Seattle's Icelandic Horse Connection in Redmond, WA.
Just 5 minutes from 520.
Locals come from Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, Sammamish, Bothell, Seattle, Mercer Island, Edmonds, Everett, Olympia. Others as far as Alaska.
10 minutes from Downtown Bellevue. 20 minutes from Downtown Seattle. 30 minutes drive from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Only registered students permitted on-site during class hours. No drive-bys by please.
NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC. No unannounced visits for safety of horses, students, and neighbors.
NO RESTROOMS on site. Use public facilities. PCC Markets or Farrel McWhirter Park next door.
Weekday Afternoons Only 2:00-4:30pm typically. NO evenings or mornings or weekends classes.
CLOSED for winter (Dec-Feb) when Icelandics have thick fur coats and the weather is cold and rainy.
Open Mar- Nov when weather is better for riding outdoors.
Just 5 minutes from 520.
Locals come from Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, Sammamish, Bothell, Seattle, Mercer Island, Edmonds, Everett, Olympia. Others as far as Alaska.
10 minutes from Downtown Bellevue. 20 minutes from Downtown Seattle. 30 minutes drive from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Only registered students permitted on-site during class hours. No drive-bys by please.
NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC. No unannounced visits for safety of horses, students, and neighbors.
NO RESTROOMS on site. Use public facilities. PCC Markets or Farrel McWhirter Park next door.
Weekday Afternoons Only 2:00-4:30pm typically. NO evenings or mornings or weekends classes.
CLOSED for winter (Dec-Feb) when Icelandics have thick fur coats and the weather is cold and rainy.
Open Mar- Nov when weather is better for riding outdoors.
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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 my very own thoughtfully trained Icelandic Horses. Some 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 human.
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 different beginner 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 I do not need to re-train my horses. Students will learn to tack up their own horse, catch and halter, and lead horses to the mounting block. We ride on the trails practicing after learning basics skills on the track. |
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Target Students who can pick up to riding Icelandics easily
1) Intermediate English Rider Adults with some Dressage, previous horse lessons, and are physically fit in a regular fitness program. 2)Advanced Beginner English kid riders- 10-14 yrs old with a few years of English riding lessons 3)Total Beginners that are involved in other 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 riders who ride 1 handed. Hunter/jumpers who ride with a bent leg and post to a trot, and sit learning forward. 2) Total beginner adults that has been on 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 short ride 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."
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 short ride 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."