Carrie hill

Carrie graduated in 2013 from Hólar University with a Bachelor of Science and as a certified FT Trainer and Instructor. Only the second American to attend Hólar, she was awarded the Morgunblaðið Award for best riding and horsemanship throughout the three-year program. Introduced to Icelandics over 20 years ago, Carrie began under the mentorship of Guðmar Pétursson. With over 10 years of professional experience, she has since trained horses for some of the most respected professionals in Iceland such as Ísólfur Lindal, Anton Páll Nielson, Hulda Gustafsdóttir and Hinrik Bragason. Carrie has been the highest-ranked rider in Five Gait (2013 and 2014) in the U.S. National Ranking and has qualified multiple times for the U.S. Icelandic Horse World Championship Team. Carrie is a team leader and performer in the fast-paced and fiery Knights of Iceland Show Team, organizing shows across the U.S. with Guðmar and Laura Benson.

Maintaining a passion for continued education, Carrie has recently integrated methods such as positive reinforcement and liberty training. Studying under Dan James of Double Dan Horsemanship and Patrick Sullivan of Modern Day Horsemanship she has competed successfully in International Liberty Horse Association competition divisions: bridleless, bareback & bridleless, liberty horse, liberty teams, and liberty from a ridden horse.

Carrie is also credited with coaching and mentoring the majority of up and coming young trainers currently operating in the U.S.A. including Anna & Kevin Draeger, Alexandra Venable, Ayla Green, Alicia Flanigan, Grace Strausser, Maria Octavo, Mackenzie Pittman, Mary Hendricks and Isabelle Maranda among others. This passion has lead her to be influential in the development of a USIHC trainers certification program and a continued dedication towards supporting the education and success of other trainers nationwide.

Carrie travels nationally teaching clinics and has been a presenting clinician at a variety of expositions across the USA including the MN Horse Expo and Equine Affaire. Alongside her friend Lala Benson she established the Resonant Riding initiative that focusing on integrating flow psychology and jazz creative theory with Icelandic and classical dressage horsemanship.