Falling Star Ranch - Training, Lessons, Clinics, Camps. Falling Star Ranch offers horse training, riding lessons, coaching, horsemanship clinics, kids camps, camps for adults, vaulting clinics, demos and short courses, equine behaviour workshops, mentorship programs, horse whispering demonstrations, and horse sales.

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

Training, Lessons, Clinics, Camps

Mentorship Programs

Falling Star Ranch offers mentorship programs for those who would like to completely immerse themselves into horsemanship and intensively study the philosophy and methodology of world-renowned Canadian horse trainer, coach and clinician Chris Irwin. The mentorship program is suitable for any rider wishing to accelerate their horsemanship skills, both on the ground and in the saddle, and is an outstanding opportunity for horsemen and horsewomen who wish to become future equine professionals.

Program Overview
Accommodation
Meals and Refreshments
Pets
Certification
Application and Program Fees
Insurance
Testimonials
What to bring for a mentorship stay at Falling Star Ranch
Mentorship brochure (low res)
Mentorship brochure (high res printable version)

Program Overview

Falling Star Ranch's mentorship programs are of various length, from one day to several months (beginning of April to end of October), and for any level of rider, and have been developed so that every program participant can learn and progress at his/her own speed.

The mentorship program is different from our working student programs in that the mentee isn't involved in the day-to-day operations of the ranch (e.g. no chores to do) and can therefore fully immerse himself/herself into studying.

Mentees receive two lessons (groundwork and/or riding) per day and are encouraged to audit any training sessions and riding lessons for the rest of the day. Mentees are also welcome to use the Falling Star Ranch library consisting of training videos, DVDs, books and articles for studying purposes.

Mentees work with both Falling Star Ranch horses and outside training horses to improve their horsemanship skills both on the ground and in the saddle.

This is a unique program for students not only wanting to improve their horsemanship skills on the ground and in the saddle, but also for those looking to achieve certification in the Chris Irwin methodology. Since January 2011, Chris Irwin only accepts uncertified trainers into his Train-the-Trainer program if they have attended a minimum of two private or semi-private lessons with Chris Irwin, OR have attended two clinic days with Chris Irwin, OR have trained with a Chris Irwin certified double silver or gold trainer AND received a letter recommending the student is ready for evaluation in the Train the Trainer program.

Mentees may stay on as working students at Falling Star Ranch and further develop their horsemanship skills after completion of a minimum of a one-month mentorship program at Falling Star Ranch. As of 2013, a one-month mentorship program at minimum is a pre-requisite for a working student position at Falling Star Ranch. However, a working student position is NOT guaranteed upon completion of the one-month mentorship program and depends on availability of working student positions and skill level of the applicant.

Participants must be at least 18 years old in order to participate in the mentorship program.

Accommodation

Accommodations are not included in the mentorship program. Mentees are welcome to bring a camper or tent and stay directly at Falling Star Ranch. Please be aware that there are no public washrooms (except an outhouse) and no public showers available at Falling Star Ranch. Limited hookups for power are available at $15 per day. Please bring your own drinking water as we have to haul our drinking water. You are welcome to use our firepit or barbecue to cook your supper.

There is no public phone at Falling Star Ranch. Wireless Internet and cell phone reception (spotty) is available at Falling Star Ranch. The closest payphone is 10 minutes from the ranch at the Dunster General Store.

For mentees who do not wish to camp at Falling Star Ranch, there are several hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts in nearby McBride and Tete Jaune (see links on our Links Page for recommendations). Please make your own arrangements.

Mentees may rent one of the guest rooms in the main house (shared bathroom) if available. Please inquire for availability and cost.

Meals and Refreshments

Meals are not included in the mentorship program. Mentees provide all their own meals and refreshments. Bottled water, juice boxes, cookies, muffins, fruit and popsicles are available for purchase at the ranch. Mentees may purchase meals at the ranch. Please inquire for cost.

Pets

In consideration of our own pets, we ask that you leave your pets at home. There is the option of boarding pets at a local kennel in McBride. Visit Robson Valley Pet Hostel for more information.

Certification

Participation in a mentorship program at Falling Star Ranch does not guarantee that the mentee will receive certification from Chris Irwin. If Birgit feels that the mentee is ready for certification, the mentee can then sign up for a Train-the-Trainer clinic with Chris Irwin at their cost (approximately $600 plus GST for two days) and Birgit will write a letter of reference for the mentee.

The clinics take place in Canada ( Alberta and Ontario ) and in the Netherlands ( Arnhem ). Chris Irwin's clinic schedule is available at www.chrisirwin.com at the beginning of each calendar year.

Clinic participants can either lease a horse at some of the stables, bring their own horse, or, if going to a clinic in Alberta , they may be able to lease a horse from Falling Star Ranch.

Additional costs on top of the clinic fee are stabling fees for the horse (if bringing a horse to the clinic), fees for leasing a horse (if applicable), fees for accommodation and food for the clinic participant for the duration of the clinic, as well as mileage expenses if leasing a Falling Star Ranch horse.

Application and Program Fees

Please email for application form and fees.

Insurance

Every mentee is required to carry personal liability insurance that covers horse-related activities. Insurance can be purchased through Horse Council BC for $60 a year if you don't have your own insurance (http://www.hcbc.ca/Individual-Membership.html?).

Testimonials

"My time at the Falling Star Ranch was fantastic. I never thought that I could learn so much in just one week. You learn so much by following and watching Birgit all day and asking as many questions as you like. She takes the time to explain everything really well, even when she is riding a horse. And the two private sessions a day are perfect. You can try everything that you have seen all day yourself with the help of Birgit. And if the weather is not perfect, do not worry there are many DVDs with lots of information about the Chris Irwin method. The mentorship at Falling Star Ranch was an amazing experience. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn how you can really work together with your horse, and build a really strong and good relationship with your horse."

Lisanne Hendriks, Holland

"Thanks for all your time the last couple of months. I learned so much from you. You really changed the way I see horses and how I work with them and that means so much to me. And it is so nice to know that I can always come to you when I have problems with horses. Thank you so much. I look forward to learn more and more. THANKS SO MUCH!!!!"

Lisanne Hendriks, Holland

I decided to do a mentorship program at Falling Star Ranch because I really wanted to find a new way to work with horses. I was not happy with the way I used to work with and train horses. I knew that the horse has a lot of effect on me in general but after a while just training horses I found out that I was just mad at myself all the time because I didn't have the skills to deal with young horses and I was mad at the horse and had no patience anymore. I hated the way I was but I didn't know how to changes things and do things better. I was thinking of quitting training horses, thinking it's not for me anymore. I like working with one horse and building a good relationship with that individual horse. Then I can have a lot of patience.
I came across Falling Star Ranch on the Internet, when I was looking for a ranch where they do some kind of horsemanship. I didn't know of Chris Irwin at all, but I had read some articles on the Internet about him and I really liked the way he sees the horse and helps the horses.
With the mentorships program I had two lessons a day and the rest of the day I watched the other lessons and training sessions. I took a lot of notes and it really helped me to understand everything.
During my stay at Falling Star Ranch it rained a lot, but I was still able to learn a lot between the rains and the storms. At the beginning I was even afraid to go close to the herd because everything was so different. I had to be so aware of everything and I was really not used to that! My first riding lesson was a revelation. I felt like a total beginner. The week before I arrived at Falling Star Ranch, I was jumping 4 feet with different horses and here I had a hard time to work the horse at a walk! I was so sore just riding for 45 minutes at the walk. I had to put my ego aside and accept that "I don't know everything". But it's a great thing too.
I'm just amazed at the method and how using horse psychology changes the horses. Chris Irwin's method is based on body language, the language of the horse, as well as our body language. I feel like I was blind for so many years and it's like I finally opened my eyes and realized how a horse lives. The horses are prey animals and as humans we act as predators, and this can scare the horse, and if we don't pay attention to what the horse tells us with its body, then we just don't get the respect and trust.
In mid-August, I attended a train-the-trainer certification clinic with Chris Irwin at Riversong Ranch in Whitecourt and received my certification in the Chris Irwin methodology. I look forward to keep improving my skills and being able to help people with their horses and horses with their riders. I'm going back to Switzerland at the end of the fall and I hope I will be able to help as much as I'm able to and show and spread this method around! I know that people, especially Europeans, are looking for a better way to work with their horses but they don't really know how! So I am excited to see how it will change!
I really enjoyed my stay at Falling Star Ranch. The people and horses are great! I felt like I was living in a different world, like in a dream!! No matter what's going on in the world you're just in a peaceful place where the horses are the king. I hope I can come back to Falling Star Ranch in the future ;)."

Noia Wyss, Switzerland

Page last updated February 7, 2012

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