Twenty ponies rescued after fall through ice at event

February 6, 2009

Rescuers in Iceland worked frantically to free 20 ponies from freezing water after they fell through ice during an event.

Some of the horses were reportedly very weak after their rescue and had to be warmed with heat lamps.

Iceland Review Online reported that the horses and riders were competing in a race on a Reykjavik pond during a tölt show on Tuesday when the ice gave way.

One witness said the horses were fighting for their lives and he feared a tragedy.

The ice had been measured and checked before the event.

Equestrian journalist Fjölnir Thorgeirsson has been praised for his efforts. The website reported that he entered the water and allowed the horses to step up on his thigh to get a firm footing because the silty floor of the pond was too slippery.

Tölt horse shows are regularly held on ice in Iceland during the cooler months. The pond used for this event is also used for hockey and football.

The tölt is the speciality gait of the Icelandic horse. It is a remarkably smooth four-beat gait in which the horse moves his feet in the same order as the walk, though more quickly. It is a supremely comfortable gait for the rider, and can be as fast as 20mph.

Credit: Iceland Review Online