About Us

About us

Since 1982, Ishestar has been the leading equine tourism company in Iceland. We are driven by our passion for the Icelandic horse and our mission is to provide our customers with an unforgettable experience on an Icelandic horse in unparalleled surroundings.

Our Horse Center is located in the outskirts of Reykjavik just 15 minutes drive from the city centre.  We build on our long experience and take pride in providing great service and safe and enjoyable rides for riders of all levels of competency, beginners to experienced riders.  

In our Shorter Rides, we offer riding experiences lasting from an hour to a full day, and difficulty from beginners to advanced riders.  We ride in beautiful settings riding through lava fields and wilderness by lakes and around mountains, all depending on the length of the rides, on soft and smooth-riding paths. 

 


We also organize Stable Visits where visitors can spend time with the horses, without going on a riding tour.  Our guests learn facts about the unique Icelandic horse.  Guests get a demonstration, they can pet and groom the horses, take pictures and can even give riding a try in our closed paddocks or indoor riding hall.

 

At Ishestar’s Café, guests can relax enjoying a hot or refreshing beverage and a snack right by our horse-filled paddocks.  In our small souvenir shops, clients can buy a horse-related souvenir or gift to take back home.

 

We those who want to further discover Iceland’s magnificence from the back of a horse, we offer Multi-day Trail Rides all over Iceland.  These tours are intended for intermediate to more experienced riders and operated all over Iceland in collaboration with our partners, some of which have been working with us for over 20 years.  Our multi-day trail rides last for 2-9 days and guests ride across deserts, across rivers, around and over mountains and valleys and over long smooth beaches, all depending on the tour.  The tours vary in terms of length, location and nature but all hold promise for an unforgettable experience.

 

 

Ishestar’s Riding Academy is Iceland’s largest riding school.  We offer riding lessons and courses all year round for customers of all ages who all have in common their eagerness to get to know and learn to enjoy the gentle but powerful Icelandic horse.

Since 1982, Ishestar has been the leading equine tourism company in Iceland. We are driven by our passion for the Icelandic horse and our mission is to provide our customers with an unforgettable experience on an Icelandic horse in unparalleled surroundings.

Our Horse Center is located in the outskirts of Reykjavik just 15 minutes drive from the city centre.  We build on our long experience and take pride in providing great service and safe and enjoyable rides for riders of all levels of competency, beginners to experienced riders.  

In our Shorter Rides, we offer riding experiences lasting from an hour to a full day, and difficulty from beginners to advanced riders.  We ride in beautiful settings riding through lava fields and wilderness by lakes and around mountains, all depending on the length of the rides, on soft and smooth-riding paths. 

 


We also organize Stable Visits where visitors can spend time with the horses, without going on a riding tour.  Our guests learn facts about the unique Icelandic horse.  Guests get a demonstration, they can pet and groom the horses, take pictures and can even give riding a try in our closed paddocks or indoor riding hall.

 

At Ishestar’s Café, guests can relax enjoying a hot or refreshing beverage and a snack right by our horse-filled paddocks.  In our small souvenir shops, clients can buy a horse-related souvenir or gift to take back home.

 

We those who want to further discover Iceland’s magnificence from the back of a horse, we offer Multi-day Trail Rides all over Iceland.  These tours are intended for intermediate to more experienced riders and operated all over Iceland in collaboration with our partners, some of which have been working with us for over 20 years.  Our multi-day trail rides last for 2-9 days and guests ride across deserts, across rivers, around and over mountains and valleys and over long smooth beaches, all depending on the tour.  The tours vary in terms of length, location and nature but all hold promise for an unforgettable experience.

 

 

Ishestar’s Riding Academy is Iceland’s largest riding school.  We offer riding lessons and courses all year round for customers of all ages who all have in common their eagerness to get to know and learn to enjoy the gentle but powerful Icelandic horse.

Our Team

OUR HORSES

We love our horses, and they are the most important members of our team! They are all very well trained and most have been with us for years. We make sure to take great care of them and tend to their needs (see our Animal Welfare Policy (below)). Even though they love taking customers on rides they also need and enjoy time off and we regularly rotate our horses allowing them to gather strength and enjoy life in extensive fields of green grass.

OUR PEOPLE

At Ishestar, our team is united by a profound passion for Icelandic horses. Each staff member, from trainers to stable hands, shares a deep respect and love for these unique animals. Our experts are knowledgeable about the characteristics of our horses and are dedicated to caring for them.

We pride ourselves on our expertise in horseback riding and our commitment to the wellbeing of the horses. Our team works hard to ensure a respectful and enjoyable experience for both the horses and riders. In the heart of Iceland, we celebrate the bond between human and horse, creating memorable experiences for all.

 

STABLE

Magnús

Office tel: + 354 774 7678
e-mail: mst@ishestar.is

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Margrét

Stable Manager - On maternity leave

Office tel: + 354 847 6878
e-mail: margret@ishestar.is

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Erla

Sales Manager

Office tel: + 354 780 7743
e-mail: erla@ishestar.is

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Tina

Multi Day Tour Manager

Office tel: + 354 6112871
e-mail: tina@ishestar.is

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Sarah

Shift Manager

Office tel: + 354 555 7000
e-mail: daytours@ishestar.is

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Gigja

Marketing Manager & Multi Day Tours

Office tel: + 354 8622294
e-mail: gigja@ishestar.is

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Patrycja

Shift Manager

Office tel: + 354 555 7000
e-mail: ishestar@ishestar.is

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Magdalena

Multi Day Tours

Office tel: + 354 555 7000
e-mail: magdalena@ishestar.is

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Jagoda

Memory Maker

Office tel: + 354 555 7000
e-mail: daytours@ishestar.is

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Neel

Memory Maker & Multi Day Tours

Office tel: + 354 555 7000
e-mail: daytours@ishestar.is

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Jennifer

Sales Representative

Office tel: + 354 555 7000
e-mail: jennifer@ishestar.is

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Elisa

Memory Maker

Office tel: + 354 555 7000
e-mail: daytours@ishestar.is

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Janina

Memory Maker

Office tel: + 354 555 7000
e-mail: daytours@ishestar.is

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Sonia

Memory Maker

Office tel: + 354 555 7000
e-mail: daytours@ishestar.is

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Barbora

Memory Maker

Office tel: + 354 555 7000
e-mail: daytours@ishestar.is

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Tabea

Memory Maker

Office tel: + 354 555 7000
e-mail: daytours@ishestar.is

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Ásgerður

Memory Maker

Office tel: + 354 555 7000
e-mail: daytours@ishestar.is

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OUR HORSE CENTER

Built in 2000 our Horse Center is situated in Reykjavik’s outskirts in a small town called Hafnafjordur.  Even though it is situated only a 15-minute drive from Reykjavik’s city center, you will find yourself in the countryside in an area is filled with horses and beautiful landscape with extensive lava fields, mountains and lakes.   It’s truly the wilderness and you can spot various birds and even the occasional arctic fox. 

 

Our stables provide for comfortable accommodation for our horses where they can spend time inside and out all year round.  During the summertime we herd our horses at the end of every day to a nearby field where they can spend the night outside, feasting on the green grass.

 

Our Horse Center is perfect for welcoming guests before they head out and relax after their riding adventure.  In the Ishestar Café, we offer delicious homemade sandwiches, snacks, and refreshing drinks which our guests can buy along with their complimentary coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Our guests can enjoy their snacks and drinks in the café or our large glass hall with a view overlooking our horses in the paddock.

 

On-site, we also have a nice and small boutique where we sell Íshestar T-shirts, warm gloves, buffs and various horse-related souvenirs.  For the youngest guests, we have a small children’s play corner with chalkboards walls.

 

To ensure the safety and comfort of our guests, we provide all our customers with safety helmets, and if the weather is acting up we have warm overalls, rain gear and boots of all sizes for all to borrow. 

OUR ANIMAL WELFARE POLICY

We care and have great respect for our horses and take pride in taking good care of them.  Over the years we have accumulated a vast knowledge of the Icelandic horse, we look to further built that experience by working very closely with local authorities and veterinaries with aim of providing our horses with an even healthier environment and care than before. 

 

Today Íshestar is the industry leader in Iceland when it comes to animal treatment and welfare, we actively work with MAST (Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority) improving our procedures and caretaking methods with the health and life quality of our horses in mind.


Our experience and collaboration with MAST and leading veterinaries in Iceland prompted us to write and publish a handbook where our procedures are available to fellow horse-riding operators as best practice for optimal treatment for the Icelandic horse.

This involves active monitoring of both; the physical and psychological health of horses, resting periods and rides each horse has taken. Should a horse show any negative signs we immediately start addressing the issue with industry-leading procedures at all times.

OUR LOCATION

Opening hours:

We are open daily
Summer 08:00 – 17:30
Winter 08:00 – 16:30

Contact Info:

Book your tour here

If you have questions or queries please send us an e-mail: daytours@ishestar.is, use our Live Chat or give us a call +354-5557000