IceHNZ

Icelandic Horses New Zealand

Welcome to the Icelandic Horse Association of New Zealand. We hope you find all the information you are looking for here on our website, but if you need further information please don't hesitate to contact us by email secretary.icehnz@gmail.com.

There have been Icelandic horses in New Zealand since the mid-1990s and today there are around 180 Icelandic horses in the country, with numbers slowly but steadily growing. On a yearly base about 6-10 foals are born and occasionally horses are imported from Europe or Australia.

Our association

The main objectives of IceHNZ are to promote the Icelandic horse, ensure the continued purity of the breed in New Zealand and keep an updated Studbook in accordance with FEIF’s regulations and the laws in New Zealand.

IceHNZ is an full member of the FEIF (Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations, www.feif.org).

Welfare of the horse

One of our objectives is to "seek to utilize and disseminate the best knowledge available for managing the wellbeing, training, riding and breeding of Icelandic horses", with a focus on meeting both the horse's physical and mental needs. As horse owners we should strive to create an environment where the horse's wellbeing is at the center of all that we are doing with our horses: management, training, riding. Be it leisure or competing.

As Association we under scribe the statement of 'One Voice Equine Aotearoa':

Equine welfare involves the physical, psychological, social and environmental wellbeing of the horse. All horses involved in sport and leisure activities should be able to live a good life. One Voice Equine Aotearoa requires all those involved in sport and recreation involving horses adhere to their organisation’s Code of Conduct, and to acknowledge and accept that at all times the welfare of the horse must be paramount by pledging to the One Voice Equine Aotearoa Charter.

1. We understand that it is a privilege to involve horses in sport, racing and leisure and this comes with responsibilities to the horse.

2. We commit to respecting that horses are sentient beings with individual personalities. I will ensure the horse’s welfare is always my priority.

3. We undertake to continually develop our understanding of horse behaviour and equine welfare needs, and to proactively use this knowledge to provide a life for horses through our organisation which is positive and away from anything which might be harmful or negative.

Finally, our organisation will always keep at the forefront the statement quoted by Lt. General Morrison: “The standard you walk past is the standard you accept”.

In the document 'The 5 domains model", generated by welfare scientists to help improve

animals’ quality of life, you can evaluate how an animal may feel. It incorporates positive as well as negative emotions, and helps us to think about how human interaction can influence the welfare of horses – something that many welfare assessments fail to do. In this guidance, they have used the 5 domains model to assess the welfare of domestic horses.

And last but not least, the Code of Welfare Horses and donkeys in New Zealand. The purpose of this Code is to provide information to the owners and persons in charge of horses and donkeys about the standards they must achieve in order to meet their obligations under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

Find us on Social Media

Visit and like our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/icehnz

We also have a Facebook group, 'Icelandic Horses New Zealand' where you can connect with other Icelandic horse enthusiasts: please click here to join!