My daughter (middle school) and I are taking a trip to Iceland where we will be going on a day trek (yay!). She is a strong pony rider who can put up with some chestnut mare shenanigans, although not as experienced out of the ring, which we will be practicing before we leave. At home we both ride in safety stirrups, good helmets, riding boots with heels and she wears a safety vest…all the typical hunter get up.
My question: how do people typically handle safety gear when traveling? Pack none of the usual stuff and hope for the best? Pack all of it (seems excessive to show up with your own stirrups for a single ride!). Pack just boots and helmets? It’s part of a longer trip, so I’m sure the rest of the family is not keen on an extra bag just for horse gear.
Would love to hear how other people have handled similar rides while on vacation. I know thousands of people get on horses without even knowing how to ride, but since I know how everything can go sideways it makes me very nervous!
Bonus question- does anyone have experience with Icelandic horses? We are going with a small breeder who is very well regarded. I just have visions of naughty ponies in vast expanses of land 
I should add to clarify- the farm offers to provide helmets, but I’m a bit leery. Also Iceland has very strict rules about used riding equipment, but I can time our regular replacements to have everything new if needed.
I’ve done dozens of riding trips around the world. I always pack my own helmet, gloves and footwear.
I’m going to iceland too! And riding the horses! I’m just taking my blundstones and tights. I don’t have space for my helmet. The riding places do have them, so I’m going to wear theirs.
Icelandic horses, in my limited experience are very work-man-like, sensible souls. Most trail riding horses are, though.
If you want to wear your own helmet, is buying new there and shipping it home when you are done with your vacation an option?
You cannot take your own gear unless it has been disinfected per their specifications. Some gear is prohibited.
https://www.mast.is/en/import-export/import-of-riding-equipment
All the stables will supply helmets. I rode on my, trip and helmet and rain gear was supplied. I look like the Pillsbury Doughboy due to all my layers. Leave your stuff at home and go enjoy.
Your wearing the same Merrell boots I have! Yay! Those are the best, good to see they fit in the stirrups!
The boots worked great there (waterproof). Horse’s name is Lundi (Icelandic for puffin). D
For the OP. The horses know their job. They aren’t coddled or primped…they live in a pretty harsh climate. My group included many newbies and the horses just did their job. That said…they are horses and we all know what that means (never say never or always), but in general, they should be fine. Please read the info I linked. Save the space in your luggage.
Sure they are small, but they are not ponies. They are horses. And I know you are being silly using naughty pony, but they are not Shitlands or Welshes tring to knock you off under low limbs or fence posts. 
Have a great time, take your footware and a helmet, and post pics when you get back.
It is for their horse population. There are only Icelandic horses in Iceland. If one is sold and leaves the country, it cannot return. It is a one way trip. They are serious 
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Please TRUST Kyrabee and her information. Use the equipment offered by the vendor. Iceland is a different world where it comes to hosting tourists, you can trust their system. Truly a unique country
My friend went to Iceland with his family and they rode some Icelandic horses (I’m jealous). They have no riding experience and survived just fine. It isn’t really different than the dude ranch type trail rides you can find around the US - the horses used are well-behaved and suited to the rider (usually they ask you your experience level). They know their job and do it well. I wouldn’t worry about bringing any safety gear except heeled shoes - but even then, plenty of people go on these rides wearing sneakers.
If your group is small and experienced, they may allow faster gaits/more interesting rides.
If your brother wanders off because he can’t control his horse and his horse (Peanut) took a wrong turn and the guide allows it, maybe you can go back to him and trot/canter back up to the front…or maybe you can hold your horse back so that it needs to catch up then urge it into a little jog (making sure the guide doesn’t notice you are doing this on purpose) and cause all the horses behind you to do the same (they liked it, as was mentioned after the fact). However, that doesn’t always work and sometimes your horse is like “Yeah, I know we got behind but WALK is what we do because that’s what’s in my contract.”
Anyway…have fun and I am envious but I will get there one day!
Thanks everyone! I do know they are horses, and I’m actually quite excited to learn more about the breed. I’d bring everything brand new, between show and home equipment I always need to replace something so I’d just put new helmets etc into regular rotation once we got home. Definitely going to follow all regulations to keep the unique population healthy!
I suppose I’m more worried about the freak accidents we all know can happen at any time. My worst falls have mostly been on my most reliable mounts when we’re just trotting along, or some similar situation when suddenly something goes unexpectedly sideways. Scares me not to have all the “stuff” that has been drilled into me since a child to cut down on risks (although we’ve thankfully moved from chin straps being the big innovation to MIPS) In this case I think ignorance would be bliss!
