The Team
It takes a lot to run an operation with 40-50 horses. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have such great staff, all of whom are extremely enthusiastic and hard-working. They love the Icelandic horse and want to see the breed grow in the U.S. They also are committed to achieving the standard of excellence that we set at GPIH. Here’s some info on our dedicated team here in the US and abroad.
Kathryn Love, M.D.
Barn and Office Manager
Kathy is a retired Infectious Disease Specialist, with a background in dressage, who started riding Icelandic horses in 2002 and training for competition with Gudmar since 2005. She now has only Icelandic horses. Kathy owns the great stallion, Pegasus fra Skyggni, and competed on him for the U.S. Team at the 2007 World Championships in Holland. Kathy oversees the day-to-day operation and acts as business manager. Kathy’s professional background comes in very handy as she works with Gudmar to design and monitor the overall horse health program. She keeps comprehensive records and makes sure that all paperwork is done. She is also the show manager for the Kentucky show. Even though Kathy has a lot on her plate already she also does some training for us.
Terral Hill
Assistant Barn Manager and Trainer
Terral has a background in Natural Horsemanship and Western riding, which he puts to good use in starting young horses. Terral has been training for us and learning about Icelandics for almost two years. His barn management responsibilities include feeding hay and grain, turn-out and other horse care. He has done quite a bit of hoof trimming and is now learning to shoe.
Carrie Lyons-Brandt
Assistant Trainer
Carrie started taking lessons with Gudmar in 2000 when she was just 8 years old. She is now almost 17, so she has basically been raised riding Icelandic horses. She comes at least 3 days a week and assists with the training and other barn chores. Carrie has competed quite a bit and has proven to be one of the most promising youth riders in the U.S. She was part of the U.S. team that did so well at the Youth Cup in Switzerland in 2008. She plans to study at Holar in the near future. Carrie is now part owner of our stallion Throstur fra Innri-Skeljabrekka, on whom she has successfully competed in the past year.
Cornelio Ordaz
Farm Hand
In an operation with lots of horses, keeping the barn clean and every horse watered is a big job. Cornelio cleans the stalls and waters the horses 6/7 days, and does it with a smile!
Dr. Roger Magnuson, D.V.M.
General Veterinarian
Helps us keep every horse vaccinated and healthy. He lives nearby so is readily available when we need him. Fortunately the main emergencies have been health certificates and stat Coggin’s for travel!
Dr. Jack Easley, D.V.M.
Equine Dentist
An internationally known equine dentist, Dr. Easley is the former Chair of the Equine Dentistry Committee of the AAEP, and co-editor of a textbook on the subject. Dr Easley does the teeth of every horse that comes to our barn.
Michele Trapp
(Equi-Pro) Equine Therapist
Like human athletes, our performance horses sometimes need chiropractic and massage therapy. Michele corrects perceived problems and helps us prepare our horses for the show season.
Rebecca Bing
Design and Scheduling
Rebecca Bing has been responsible for designing our website, creating advertisements that get published in Tolt News and the USIHC Quarterly, and being the liaison between our clinic hosts and Gudmar’s busy schedule. Rebecca also partners with Gudmar to coordinate trips to Iceland every year with America2Iceland
THE FAMILY
This adventure, which started 14 years ago, has been made possible only with the unified family support on both sides. Even though Gudmar and Gigja now own the business, family members remain involved in many important ways.
Petur and Kolla,
our helping hands in Iceland
Kolla (Gudmar’s Mom) takes care of the export procedures for every horse we bring in to the U.S. and along with Petur (Gudmar’s Father) takes care of anything else we need done in Iceland, including locating good horses and keeping track of our finances there. Petur is an International Judge and a member of the Board of the Icelandic Sport Judges’ Organization. He usually comes to big shows like Ohio and Massachusetts Equine Affaire, where he is the ground and prop person for the performances and helps work the booth. He has been the Chief Judge for the Kentucky Show since its inception.
VISITING TRAINERS
Hakon Petursson
We are thrilled to have Gudmar's older brother visit the farm several times each year as a guest trainer. Hakon is a certified FT Trainer. He has worked with Icelandic horses in Austria, Italy, England, Iceland and the U.S. Hakon was a finalist in Five-Gait at the World Championships in Norway in 1997, competing for Italy. Hakon is also an important part of our performance team. He has performed at numerous Equine Affaire events in both Columbus, Oh. and Springfield, Ma. and The Royal Canadian Winter Fair. Hakon and his family currently reside in Iceland.
Laura Benson
Valkyrie Icelandics - Watsonville, CA
Laura also grew up with Gudmar and Gigja, riding Icelandics and eventually getting her FT certification at Holar. She currently trains at Annette and Bruce Coulon’s facility in California. Laura comes to Kentucky from time to time to help with Breeding Evaluations, and is a member of the Icelandic Performance Team which participates in Fantasia and other appearances at Equine Affaire. She has also taken care of the farm while Gudmar and Gigja and kids take a much-needed Christmas break in Iceland.
Coralie Denmeade
Tamangur Icelandics - Monument, CO
Coralie is originally from Switzerland, where she worked with Icelandic horses. She is currently living in Colorado and has started her own Icelandic horse business there. Coralie comes to our place in Kentuky regularly to learn more about training and teaching and to help us out.
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