Not every place to ride is like Avondale Icelandics...
Not every Icelandic horse is trained like an Avondale Icelandic.  

Not Typical Arena Lesson Horses or Trail Ride Horses
Specially trained horses to be safe and fun to ride for all levels.  Not tired grumpy school horses.
Work With A Less Reactive Type of Horse
Large pony size like a smaller Quarter Horse. Experience 750-950 pounds of calm and curiosity.
Learn Confidence and Leadership Skills with Horses
Communicate better with the 4 as well as the 2 legged at home, in school, and at the office.
Specialized Riding Tack To Help You Ride Better...Faster
We use Icelandic safety stirrups, toe stoppers, secondary reins, and all kinds of saddles.
Close-In Location with Multiple Riding Options
Covered riding dome, small track, and beautiful park trails right next door or down the street.
Only Our Free-Range Icelandics Here 
No barn smell here.  Not kept in stalls. Free range 24/7.  No other farm animals = no E. coli risk. 

​Afternoons w Avondale Icelandics
Students ride in a round pen not rectangular arena with owner instructor in the center.
Then ride on the mini track to practice walking and then Tolting.  No posting to a trot.
An assistant will be on the ground as a sidewalker or to follow on a horse as needed.
Then we take the riding lesson on to the park trails to learn in real work situations.

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1) Weekday Trail Lessons 
Cadence- Monthly= 4-5x a month during same weekday and afternoon time.  Sessions registered for and
paid before monthly program starts. 

Ages (10-Adult)
​Some 9 yrs old if older sibling is attending. 
Height- 4 ft 6 inches to 6 ft
​Weight Range- 80-180 pounds
(depending on specific horse)

Note: 3-4 persons per class.  
We may make a new class if you have a pair of riders. 
​Note: Class is not by purely by age or skill level only.
 

Learn how to: 
-Work w many Personalities (Lazy, Sensitive, Playful, Shy).
-Recognize Fear, Defiance, or Confusion in horses.
-Groom Horses, Saddle Up, and Clean Hooves.
-Lead Horses to the mounting block to mount/dismount safely.
-Walk, Tolt, Canter in Round Pen, Oval Track, and in the Park. 
-Practice circles, stops, backups, transitions, and speed control. 
-Plus advanced in-hand and in saddle dressage moves
    - Half Halts, Leg Yields, Half Circles, Lead By, Collection
    -Turn on Forehand/Haunches, Shoulder-in/out, Swirl
    - Sidepass, Half Pass, Reinback, One Rein Stop, etc.
-Untack Horses and massage the horses as a reward of working.
-Feed the Icelandics hay in their pasture at the end. 

CONFIDENT BEGINNER LESSONS
Age 10-Adult (3-4 students per class)
First learn to tack up the horses.  Then spend time on the track and round pen on the basics for a few sessions before we walk and tolt on the trail.  Side walker assist riders as they learn to steer and stop on their own following the horse in front of them.  Goal- Be an advanced rider in 3-4 months.  

ADVANCED BEGINNER LESSONS
​Age 10-Adult (3 students per class)
One must have a good understanding of the basics include correctly tacking up their own horse, sitting and holding reins, mounting/dismounting, and developing  coordination improving timing and feel. Must be fast and eager learners to keep up with faster pace of learning more on the trail.

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Horses- Not just Pets, but Valuable Teachers
Adapted from Odyssey Online​
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Horses teach us to be flexible, physically/mentally. 
Horses teach us patience and perseverance. 
Horses teach us responsibility and dedication. 
Horses teach us coordination and balance.
Horses teach us to lead with clear and consistent communication. ​​

RESEARCH STUDY
Benefits of After School
​Horse Programs 
 
 After School Horsemanship 
teach Kids to deal with Stress 
and have more "Grit".
Full study is found here.