Education and training

Within FEIF, education is organised at a national level. Each national association manages its own educational system for the learning of riding and horsemanship for Icelandic horses.

Training the trainers

The education of trainers and instructors is the responsibility of each member organisation. FEIF neither has the means nore the wish to enforce a unified education system. But how do you bring together educational matters at an international level?

FEIF has created a system, which allows the seamless recognition of qualifications and skills for instructors across all member nations, by using a list of competencies at various levels that is expected as a minimum standard. It is called: the Education Matrix.

FEIF Hoof Study

FEIF commissioned a detailed study of hoof length and shoeing of Icelandic horses in cooperation with the University of Zurich to scientifically measure horses in competition environments.  The basis of the research was to examine the type and frequency of “hoof pathologies” and relate these findings to the size of the hoof – primarily the dorsal hoof length (“toe lengh”). In this context, the main pathologies were flares, uneven height at the quarters, rings, uneven coronary bands and cracks. The outcome was clear. When the dorsal hoof length  was 95mm or more, there was a significant increase in hoof problems. At 80mm, there were virtually none.  The use of pads and fillers was felt to be beneficial as they provided some impact absorption on surfaces that were not hard – ie schools, tracks with suitable surfaces etc. Pads also provided protection from stones and provided a stable platform for the hoof.  The research was much wider than this with the biomechanical effect of various combinations of hoof length and weights being measured on a treadmill. This all tells us a lot about what truly influences the health of our horses.