About Unicorn Valley and its Horses

Unicorn Valley is a 312-acre horse paradise in the heart of Kentucky. Horses growing up in Unicorn Valley have lots to do and are never bored. They encounter all sorts of natural conditions: dry ground, wet ground, streams, rocks, dense forest, steep hills, wide open spaces, and lots of wildlife, such as snakes, deer, raccoons, groundhogs, wild turkeys and humans, of course. Icelandic Horses who grow up in such an environment are healthy, intelligent, self-confident and hardly ever spook.

Olaf and Anneliese Virro, the happy owners of Unicorn Valley and its 30 or so equine inhabitants first encountered Icelandics on a trip to Europe via Iceland right after graduate school almost 30 years ago. They were immediately impressed by the small horses’ sweet disposition, their unflappable calm and their smooth and powerful gaits, and went home wishing they could own some.

Their dream finally came true in 1982, when, after having purchased the farm in Kentucky as a haven to escape to from the hustle and bustle of the city and to enjoy nature, they purchased three Icelandic horses: two mares and a stallion. A few years later, they purchased another stallion, then began importing trained horses and very well-bred mares directly from Iceland.

In Unicorn Valley, foals are handled from birth, but not over-handled. They grow up within their herd, which provides discipline. At the same time, they also learn to trust their humans. They are halter-trained at about 3-4 months of age and are soon accustomed to accept baths and fly-spray and having their feet handled. Having been handled regularly, they are very easy to start under the saddle.

The horses we select in Iceland for sale here combine the right amount of willingness with brakes, docility, great disposition, beauty and really good gaits, above all, outstanding tölt.

We breed to the best stallions in the United States: for instance, Sindri fra Garth, first-prize stallion Rokkvia fra Alftagerdi, Lettir far Ey, etc. which stood at stud in Unicorn Valley in 1996 and 1997 respectively and as a consequence are able to offer very high quality youngsters for sale.

We welcome all visitors even if they are not quite yet in the market for an Icelandic – please call or email for an appointment. Prospective buyers of horses are taken on a trail-ride to try any horse they might be interested in buying.

Copyright © 2000 Unicorn Valley Icelandics / Anneliese Virro /  +1 (606) 346-4963 / info(at)unicornvalley(dot)net

1800 Carter School Road / Stanford, Kentucky 40484 / USA