Course Instructors
Karen Rasmussen
Karen is a Danish rider and trainer of Icelandic horses. She has ridden for Denmark at World Championships and has also been the team leader for the Breeding horses at the World Championships in Denmark in 2003. Karen is a classical rider who uses classical training methods together with some more Icelandic methods to develop the gaits in the Icelandic horse. Karen does not believe in quick fixes but seeks to develop the horse slowly and carefully with a view to the long term benefit of the horse and rider.
An article by Karen- Horsemanship and training the gaits
Ísólfur Líndal Þórisson (Iso)
Most
of you will not yet know the name of Ísólfur
Líndal Þórisson ( Iso ).
I firmly believe that his name will be one of those that will become a
‘household name’ within the Icelandic Horse community over the forthcoming
years. This young man is an
excellent rider who understands both the needs of the horse and of the rider.
He has an exemplary command of English and can explain clearly the
complex issues involved in the biomechanics of the horse in motion.
Not only is he a qualified instructor and horse trainer but he is also a
qualified and licensed Sport judge.
Allow
him to introduce himself:
My
name is Ísólfur Líndal Þórisson ( Iso ) and I was born in 1978.
I am
married to Vigdís Gunnarsdóttir,
a social worker, and we have a son, Ísak Þórir Ísólfsson Líndal, born in
1999.
Childhood:
I am born and bred at Lækjamót which is in the north-west of Iceland.
Breeding, and the taming and training of horses has been the main source of
income for my family over the last decades. I have competed frequently since my
youth, won many prizes, including several Icelandic Championships.
Career:
-
Aged 16 I opened my first training-centre at Lækjamót and have worked in the
industry, mostly without interruption, since.
-
In 1998 I worked as a trainer for Karly and Rúna Zingsheim in Germany.
-
In 1999 I worked as a trainer for Sigurbjörn Bárðarson.
-
2001-2003 I worked at a rehabilitation centre in Iceland for teenagers that had
fallen into drug abuse. There I used my knowledge of horses and created a
treatment program that, amongst other things, sought to teach the teenagers the
care of horses and riding skills, but above all respect for the horse and
themselves.
-
In 2005 I worked with Sigurður Sigurðarson and Guðmar Þór Péturson in
Iceland.
-
Spring 2005 I graduated from Hólaskóli College, with riding instructor and
training qualification C, topped the class in the riding instructor part and was
runner-up for the riding part.
Other
information:
Recently
I have given private lessons and clinics both in Iceland and abroad.
My
approach to the training of horse and rider is the same, that is: help the horse
to understand what it is that the rider wants to achieve and therefore help the
rider to give the horse the right signals.
All
the training is firstly drawn from the horse, that is: its inherent responses
and physique and secondly from the rider, that is skill-level and understanding
of horse and equestrianism.
I
use dressage considerably in my training of horses in order to improve the
gaits. I am very focused on gaining control of the horses overline, because in
my opinion the overline is the key to the horse.
Generally
speaking, with me “what you see is what you get”. I am positive and
optimistic and take people and horses as they are.
Iso
came to Midfield in March 2006 and gave his first clinic in Britain.
The first of many, I hope. It
is always interesting to see how a new trainer/instructor approaches his work. In Iso’s case he has several ‘first steps’ or key
issues that he wants to ensure that his students have and understand.
These could be described as essential riding tools and their grasp
ensures not only that Iso is on the same wavelength as his students but also
that he knows his students have a safe way of controlling and stopping their
horses. Safety is uppermost in his
mind, training as he does, some extremely sensitive and talented young horses.
Some of these riding tools were practiced on the ground and other under
saddle.
As he said in his introduction, he is a student of the
classical methods of riding and horse training.
This was evident in his teaching and in his riding.
He impressed on the riders the need to develop strength and power in the
horses’ backs and hindquarters and was very much against the upside down type
of tolting.
Iso is an example of the new generation of Icelanders that
have studied a more classical approach and who are keen to apply this to their
training methods. Of course this is
all to the direct benefit of the horse as the basis of classical training is to
develop the horse for longevity. Iso
is more than a successful competition rider.
He is also a serious student of equitation and of teaching.
Iso rode a few horses while he was here and as I watched him
ride I was reminded of the riders from the Spanish riding school.
This young man was still and empathetic in his riding.
It was a joy to see.
Denise O'Reilly
Denise comes from Birmingham and she is a successful dressage rider who has trained her own dressage horses to advanced medium. She is an advanced Ride With Your Mind instructor using the training methods of Mary Wanless to teach riders the biomechanically correct way to sit and use their body to influence the horse. With a special talent for correcting asymetries, Denise can bring about big changes in a relatively short time. We are fortunate to be able to get Denise to come this far North twice a year.
Janice Hutchinson
A rider of Icelandic horses since 1991 and a trained Ride With Your Mind instructor, Janice combines the methods of Mary Wanless with her personal experience of riding gaited horses to make her one of the most successful Icelandic horse riding instructors in Britain. Janice can get to the heart of the rider's weaknesses and set them on a path to significant and lasting improvement. Riders feel more secure and effective while their horses become more rideable when they are better synchronised with each other by altering the biomechanics between them.
Janice riding Denise's 17HH advanced medium horse 'Piper'
Janice also rides 'big' horses and instructs riders of all disciplines either at Midfield or at other venues as arranged. Janice will run one or two day courses away from home for 4 riders at a cost of £200 plus travelling expenses. An example of a one day course timetable will include two dismounted workshops and two ridden sessions per rider. Feedback using a video camera is part of one of the dismounted sessions. This is a popular format giving people big improvements in a relatively short time. If you would like to organize a one or two day course please ring or email for further details.
Janice also gives individual lessons at £30 per session on client's own horses or using an Icelandic horse. Individual sessions typically take an hour and a half.
An article applying the RWYM principles to tölt riding: Johann Skulasson
Tim Hutchinson
As an Internationally recognized "Trainer B" Tim is well qualified to train riders to cope with and develop the special gaits of the Icelandic horse. Tim's particular interest is in the development of the horse but he is always at hand to assist riders when required and to lend an experienced eye. Tim is also an experienced pace rider.
Courses for 2008
Janice Hutchinson Cost £120 per person for two days at Midfield (Intensive instruction - max 4 people)
Courses for one or two riders can be arranged at £140 per person for two days.
Denise O'Reilly None planned as yet for 2008.
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Iso's air fares have been kindly supported by Icelandair.
Ísólfur Líndal Þórisson We have a series of courses booked with Iso during 2008. £150 per two day clinic.
Dates: 31 May, 1/2 June Some places left for Sunday and Monday.
12/13/14 July Bookings now being taken.
September - dates to be arranged Provisional bookings accepted.
Breeding Assessment at Midfield. 12/13 July. Two International Breeding judges will assess horses for conformation and ridden abilities in accordance with the standards laid down Internationally.
British Championship show 2008. 16/17 August.
Private instruction can be arranged, tailored to individual requirements, either as single lessons or in a more intensive format. Similarly, intensive courses can be arranged for small groups of riders.
tel: 015396 24000
email: info@icelandichorses.co.uk