Dyrhaug Equestrian Centre was founded in 1971 as Norway’s first riding center using island horses.
We can pride ourselves with 35 good mountain horses and over 40 years of mountain riding experience.
With its typical Norwegian hospitality, knowledge of nature, culture, landscape and the mountains makes the Dyrhaug riding center an unique concept in Norway.
Many of our guests return every year for new riding experiences.
You are welcome to ride with us.
Ole owns and operates Dyrhaug equestrian center today. About 3 years ago, in 1977 just after being in the military in His Majesty’s King’s Guard, Ole started riding the fields in Meråker
In 1985 Ole returned to Tydal to take over the center from Oddmund. Oddmund had plans to retire, but that became a plan that in fact never happened.
Ole has been guiding mountain tours for over 20 years. He is familiar with each valley, field and stream and he knows every farmer in the area. He has accumulated a wealth of knowledge about the landscape we are riding in. Furthermore, he knows a great number of stories about the mountains and about people who have traveled them in the past. Ole has been fundamental in establishing the organisation “Horses in Tourism”, that Dyrhaug is a member of.
Ole leads week trips as well as some 3 days tours and tent tours. Ole is a 5th generation horse-runner in the Dyrhaug family.
We wish to convey the news that Oddmund Dyrhaug passed away on 07/10/2023. His legacy as a passionate advocate for the Icelandic horse and mountain riding will endure in Dyrhaug’s history, and his memory will be greatly missed.
When Oddmund was 6 years old he bought his first horse and he has been riding horses since.
He founded Dyrhaug riding center in 1971 and was the first to introduce island horses to the Norwegian tourist industry. He traveled personally to Iceland to import the first 30 horses in 1971. This trip he undertook together with Ole, who was 14 at the time, and who had never ridden a horse before. The first tourists came quickly and the rest is a rich history.
Since the beginning Oddmund has imported about 700 Iceland horses to Norway of which most have been tamed personally by him.
In 2007 Oddmund Dyrhaug received a golden medal from the Norwegian King for pioneering in Norwegian mountain riding.
Niklas has been joining on the mountain tours since he was 8 years old.
In recent years he has been joning on several trips. As 10 years old he rode with his grandfather Oddmund from Duved to Stugudal in one day, which is quite a feat.
Niklas is not only a hig level horse rider, he is also a famous member of the national Norwegian cross-country skiing team.
He is planning to lead his own tours in the future. Niklas is a favourite participant on the tours because of his social demeanour and his cheerful way of giving advice. A mountain has to be taken. If there is a mountain Niklas has not ridden on, then he probably has taken in on with skis to his feet.
Eilert has worked since 2011 as a tour leader and manager for Dyrhaug.
Eilert comes from Geddede, Sweden where he has gained an extensive knowledge of the mountains as a reindeer owner. He has a very interesting way of seeing nature and the mountains.
Eilert is apart from that a graduated hoof smith from Vången highschool in Sweden and can count many years of experience when it comes to horses in the mountains.
His extensive guiding experience and knowledge makes him a very valuable addition to our team.
Per Østbyhaug have been with us since 1995 as a driver and handyman
He fetches and brings and with his pleasant nature is a great resource for the whole organisation.