The Icelandic horse is a breed of horse developed from ponies taken to Iceland by Nordic settlers in the 9th and 10th centuries. The breed is mentioned in literature and historical records throughout Icelandic history. The first reference to the horse appears in the 12th century. The Icelandic horse has an additional gait, tölt. Tölt is a four-beat gait where the horse alternately has one and two legs on the ground. The result is a very even and comfortable gait for the rider. Todays stamp from Iceland (1958) shows a beautiful example of the Icelandic horse.
There are many different breeds of horses. A lot of work is being done to preserve these breeds. This is done by allowing only the best stallions to cover the mares. Today's stamp from Austria (1946) is a celebration of horse breeding and shows a mare and her foal.
Today, horses are used in various sports. Today's stamp from Hungary show two horses in a trotting race. Trotting is an important sport in ex. Scandinavia, France and the USA. My wife and I have owned more than 30 trotters. I have participated in several hundred races and won approx.…
For many years horses have been used in various sports. Today's stamp from the defunct GDR (1974) shows a galloping horse. Galloping is a major sport in many countries including Great Britain, France and the USA.