Icelandic Horse Club 

CLUB PRESIDENT

Dave Irish, Steamboat Springs, CO

CLUB SECRETARY

Lynne Fickett, Durango, CO

CLUB TREASURER

Karen Olson-Fields, Herriman, UT

Board meetings

The board has met on following dates:

January 26, 2012 - Minutes

2011

January 15, 2011 - Minutes

February 19, 2011 - Minutes

April 9, 2011 - Minutes

May 5, 2011 - Minutes

June 2, 2011 - Minutes

July 2, 2011 - Minutes

August 6, 2011 - Minutes

August 19, 2011, Annual Member Meeting - Minutes

August 25, 2011 - Minutes

September 23, 2011 - Minutes

MEMBERS AT LARGE

Julia Anderson, Fairplay, CO 

Linda McLaughlin, Bayfield, CO

I had ridden horses off and on and taken lessons for years- always on Appys, Quarterhorses, Mixed breeds and a few Thoroughbreds. I saw my first Icelandic horses when my daughter and I visited Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm in Waitsfield, NJ in 1986.  My initial response was "We are going to ride those ponies for the next five days?"  Well by the end or our trek, I was hooked.  Lisa and I went back for the next 5 or 6 years to ride what I came to love as wonderful horses.

At that time, we lived in a high rise in northern New Jersey, so having my own Icelandics was not a possibility. I did connect with Ann Kruuse, though, and took lessons from her, first at Anne Ellwell's farm and then at Ann's own farm in Rockland County, NY. I joined the USIHC and participated actively in the events held in New York State, learning as much as I could about this wonderful breed.

In 1995, my husband and I moved to Durango, CO.  We arrived in November and by the end of 1995 our three Icelandic geldings, Kongur, Lysinger, and Mondi had arrived. Shortly after that, Ann and her husband, Dave Irish, were moving from Vermont to Colorado. They needed a place to board their two stallions, Andi fra Gl. Ladegard and Ofeigur fra Gl. Ladegard as well as their three mares.  We took all five in and by the time Anne and Dave had found a place in Steamboat Springs for themselves and their horses, Ofeigur and the mare Sota fra Gimli became ours. 

After that, it was easy to start writing Icelandics of the Rockies newsletter and running an informal Icelandic Horse Club.  In addition to the newsletter, we had clinics, trail rides, horse shows, and lots of other fun things.  Eventually, I became more focused on my horses, especially Ofeigur (my heart horse) and his wonderful babies, so Icelandics of the Rockies withered on the vine.

I lost Ofeigur in the fall of 2008 and still grieve for him. I do have two of his wonderful daughters, Lilla and Elska from Wind River, three stud colts, Sleipnir, Stormur-Kongur and Ofeigur II from Wind River. Lilla and Elska are wonderful young girls who have been trained by my dear friend and trainer, Helen Guidotti, and me. The boys are too young to be ridden, yet, but I plan on starting Sleipnir this spring. Breeding days are over for me, but riding days stretch out to the future like a yellow brick road.

So, after all that I have a wonderful horse life surrounded by the very best breed - the Icelandic Horse!  And, of course KIHC.  I am honored to be a board member and to help this club grow and educate riders on the wonderful characteristics of our marvelous horses.