Seattle's Icelandic Horse Connection in Redmond, WA. For those that love to Tolt on the trail.
Just 5 minutes from the end of WA State Route 520, Marymoor Park, Redmond Downtown and Redmond Town Center.
Locals come from Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, Sammamish, Bothell, Seattle, Mercer Island, Edmonds, Everett, Olympia. Others- CA and Alaska.
10 minutes from Downtown Bellevue. 20 minutes from Downtown Seattle. 30 minutes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC. No visits from the public for safety of horses, students, and neighbors. Located in a residential area.
Only registered students permitted on-site during class hours. No drive-bys or drop by visits allowed. Licensed and Insured LLC.
Weekday Afternoons Only 2:00-4:30pm typically. NO evenings or mornings. Some weekend classes in the spring and summer.
Partly Closed for winter (Dec-Feb) when Icelandics have thick fur and weather is cold and rainy. Current students or intermediate riders only.
Open Mar- Nov when weather is better for riding outdoors. No classes in 90+ degree summer or 30 degree winter weather.
Just 5 minutes from the end of WA State Route 520, Marymoor Park, Redmond Downtown and Redmond Town Center.
Locals come from Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, Sammamish, Bothell, Seattle, Mercer Island, Edmonds, Everett, Olympia. Others- CA and Alaska.
10 minutes from Downtown Bellevue. 20 minutes from Downtown Seattle. 30 minutes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC. No visits from the public for safety of horses, students, and neighbors. Located in a residential area.
Only registered students permitted on-site during class hours. No drive-bys or drop by visits allowed. Licensed and Insured LLC.
Weekday Afternoons Only 2:00-4:30pm typically. NO evenings or mornings. Some weekend classes in the spring and summer.
Partly Closed for winter (Dec-Feb) when Icelandics have thick fur and weather is cold and rainy. Current students or intermediate riders only.
Open Mar- Nov when weather is better for riding outdoors. No classes in 90+ degree summer or 30 degree winter weather.
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This is not a Community Riding School for anyone to ride. Our program is targeted towards Advanced Beginners or better to improve their riding on own highly trained trail worthy Icelandic Horses. We will also work with Total Beginners that are dedicated and able to improve their riding skills weekly or 2x a week. Some wait months for a spot to open up and join us.
Some horses we have had or over 15 years. The Avondale Icelandics are not school horses but members of my family. Each has 1 and sometimes 2 riders only weekly that come monthly to ride so the horse will bond with those humans. Icelandics (and really all horses) want confident riders who can mount without plopping on their back, sitting balanced in the saddle to carry riders, and provide direction to them. They are not interested in passengers looking for a one time trail rides that they will never see again. They do not 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 so you can learn faster and there is no need to re-train horses. Students will learn to tack up their own horse, catch and halter, and lead their horses to mounting block. We ride on the trails practicing what is learned on the track. |
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Target Students who can pick up to riding Icelandics easily
1) Intermediate English Riders with some Dressage to do 2 handed collection and are physically fit in a weekly fitness program. Not just walking as exercise but core work, coordination, some mobility and flexibility to even mount on and off a horse with ease. 2) Advanced Beginner kid riders- 10-14 yrs old with a few years of English riding lessons with a good seat and coordination. 3) Total Beginners that are involved in sports that require good hand coordination as well as are confident and assertive. Riders who will have a learning curve riding at first 1) Western who ride 1 handed without much rein contact/collection and does not sitting deep in the saddle. 2) Hunter/jumpers who ride with a bent leg, lean forward in the saddle, and post to a rising trot. 3) Total beginner adults that has been on occasional trail rides and not engaged in a sport or fitness program on a regular basis. |
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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."