Leisure Riding
Leisure Riding activities take place in all FEIF member countries – interested what happens in other countries? To get an overview of the planned activities so far, just click on the button!
Leisure Riding activities
13-15 Sep 2024
IHSGB – Summer Fun Camp
Great Britain (United Kingdom)24 Sep 2024
Hoofbeat: ride, run, walk or bike for Islandic Horses!
Izvoare (Romania)29 Sep 2024
Ride at Drongengoed: Zotte Mutse
Drongengoed (Belgium)
Photo: Kari Baklund
Leisure riders are, by far, the largest group of riders within the membership of our 23 FEIF member associations. Any rider on an Icelandic horse is an ambassador for the entire community.
Every country has its own rules and regulations related to the keeping and riding of horses, so the Leisure Department’s role in FEIF will be to focus on the individual relationship between rider and horse. The FEIF Leisure Department provides a platform for all national departments of the member associations, encouraging improved relationships between riders and horses through education, ambassadorship, rides and fun.
The Riding Horse Profile
In 2017, the FEIF Riding Horse Profile was launched. It is a tool to help riders find the best possible match when buying a new horse, and consists of two forms, which are completed by the buyer/rider in cooperation with professional trainers. You can choose between a “Riders form” or a “Trainers form“.
The FEIF Riding Horse Profile represents a neutral description and assessment of the character and behavior of a horse as well as the needs of the buyer/rider. The process recognizes each rider and horse are special with their own character and qualities. A horse which may be a completely wrong choice for one rider may be the perfect match for another.
Photo: Kirsi Kulmala (Photo competition 2022)
FEIF Virtual Ride
Uniting people in their passion for the Icelandic Horse has become increasingly easier with social media. The annual Virtual Ride is a great way to participate in some of the big international events, even if home is in a remote location, or if fellow Icelandic horse riders are far away.
FEIF Relay Ride
The idea for the Relay Ride was born at the beginning of the 80’s, when some of the riders rode on their Icelandic horses from the previous World Championship’s venue to the new one. In the baton that accompanies the riders, there is a message from the former to the next host of the World Championships.
Photo competition
The motto of the 2023 photo competition was different for each season – itstarted with “PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT”. The spring motto was then“RIDING IN HARMONY”, followed by “HORSE FRIENDSHIPS”. The last motto for 2023 was “SPECIAL MOMENTS”.
Everyone was welcome to join! The winners were selected via FaceBook and were included in the limited-edition calender produced at the end of the year.
An international jury always selects the best 10 photos – a difficult job as there were so many great pictures – and then it was up to you to like the top three photos on FEIF Facebook, or the Facebook pages of the FEIF member associations Germany, Iceland, Canada or Hungary.
Facebook FEIF
Facebook Germany
Facebook Iceland
Facebook Hungary
Facebook Canada
Topic: Special Moments
News from the Leisure Riding department
Bring on Birmenstorf – FEIF virtual ride 2025
The 13th FEIF Virtual Ride - from your home to the next World Championships in Birmenstorf - is now on the road … but there is plenty of space for more riders! Don't forget to join - find new friends and lots of fun: the friends you meet on Facebook, the fun you find...
FEIF Virtual Ride: To Fákur and Fast
With the beginning of Landsmót, the FEIF Virtual Ride "To Fákur and Fast" has come to an end. Last August, ca 80 riders from all over the world started to add up all kms spent in the saddle in an attempt to - virtually - reach Iceland, either as an individual or in...
May 1 – the international Day of the Icelandic Horse
As you know, May 1st is the international day of the Icelandic Horse. For this occasion, FEIF and Horses of Iceland have joined forces in order to reach a maximum of people and flood the internet with content of people doing all kinds of activities with Icelandic...
Virtual Ride
Ride with friends around the world from home to the next big competition
Get in touch
Leisure Riding activities and contacts in all FEIF member countries
Documents
Get the latest documents from the Leisure Riding department