Partners in life and in the lives of the horses they
train, Steinar and Stina Sigurbjörnsson combine the best of Classical
Icelandic schooling with a definate understanding
of the needs of the American rider. Just like the horses
he trains, Steinar comes from pure Icelandic stock: he is the son of Icelandic
Master Horseman
Sigurbjörn “Diddi” Barðarson. And
just like his mounts, Steinar can do it all.
Steinar brings with him not only his lifetime knowledge of training, riding,
and instructing, but also, because of the responsibility to keep this breed pure,
handles all of the breeding and importation of his Icelandics. Steinar is very
hands on, often shoeing his horses himself, and always leading the rides on trails.
As a young adult, Steinar trained under the
guidance of Birgir Gunnarson
in Germany. From Iceland, Steinar then trained and taught
in Germany, Holland, Montana, Idaho and California before
deciding to settle with his wife Stina at Valhalla Icelandic
Horses located at Hansen Dam Equestrian Center in Lake
View Terrace, California.
Steinar and Stina’s greatest joy is to introduce this amazing breed
to new students and to watch as they become completely
enamored by them. Their unique blend of knowledge and
teaching styles enables Steinar and Stina to effectively teach and train
the beginning horse and rider as well as the Icelandic World Championship
Competitor.
