Not every place to learn 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 and 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 park trails right next door or down the street.
Only Our Free-Range Icelandics Here 
No barn smell here.  Not kept in stalls but 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.
The ride on the mini track to practice walking and then Tolting.  No posting to a trot.
An assistant will be on another horse on the ground or to follow on a horse as needed.
Then we take the riding lesson on to the park trails when basics are confirmed.

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1) Weekday Riding 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)
Height Minimum- 4 ft 6 inches  
​Weight Limit- 160-180 pounds
(depending on specific horse)

Note: 2-3 persons per class.  
We may make a new class if you have a pair. 
​Note: Class by skill level not by purely by age always.

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. 

TOTAL BEGINNER LESSONS
Age 10-Adult (2-3 students per class)
First we learn to tack up the horses.  Then we spend time on the track and round pen on the basics for a few sessions before we mostly walk on the trail.  Assistants walk beside horses if needed until rider can learn to steer and stop on their own.  Goal- Be more of an advanced rider in 3-6 months.  

ADVANCED BEGINNER LESSONS
​Age 10-Adult (2-3 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 better eye/hand coordination improving timing and feel. Must be fast, eager learners to keep up with faster pace of learning on the trail.

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Horses- Not just Pets, but Valuable Teachers
Adapted from Odyssey Online​
​
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. ​​

 2)Younger Kids 
​Horse Care/ Ride Session
Care for the horses to groom and feed.  Led on a ride developing an awareness of a proper seat, hands, and leg position. 
​Goal- Join Total Beginner Riding Group.​ 

​Ages-8-10
Height Minimum- 4 ft
(2-3 Students per class) 
Pre-Req= Know their left from right.

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.