Harmony Icelandics is located on 800 acres of rolling hills, woodlands and plains in central Iowa. We have a new stable, 200’ X 100’ outdoor riding arena, lush pastures and miles of bridle trails.

S T A F F

Virginia Croskery Lauridsen, Owner
Owner Virginia Croskery Lauridsen is an amateur rider with a passion for all things equestrian. Virginia was a frequent competitor on the “A” circuit in show jumping with her favorite gelding Porte Bonheur. She became a convert to the Icelandic horse in 2013 when she visited Iceland and came home with four horses. She is now a member of the United States Icelandic Horse Congress and enjoys breeding and showing her Icelandics. In 2015, the first foal was born at her newly formed stable Harmony Icelandics in Truro, Iowa. A classical singer by profession, Virginia is currently a professor at Simpson College and holds a doctorate in music.

Guðmundur Skúlason (Mummi), Trainer
Trainer Guðmundur Skúlason (Mummi) is a licensed riding instructor and member of the Trainers Association of Iceland (FT). He is a graduate of Hólar University College in Iceland with a degree in Equine Studies.

Mummi has worked as a trainer for the past ten years at his family farm, Hallkelsstaðahlíð, in West Iceland. Hallkelsstaðahlíð is a training and breeding facility operated by Mummi, and his parents Sigrún Ólafsdóttir and Skúli Lárus Skúlason, who are all very active in the horse business in Iceland. The facility sits on over 10,000 acres of Iceland’s most beautiful countryside; surrounded by mountains, meadows and lakes and minutes from the beach. 

Hallkelsstaðahlíð offers professional training for Icelandic horses, stallions standing at stud, a herd of brood mares, and horses for sale. Over one hundred horses have been bred and raised at Hallkelsstaðahlíð. The aim is to produce well tempered, talented horses which are easy to train and handle, and that anyone can enjoy. 10-12 foals are born each year out of the farm’s best brood mares and stallions proven to display characteristics of the family breeding goal. Mummi is involved in all aspects of the Icelandic breeding and training decisions at Hallkelsstaðahlíð.

Mummi is in high demand as a riding instructor in Iceland, throughout Europe and in the United States. He regularly teaches in Denmark and Sweden where he is prized as a clinician for Icelandic riders. Mummi also travels biannually to Harmony Icelandics in the United States, where he serves as trainer and advisor for horse imports. He places emphasis on training methods which encourage the horse to cooperate willingly in a soft and sensible manner. Mummi teaches the rider and horse to work in harmony, with the flexibility and softness which are an integral part of his own riding.

Mummi continues to be very active in competition and has won numerous prizes in various disciplines of equine sports in Iceland.