Guðmar Receives the ÖDER Trophy

After receiving first-place awards in both the Youth B Class and the Youth A Class, Guðmar Hólm Ísólfsson Líndal was presented with the ÖDER Trophy—a perpetual trophy donated by Ólafur Ólafsson and Ingibjörg Kristjánsdóttir in memory of their dear friend Einar Öder Magnússon, who passed away in 2015 after a courageous battle with cancer.

The ÖDER Trophy is awarded to an outstanding combination of a young rider and horse who embody the elegance and beauty of Icelandic horsemanship: a skilled and respectful rider together with a well-trained, charismatic horse, performing with harmony, passion, and excellence.

The donors' vision was for the trophy to preserve Einar’s legacy while inspiring and encouraging each recipient to continue striving for outstanding achievements.

Einar was a pioneer of Icelandic horsemanship and made a significant contribution to the status and development of the Icelandic horse, both in Iceland and internationally. Horses and horsemanship were his lifelong passion, and he was a true professional in every sense of the word. To Einar, riding was above all about the relationship between horse and rider. He regarded horsemanship as an art form and believed that the horse should always be allowed to perform naturally and without unnecessary restraint. He often spoke about the delicate balance between the horse’s untamed energy and its willingness to work with and trust its rider. He was a strong advocate of never asking too much of the horse, believing that it is, by its very nature, a living work of art that is at its best when allowed to perform on its own terms.

The silver sculpture that forms the trophy was designed and handcrafted by jewellery designers Sigurður Ingi Bjarnason and Katla Guðmundsdóttir of Sign Skartgripir, who devoted both heart and craftsmanship to creating this beautiful piece.

This is the third time the ÖDER Trophy has been presented at the National Icelandic Horse Championships. In 2024, the trophy was awarded to Matthías Sigurðsson and Tumi frá Jarðbrú, while Björg Ingólfsdóttir and Kjuði frá Dýrfinnustöðum received the honour in 2022.

In addition to keeping the ÖDER Trophy for one year, each recipient receives a framed photograph of the sculpture as a permanent keepsake once the trophy has been returned.

A list of all ÖDER Trophy recipients can be found on the Pur Cheval website.

Congratulations to Guðmar on this remarkable achievement.