Tour 30 – Winter Riding Course

3-day or 5-day program

  • Discover the Icelandic horse in its natural habitat
  • Lessons from experienced instructors in English and Scandinavian languages
  • Half day riding tours on excellent trails in a beautiful environment.
  • Stay near the stables at Hotel Eldhestar or Guesthouse Eldhestar.

Our Winter Riding Course offers a combination of riding education, both theoretical and practical in our modern riding hall, along with half day riding tours in scenic surroundings, optional visits of horse events and/or sightseeing. Participants enjoy the comfort of  Hotel Eldhestar or at Guesthouse Eldhestar as well as Icelandic specialities at our restaurant and the possibility to relax in the hotel´s hot tubs. Evenings can also be spent at the local geothermal pool in Hveragerdi or watching a movie about Icelandic horses.

The course is suited for riders of all levels, participants will be divided into small groups according to their riding skills. Riders who are used to Icelandic horses can develop their riding skills on different, well-trained horses. Riders who are used to other breeds learn how to ride Icelandic horses, focusing on riding the special, smooth gait “tölt” correctly and understanding the differences to riding “big” horses. If you would like to include a visit to the famous Geysir, Gullfoss waterfall and Thingvellir National Park you could do sightseeing on the last afternoon instead of riding. Please note that this activity is not included in the tour’s package. Each day includes riding in the morning and afternoon, either lessons or 2-3 hour trail rides with some instructions on the way. We would like to be flexible with regard to the schedule, to be able to create an individual program for each course depending on the season and number of participants.

Teachers are Hróðmar Bjarnason, an experienced licensed riding instructor and Ida Thorborg, who attended 3 years at the Hólar University, Department for Equine Sciences.  Ida has been responsible for training young horses at Eldhestar since 2014 and was in charge of training two of our mares who scored high at breeding shows in 2017. The course includes a demonstration of insight into her daily training.

Teaching languages are English and Scandinavian languages. Instruction in German is possible on request, please contact us.

We are life long horsemen so we are pretty critical of these types of places. First off the ponies are very well cared for and in very good health. Second, the guides are first class. They do a very good job of getting you on the right pony and in the right group of people. I highly recommend this group if you are interested in riding while you are in Iceland.

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HOW TO BOOK: 

Please book by sending an email to [email protected]

Duration

Tour 30a: 4 days, 3 nights – 3 days riding course program.
Tour 30b: 6 days, 5 nights – 5 days riding course program.

Availability

24/25: 30.09., 21.10., 11.11., 03.02., 17.02., 03.03.,  

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Included

English speaking guide, riding and safety equipment and transfer from/to Reykjavik.

TOUR 30A/B G: Accommodation at Eldhestar Guesthouse, 2-4 beds per shared room with shared facilities

TOUR 30A/B H: Accommodation at Hotel Eldhestar and/or a nearby hotel in a standard shared room

Full board (breakfast, lunchbox: sandwich & cookies, coffee/tea & home-baked cake, 3-course dinner). Dinner on the last day is not included.

Program Tour 30a & b: Riding lessons in the riding hall in small groups every day. Half day riding tours. Riding / training demonstration. Theoretical instruction.

Additional program Tour 30b: Lesson in working horses from the ground. Riding with a herd of free running horses. Riding tour and breeder’s lecture.

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What to bring

Good shoes, comfortable pants (riding pants not necessary), gloves and a buff is recommended and if you want to bring a camera, please bring a small waist bag as backpacks cannot be taken on horseback. Bring your swimsuit and towel! See more detailed information here. 

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Notes

Groups are welcome to book private courses, please contact us.
Please note that used riding equipment has to be well cleaned or disinfected before arrival in Iceland.

Price 2024/25

Tour 30 aH hotel accommodations 1230 EUR

Tour 30 aG  guesthouse accommodations 980 EUR

Tour 30 bH  hotel accommodations 1980 EUR

Tour 30 bG  guesthouse accommodations 1575 EUR

01.10.24 – 30.04.25

GALLERY