American photographer Drew Doggett started his photography career in fashion but has since taken to the world, travelling in search of the more amazing landscapes and subjects to capture on film. Winning over 80 prestigious awards and honours for his world-renowned images and filmmaking, Doggett’s techniques learnt from his earlier career help him capture remote places and peoples from a stunning angle.
In recent travels, Doggett discovered Iceland. His fascination with the nation’s Icelandic horses led him to the mystical landscapes where they roam to shoot his latest series, In the Realm of Legends.
The Icelandic Horse is one of the oldest and purest breeds in the world, with their history stemming from the Vikings of the 9th and 10 centuries. For centuries, no other breed of horse was allowed in Iceland, and to this day, strict exporting procedures means a horse that leaves Iceland is never permitted to return.
These friendly horses are mainly used for riding and companionship, with many riders arguing that the Icelandic horses are some of the best horses in the world. The official website Horses of Iceland explains how the Icelandic horse’s natural elegance and robust health make them optimal riding horses.
“The goal of breeding Icelandic horses is to produce a healthy, fertile, and durable riding horse. Robust, elegant and versatile with five excellent gaits. The conformation should offer optimal natural balance, and the movements should be supple, high and ground covering in all gaits, giving an elegant and powerful image.”
The Icelandic horse size varies in size and colour, with over 100 variations of colour and reaching on average between 14 and roughly 15 hands. Although small, they are not a pony. They have two natural gaits, the tölt and flying pace, in addition to the usual walk, trot, canter and gallop found in other horse breeds.
