as overweight. The University of Minnesota found that ponies averaged 6.0. Oklahoma State notes the Icelandic’s double winter coat, so score by feel over the ribs and crest, and record the score with each weight.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Icelandic Horse weigh?
Oklahoma State University gives an average of 330 to 380 kg (728 to 838 pounds) for horses averaging 13 to 14 hands.
How tall is an Icelandic Horse?
Oklahoma State and the University of Kentucky list 13 to 14 hands, which is 52 to 56 inches at the withers. The International Museum of the Horse gives 12.3 to 13.1 hands.
Can an Icelandic Horse carry a 190 pound rider?
The University of Minnesota reports that an average adult light riding horse can comfortably carry about 20% of its ideal bodyweight, rider and tack included. For 780 pounds that is about 156 pounds, and 23% is about 179 pounds, so a 190 pound rider with 25 pounds of tack is well above both. A lighter rider or a heavier horse changes the answer.
Why is my imported Icelandic Horse itchy in summer?
UC Davis lists seasonal itching, hair loss and skin thickening as signs of insect bite hypersensitivity, which is common in Icelandic horses living outside Iceland. Your vet can confirm the cause and plan the insect control.
Sources
- Oklahoma State University, Breeds of Livestock: Icelandic Horses
- University of Kentucky Equine Programs, Horse breeds
- International Museum of the Horse, Icelandic Horse (archived copy)
- University of Minnesota Extension, Guidelines for weight-carrying capacity of horses
- UC Davis Center for Equine Health, Insect bite hypersensitivity (archived copy)
- UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, SynchroGait (archived copy)
- UC Davis Center for Equine Health, Laminitis (archived copy)
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Laminitis in Horses
- University of Minnesota Extension, Estimating actual and ideal bodyweight of adult horses
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Nutritional Requirements of Horses and Other Equids
Checked on October 2, 2026.
For the rest, there is Trotley
Trotley keeps every horse’s records in one place.
Vaccinations, farrier and dental visits, medication, weight and documents for each horse, with reminders for what is due next.
- Vaccination, vet, dental, farrier and medication history
- Weight history charts for each horse
- All horses in one stable calendar
Noted. Every tap tells us how many people want Trotley on Android.
See TrotleyMore in Horse breeds
- Fjord HorseMost Fjord Horses stand 14 to 14.2 hands and weigh 900 to 1,200 pounds.
- HaflingerHaflingers stand 13.2 to 14.3 hands, and our estimate of weight is about 950 pounds.
- Welsh PonyWelsh ponies run from under 12.2 hands to cob size, and the weight sources cover only the smallest.
- Shetland PonyShetland ponies stand 10.2 hands or less and weigh no more than 300 to 400 pounds.
- Akhal-TekeAkhal-Tekes average 15.2 hands and weigh 900 to 1,000 pounds, about 408 to 454 kg.
- American Miniature HorseMiniature Horses stand no more than 34 inches, and adults average about 257 pounds.
- Horse weight calculatorFree tool: Estimate a horse’s weight from heart girth and body length with the formulas in the Merck Veterinary Manual, for adults, yearlings and weanlings.
