Sigurður Ingi landbúnaðarráðherra afhenti Jóhanni Rúnari Skúlasyni tölthornið

Heimsmeistaramóti íslenska hestsins í Berlín lauk um helgina og var mótið einn eitt skrefið í framgangi íslenska hestsins en keppnislið frá 17 löndum leiddu þar saman hesta sína.

Tölthornið er einn glæsilegasti verðlaunagripur sem keppt er um í íþróttum og féll það í skaut Jóhanns Rúnars Skúlasonar og Hnokka frá Fellskoti. Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson landbúnaðarráðherra flutti stutta ræðu við verðlaunaafhendinguna.

Ljósmyndir tók Gígja Einarsdóttir.

 

Meine sehr geehrten Damen und Herren, Liebe Islandpferde-Freunde, Dear Guests

It is a great honor and pleasure for me – being an enthusiastic horse rider myself - to attend the World Championship of the Icelandic Horse here in Berlin and to meet representatives from all over the world.
The Icelandic horse forms a strong part of the Icelandic culture and identity of Icelanders. It has been our reliable servant and friend since settlement and due to geographical isolation of the island it is still one of the oldest and purest horse breeds in the whole world. 

Today some 250 thousand Icelandic horses are spread over the world and therefore we consider it to be one of Iceland's strongest international brands. It is a source of joy to thousands of families all over the world.  Germany is the second biggest home to our horse after Iceland itself. I would like to to use this opportunity to express gratitude to all of you here today and especially to Germany for having played such an important role in the recent history of the Icelandic horse.

With the invention of modern transport many feared that the Icelandic horse would become obsolete and without a purpose. However, things turned out differently - the Icelandic horse still matters for many. We have managed not only to secure the role of the Icelandic horse internationally but also develop that old settlement breed - focusing on increased beauty, size, trustful character and powerful gaits - in a new way.  Much has been accomplished internationally in the world of the Icelandic horse. However, still more work is needed in enhancing further businesses that are closely linked to the hobby and lifestyle surrounding it.  The possibilities are endless! I hope all of us can join our forces and deepen our cooperation, both domestically and internationally, in order to reach even more solid and higher goals in all areas of the Icelandic horse in the future.

Finally allow me to compliment the organizers of the World Championship and the wonderful team for their marvelous work in preparing for all this. It has been a unique experience to be a part of these magnificent games here in Berlin where the Icelandic horse or “das Islandpferd” as you call him here, is the main attraction. Thank you all for this wonderful time and your loyalty to the Icelandic horse. I hope to see many of you again in Iceland next year at the Landsmót National Horse Show at Hella.