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STONEHAVEN ICELANDICS

About our people

Stonehaven Icelandics is owned and managed by Clive and Liz Phillips, both of whom have wide experience in Icelandics and other equestrian disciplines. They combine their knowledge of conventional British equestrian traditions and working in Iceland to bring breadth and depth to their Icelandic horse experience adapted for this country. Liz and Clive are very happy to offer their help and advice about Icelandic horses.

Clive has been involved with Icelandics and conventional big horses since childhood. His main focus as a young rider was on competitive show jumping and he qualified regularly for British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) regional finals for Foxhunter, Newcomers and other national events. Clive was amongst a small group of young riders in Scotland selected for the BSJA young riders training programme at the time. He also passed his British Horse Society (BHS) Riding Club examinations and taught regularly at a BHS approved riding school.

Clive's interest then turned exclusively to the Icelandic horse and he gained experience in Iceland over a period years training and riding horses for some well know riders and breeders, such as Bareksstadir, Hvanneyri (the breeers of Ofeigur from Hvanneyri) and the well know riders Gisli Gislasson and Olil Amble. It was an opportunity to really get to know Icelandic culture and the horse in its homeland.

Clive has represented Britain at the World Championships for Icelandic horses on a number of occasions on horses bred and/or trained by himself. He has bred or trained horses awarded the Best British Bred Icelandic horse three times. He has a passionate interest in Icelandic culture as well as the horse, and particularly enjoys training young horses.

Clive is currently a Director and Chairman of the Scottish Icelandic Horse Association and was a founder and honorary member of the Icelandic Horse Society of Great Britain. Clive also Chaired the FEIF Breeding Registration Group (for the international federation of Icelandic horse associations) which established WorldFengur as the official global database for Icelandic horse pedigrees.

Liz Phillips was brought up with horses and has been involved in horses since before she can remember. She went through the traditional showing, Pony Club and hunting experience and became a very bold and accomplished young rider. Her main focus at that time was cross country and eventing and Liz competed successfully at British Horse Society (BHS) Area Trial level. Liz grew up surrounded by horses at her family's award winning riding holiday business where she gained vast experience in riding a whole variety of horses. Liz also passed the highly respected BHS Pony Club B test and has run a successful equestrian wholesalers business selling safety wear for riders and horses.

Liz's interest turned exclusively to the Icelandic horse although she still enjoys competing in cross country but now on her Icelandic horse. She is still known to set a blistering speed across country laying down the gauntlet for bigger horses to follow! Liz worked in Iceland for some of the most prestigious yards and farms including Gunnar Dungal at Dalur (the yard visited by Her Majesty the Queen on a state visit), Flugumyri (the birthplace of such famous horses as Ofeigur, Kormakur and Sif) and Einar Grant in Akureyri (one of the world's most experienced international judges of Icelandic horse sport). Liz has competed on the British team at the World Championships for Icelandic horses in Sweden and Holland. Both Clive and Liz have participated as part of the Scottish Icelandic Horse Association display team at Blair International Horse Trials and the Royal Highland Show.

Clive and Liz have tried to combine the best of their experience with both Icelandic and conventional horses. They believe it is important to take the best of both to temper a way of riding and keeping Icelandic horses suitable for this country. They are happy to share that experience and advise people interested in getting to know Icelandic horses.

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