Iceland - The island of horses

This book is at the moment only available in Finnish!

The Iceland - Island of horses book looks at this unique island, its nature and the rhythm of life from the perspective of the island's own horses. The horses live there as part of their herd in close contact with the surrounding nature.

The cycle of the year sets the rhythm of life, and the strong variation of light and the harshness of the weather shape the horses. By nature, these horses are friendly and curious towards people, and the herd trains the young horses to be socially intelligent as well. The lives of animals and people on the island intertwine, and this interaction fascinates the human mind.

Horses are also a significant means of livelihood for Iceland. When horses are sold abroad, the change in their lives when they move off the island is huge. The surrounding space, herd, food and the presence of people in their lives change. The book helps to see the importance of change for animals and is a humble tribute to the ability of horses to adapt to the new.

Over the years and in different seasons, the authors of the book have toured Iceland, following and photographing the life of the island's horses. They now share small pictorial stories from their travels that reflect the horses' relationship with their country of origin. These images and stories convey to readers a sense of deep connection between animals, humans and nature. Glimpses into the horses' own landscape also help to understand their life change when they move to the continent.

Text by Sanna Elfving, ell, postgraduate student at the University of Edinburgh, the topic of which is sciences related to horse behavior and training ( Postgraduate degree program in Equine Science at the University of Edinburgh).
Photos by Johanna Vaurio-Teraväinen, ell, internationally awarded professional photographer, master photographer (VVI)