Europe 1 with AFP 4:29 p.m., May 27, 2022

Tired of not picking up during your vacation?

The Icelandic tourist office has thought of you.

The agency offers to remedy this with Icelandic horses, who themselves answer your emails using a giant keyboard.

A service that has already attracted 8,000 people.

Want to let go of the reins for good?

With great hoof kicks, Icelandic horses can take care of composing your automatic absence replies by email, free of charge, in a service just launched by the Icelandic tourist office.

In a whimsical promotional video, the Icelandic agency reveals its secret: a giant keyboard on which horses - of the famous Icelandic breed - cheerfully trample the keys in the most beautiful landscapes of the island.

Disconnect "without interruption"

The result is quite far from expected professional etiquette with nonsense messages like "JJJJJJJJJJ" or "8io:l:;l:oiiþ::".

But 8,000 people have already subscribed to this service, called "Outhorse your e-mail", horse-like deformation of the English verb "Outsource" (Sub-treat your e-mail).

"Iceland has launched its 'OutHorse Your Email' service to help travelers disconnect and enjoy all the country has to offer, uninterrupted," says Sigríður Dögg Guðmundsdóttir, head of Visit Iceland.

The small Icelandic horses - sometimes confused with ponies - are one of the emblems of the country.

In the video, which has more than 130,000 views since it was posted online, a tourist played by an actress is annoyed to receive dozens of emails while she is on vacation in sublime places, from the Solheimajökull glacier, diving in the Silfra fault or in full selfie during the eruption of a geyser.

55% of respondents check their emails at least once a day

The tourist agency, which is based on one of its own surveys which reveals that 55% of people questioned check their e-mails at least once a day during their holidays, is accustomed to videos going around the world.

In July 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, she encouraged her visitors to scream on an online platform before broadcasting the sound to seven deserted places in the country.

Last fall, she parodied the Metaverse so vaunted by Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg by contrasting it with an idyllic "Icelandverse".