Falling Star Ranch - Home of Arabians, Paint Horses, Quarter Horses and part-bred Arabians. Falling Star Ranch offers horse training, riding lessons, horsemanship clinics, horse sales, stud services.

Falling Star Ranch

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"Ask not what your horse can do for you.
Ask what you can do for your horse."

- Chris Irwin

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Welcome to the Falling Star Ranch

Home of Arabians, Paints and Quarter Horses

Trainer Bio

Falling Star Ranch owner Birgit Stutz is one of only thirteen Chris Irwin Gold Certified Trainers and Coaches.

Birgit has more than a quarter century of experience in the horse industry, including riding, showing, breeding, training and coaching. She is proficient in both English and Western equitation and has learned, developed, refined and taught methods of training horses for close to twenty years.

Birgit Stutz was born and raised in Switzerland, where she studied journalism, English Linguistics, English Literature and North American History at the University of Zurich and received her degree (Licentiata Philosophiae I) in 1997.

Birgit immigrated to Canada in June 1998, taking her then 10-year-old Arabian gelding Machlon, who she still owns today, with her.

Birgit's love for horses began at an early age. However, it wasn't until she entered high school that she started taking English riding lessons at a well-known riding stable in Zurich .

At that time, Western riding was still fairly new in Switzerland, and Birgit was only minimally exposed to it. But during a year and a half long stay in North America in the early nineties, Birgit learned more about Western riding and Western horses. Upon her return to Switzerland, she bought Machlon, a then six-year-old Arabian gelding with a lot of "issues". With lots of patience and love, Birgit turned him into a reliable riding horse.

Birgit has owned and trained her own horses for more than 15 years. During the past 10 years, Birgit has also trained outside horses in her spare time and given riding lessons in both Western and English style.

In 2006, Birgit decided to turn her love of horses and her passion for teaching and training into a full-time business, training horses and teaching and coaching riders from beginners to intermediate in both Western and English style.

Birgit has worked with all kinds of breeds, from quarter horses, paints, Arabians, Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds to Morgans, draft crosses, ponies and various mixed breeds.

Birgit is continually updating her knowledge and furthering her skills by riding and working with a variety of horses at different ages and stages of training, and attending clinics and workshops by various trainers. She further continues to study and keep up-to-date on horse care, horse health and nutrition.

Birgit's most important teachers have been the horses. Horses have taught her that being a great horseperson goes beyond loving horses and being an excellent rider. A great horseperson strives to understand and relate to horses using the horses' own language.

Humility is probably the most important characteristic of a great horseperson, followed by awareness, consistency, focus, accountability, integrity, and open mindedness.

Birgit is completely devoted to horses. She stands behind her personal convictions and places everything secondary to her concern for the horse.

Birgit enjoys working with people who have a love of horses and the sport of riding - whether that involvement brings the team of horse and rider to the show ring or enhances the pleasure of riding at home, or introducing a newcomer to the exciting world of horses.

Birgit trains, teaches and coaches at her own farm, Falling Star Ranch, in Dunster, British Columbia. Upon request, she also travels to clients for lessons, coaching and clinics.

Qualifications

Chris Irwin gold level certified trainer and coach
Swiss Equestrian Diploma (bronze level) from the Swiss Federation for Equestrian Sports
Completion of artificial insemination short courses at Colorado State University
Apprenticed as assistant trainer and groom for Equine Canada certified level II dressage coach from November 2005 until July 2007
Several seasons on various dude ranches; two seasons as head trail guide
Cared for as many as 30 horses at a time (not including her own)
Experience working with all kinds of breeds, from quarter horses, paints, Arabians, Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds to Morgans, draft crosses, ponies and various mixed breeds.
Experience working with all ages of horses, from foals to geriatric horses, as well as with horses of various temperaments, from laid-back and lazy to stoic-defiant to sensitive and hot. Birgit also has experience working with abused horses, "problem" horses, disrespectful and pushy horses as well as green horses and stallions.

Page last updated March 11, 2010->

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