01/21/2007 Iceland's oldest horse dies The stallion "Blakkur" from farm Höfdabrekka in Kelduhverfi, northeast Iceland, died earlier this month at the age of 38 winters. Horses, whose years are measured by winter seasons in Iceland, rarely reach such an old age.
Jón Stefánsson, Blakkur's owner, told Fréttabladid that his horse had become tired and weak the last few years and was rarely used for riding. Stefánsson, who lives alone on his farm, said he was sorry about losing Blakkur, but said his grandchildren missed him even more. "Blakkur was great with children and a very calm horse," Stefánsson said. Lísa Bjarnadóttir, the veterinarian at an animal hospital in Reykjavík, said Blakkur must have been the oldest horse in Iceland. The age of horses in Iceland is traditionally counted in winters because foals are born in the spring and are considered one year old after their first winter. The average Icelandic horse lives for 30 winters -- Raven Lucy & Molly, the Girl Doggies Huginn, the American Ice Pony Dixie Chick, the Mini Barn Goddess Western WI, USA, Planet Earth
