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Our Icelandic Horse Team

The staff on our Iceland retreat are extraordinary horsewomen and men who have been riding Icelandic horses their entire lives. Deeply rooted in natural horsemanship, they understand not only how to ride these remarkable horses, but how to listen to them, partner with them, and move in harmony with the herd.

Led by Oli, Thor, and Eva, our team brings generations of knowledge, intuitive skill, and heartfelt care to every ride.

And of course, the horses themselves are the true staff—our wisest teachers, steady guides, and joyful companions throughout the journey.

You’ll have the opportunity to ride and learn alongside women who are both phenomenal athletes and articulate teachers. Instruction is cutting-edge and precise, yet always offered with warmth, patience, and deep encouragement. Whether you are refining your seat, exploring the tölt, or simply breathing with the herd, you will feel fully supported, seen, and empowered.

Colleen founded Women’s Quest in 1992 after a highly successful career as a professional triathlete, where she was crowned World Champion in 1984, National Champion in 1988 and 1990 + Triathlon Hall of Fame, Boulder Hall of Fame and Jackson County Hall of Fame, and represented the U.S. as a multiple National Team member. While her athletic achievements are remarkable, it is her lifelong relationship with movement, nature, and animals that truly shapes the soul of every retreat.

Colleen has been riding, training, and loving horses since she was six years old and in fact horses were the reason she because a World Class Athlete. Her bond with the Icelandic horse runs especially deep — so much so that she brought one home from Iceland in 2024, and another in 2025. These horses are unlike any others in the whole world: wise, brave, steady, joyful, and deeply intuitive. Riding with the herd across Iceland — at the flowing tölt, — is a rare and profoundly moving experience. Riding with a herd of Icelandic horses moving together across beaches, rivers and open land is something words barely capture. There is truly nothing like it, well there is actually one more thing that is remarkable: WE ACTUALLY LAY DOWN WITH THE HORSES!! We do our yoga and Qigong with the herd, rest in Śavāsana (kinda like  napping with the horses) and as they breathe beside you, your whole body-mind-and spirit recalibrate and ground. This experience is like doing years of meditation because your nervous system deeply relaxes and recharges. 

Colleen’s passions — beyond chocolate, hot springs, fairy-filled landscapes, and time with Icelandic horses — include liberating and empowering women through movement, balance, and helping them reconnect with their true heart’s desire. She continues to EVOLVE Women’s Quest adventures, delighting in ways to ENCHANT women with experiences that cultivate joy, presence, and happiness born from soulful physical connection.  YEE HAW!!