The Icelandic horse is a breed of horse developed in Iceland. Although the horses are small, at times pony-sized, most registries for the Icelandic refer to it as a horse. Icelandic horses are late-developers, but are also long-lived and hardy. In their native country they have few diseases; Icelandic law prevents horses from being imported into the country and exported animals are not allowed to return. The Icelandic displays two gaits in addition to the typical walk, trot, and canter/gallop commonly displayed by other breeds. The only breed of horse in Iceland, they are also popular internationally, and sizable populations exist in Europe and North America. The breed is still used for traditional farm work in its native country, as well as for leisure, showing, and racing. Developed from ponies taken to Iceland by Viking settlers in the 9th and 10th centuries, the breed is mentioned in literature and historical records throughout Icelandic history; the first reference to a named horse appears in the 12th century. Horses were worshipped in Norse mythology, a custom brought to Iceland by the country's earliest settlers. Selective breeding over the centuries has developed the breed into its current form. Natural selection has also played a role, as the harsh Icelandic climate eliminated many horses through cold and starvation. In the 1780s, much of the breed was wiped out in the aftermath of a volcanic eruption.
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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1808:
German composer Ludwig van Beethoven premiered his Fifth Symphony, currently one of the most popular and well-known compositions in all of European classical music, at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._5_%28Beethoven%29
1885:
Itō Hirobumi, a samurai from Chōshū, became the first Prime Minister of Japan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%C5%8D_Hirobumi
1947:
The Constitution of the Italian Republic was enacted by the Constituent Assembly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Italy
1963:
A total of 128 people died when the ocean liner TSMS Lakonia burned at sea 180 miles (290 km) north of Madeira. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSMS_Lakonia
1989:
Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate re-opened after nearly 30 years, symbolizing the unity of East and West Germany. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburg_Gate
2001:
Burhanuddin Rabbani of the Northern Alliance handed over power in Afghanistan to the interim government headed by Hamid Karzai. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamid_Karzai
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
altruistic (adj): Regardful of others; beneficent; unselfish http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/altruistic
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
While you live ... you have a duty to life. ... The fey wonders of the world only exist while there are those with the sight to see them. ... Otherwise they fade away. --Charles de Lint http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Charles_de_Lint