Seattle's Icelandic Horse Connection in Redmond, WA.
Just 5 minutes from the end of WA State Route 520, Marymoor Park, Redmond Downtown and Redmond Town Center.
10 minutes from Downtown Bellevue. 20 minutes from Downtown Seattle. 30 minutes from Seattle-Tacoma Airport.
NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC for safety of horses, students, and neighbors. Located in a residential/commercial area.
Only registered students permitted on-site during class hours or by appointment. No drive-bys or drop in allowed.
Weekday Afternoons Only 1:00-4:00pm typically. Some weekend, evenings, and morning by appointment for groups.
Partly Closed for winter (Dec-Feb). Current students or intermediate riders only.
Open Spring/Fall Afternoons and Summer Mornings as primarily outdoor riding season.
Just 5 minutes from the end of WA State Route 520, Marymoor Park, Redmond Downtown and Redmond Town Center.
10 minutes from Downtown Bellevue. 20 minutes from Downtown Seattle. 30 minutes from Seattle-Tacoma Airport.
NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC for safety of horses, students, and neighbors. Located in a residential/commercial area.
Only registered students permitted on-site during class hours or by appointment. No drive-bys or drop in allowed.
Weekday Afternoons Only 1:00-4:00pm typically. Some weekend, evenings, and morning by appointment for groups.
Partly Closed for winter (Dec-Feb). Current students or intermediate riders only.
Open Spring/Fall Afternoons and Summer Mornings as primarily outdoor riding season.
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This is not a Community Riding School for anyone to ride. Spots are limited. Our program is targeted towards Advanced Beginners or better to improve their riding on our trained trail worthy Icelandic Horses. Or Total Beginners that are able to improve their riding skills weekly or 2x a week in a month.
The Avondale Icelandics are not school horses but members of my family. All humans become a part of their herd. Some we have had for over 15 years and have a forever home. Each has 1 and sometimes 2 riders only weekly that come throughout the month to ride so the horse will bond with those humans. They are not interested in passengers looking for a one time trail rides that they will never see again. Nor do they want be ridden all day by new and different beginners that confuse them. We do accept eager, fast learners who respond well to feedback and coaching to improve their skills who are very interested in their riding journey on Icelandic Horses. These are not basic riding lessons but accelerated methods/different kinds of professional tack with 2 or 3 other students so you can learn faster with a basis in dressage and trail. Students will learn to tack up their own horse completely, catch and halter, and lead their horses to mounting block themselves. We ride on the trails practicing what is learned on the track and round pen with a good understanding and execution to be safe and competent. |
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Target Students who can pick up to riding Icelandics easily and are serious about riding regularly
1) Intermediate English Adult Riders with some Dressage to do 2 handed collection and are physically fit in a weekly fitness program. Not just walking. Core work, coordination, mobility and flexibility to sit, mount, and dismount. 2) Advanced Beginner- Adult or Kid (10+ yrs old) Beginner- Some English riding lessons with confidence, a good seat, and hand-eye coordination to ride independently. 3) Total Kid (10+ years old) Beginners- Outgoing fast learner to sit well, unafraid of being on a moving horse, and involved in team sports. Riders who will have a learning curve riding at first 1) Western who ride 1 handed without much rein contact/collection. 2) Hunter/jumpers who ride with a bent leg and lean forward in the saddle. 3) Total beginner adults only on occasional trail rides and not engaged in weekly fitness program or sport. |
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What People Say About Us:
THE ICELANDICS
"Odie, Tenor, and Uffie are so much fun to hang out with...in the barn, in the pasture, in the dome.
Sometimes they make me laugh so hard until I have tears in my eyes."
"The Avondale Icelandics are so unbelievably furry, sweet, and huggable.
I want to take them all home with me. I think they might come if I could just fit them in my car."
"What I enjoy most is the sense of calm around them. There is less drama with Icelandics.
Cars, bikes, joggers to lawn mowers and leaf blowers don't create panic."
"I love furry animals but I can't have any at home. I come to Avondale Icelandics to get my furry animal fix.
Each of them are so different. I still don't know which is my favorite."
THE EXPERIENCE
"I always look forward to coming back. I cannot believe how non-spooky, trained, and responsive the Icelandics are.
I love telling a large animal what to do and getting them to actually do it."
"It is my second home here. Doreen has uncommon common sense. She helps you develop an awareness first of what is good then better.
Her husband is so friendly, helpful, and funny."
"The Avondale Valley is so beautiful with its pastures, tall trees, and hidden trails.
It's like going on a mini-vacation miles away in secret horse country but it's only minutes from my house."
"I rode when I was 50 years younger. I thought those days were over.
They tried different saddles, stirrups, etc. on the most patient horse that I ever met. Yes...I could ride again on one.
Doreen has such a connection with her Icelandics.
You have to see her horsemanship in action- see them follow her like puppies, stop in the tracks at her word, and get moving with just 1 look.
My 1st trail lesson riding in the Park was absolutely magical with the Avondale Icelandics.
It was like a dream come true- exploring the trails through fairytale forest on calm, smooth-riding horse.
THE INSTRUCTION
"Doreen has an incredible passion to help others succeed. Plus she has a 6th sense to use each Icelandics and increase the level of difficulty.
I learned a lot from other student's feedback and giving some too."
"I thought I knew a lot about horsemanship, riding, and horse care as it is my college major but then I came to here.
I realized I have been learning basic techniques and there is more to know.
"Avondale Icelandics teaches horse-whispering, groundwork, etc. that I have only seen in weekend horse clinics that you must your own horse for.
I am so glad to have an experience like this without having my own horse."
"I was not planning to be impressed but tolting is so amazing. I will never go back to trotting.
Over the past few months, I got rid of my bad riding habits and a new world has just opened up for me."
THE ICELANDICS
"Odie, Tenor, and Uffie are so much fun to hang out with...in the barn, in the pasture, in the dome.
Sometimes they make me laugh so hard until I have tears in my eyes."
"The Avondale Icelandics are so unbelievably furry, sweet, and huggable.
I want to take them all home with me. I think they might come if I could just fit them in my car."
"What I enjoy most is the sense of calm around them. There is less drama with Icelandics.
Cars, bikes, joggers to lawn mowers and leaf blowers don't create panic."
"I love furry animals but I can't have any at home. I come to Avondale Icelandics to get my furry animal fix.
Each of them are so different. I still don't know which is my favorite."
THE EXPERIENCE
"I always look forward to coming back. I cannot believe how non-spooky, trained, and responsive the Icelandics are.
I love telling a large animal what to do and getting them to actually do it."
"It is my second home here. Doreen has uncommon common sense. She helps you develop an awareness first of what is good then better.
Her husband is so friendly, helpful, and funny."
"The Avondale Valley is so beautiful with its pastures, tall trees, and hidden trails.
It's like going on a mini-vacation miles away in secret horse country but it's only minutes from my house."
"I rode when I was 50 years younger. I thought those days were over.
They tried different saddles, stirrups, etc. on the most patient horse that I ever met. Yes...I could ride again on one.
Doreen has such a connection with her Icelandics.
You have to see her horsemanship in action- see them follow her like puppies, stop in the tracks at her word, and get moving with just 1 look.
My 1st trail lesson riding in the Park was absolutely magical with the Avondale Icelandics.
It was like a dream come true- exploring the trails through fairytale forest on calm, smooth-riding horse.
THE INSTRUCTION
"Doreen has an incredible passion to help others succeed. Plus she has a 6th sense to use each Icelandics and increase the level of difficulty.
I learned a lot from other student's feedback and giving some too."
"I thought I knew a lot about horsemanship, riding, and horse care as it is my college major but then I came to here.
I realized I have been learning basic techniques and there is more to know.
"Avondale Icelandics teaches horse-whispering, groundwork, etc. that I have only seen in weekend horse clinics that you must your own horse for.
I am so glad to have an experience like this without having my own horse."
"I was not planning to be impressed but tolting is so amazing. I will never go back to trotting.
Over the past few months, I got rid of my bad riding habits and a new world has just opened up for me."