Contact Info

Falling Star Ranch

Birgit Stutz and
Marc Lavigne
General Delivery
Dunster, B.C.
V0J 1J0
Canada
Phone/Fax
(250) 968-6801

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

- Chris Irwin

Click here to listen to background music

Back to the top

Welcome to the Falling Star Ranch

Home of Arabians, Paints and Quarter Horses

Horse Training

Falling Star Ranch offers horse training services using non-resistance techniques based on Chris Irwin's philosophy in English and Western style. Birgit is a Chris Irwin Gold Certified Trainer and Coach and has been mentored by Chris for the past four years.

Fear into confidence
Rudeness into respect
Distraction into focus
Defiance into willingness

At Falling Star Ranch, it's the horse that matters. On our 80-acre ranch, we provide the very best care, feed and training programs created specifically for your horse. Birgit works with you and your horse to help you achieve your goals.

References Training Philosophy Horse Owner Involvement Priorities for Training Types of Training Basic Training/Handling Ground Work Training Colt Starting/Basic Saddle Training Conditioning Advanced Saddle Training/Refinement Training Trail Training Re-Schooling and Tune-Ups of Older Horses Training to Resolve Behavioural Issues Options Fees Requirements Check out our facilities

"Do for your horse what no other horse can do for him." - Chris Irwin

"Horsemanship is an ongoing journey that requires practice, patience, perseverance, calm, compassion, empathy, assertiveness, awareness, focus, courage and the ability to be pro-active while multi-tasking to a high degree. These qualities of the rider's mind can only be communicated clearly to the horse by a rider who can effectively use his or her body language with consistently centred riding aids that are supple and as soft or as strong as necessary. The more we know, the more willingness we can get from our horses with greater ease and less resistance." - Chris Irwin

Back to the top of the page

References

From Anna Carle, Hinton, Alberta:

"My experience with Falling Star Ranch has been nothing but extraordinary. I sent my two young horses to Birgit this past summer (2009). Not only did she put her experience and knowledge into training my horses, she also gave a caring personal touch in her dealings with me. The horses changed incredibly in the 30 short days they were under Birgit's guidance, her natural approach definitely worked for them. My personal circumstances changed during the course of time the horses were getting trained, and Birgit responded with care and understanding. Not only did she go out of her way to transport the horses back to me, she also has been incredibly supportive in my efforts to sell my mares to good homes. Most people would just do their job and walk away, but Birgit continues to show she cares for the horses and myself. I would recommend Falling Star Ranch to anyone who wants their horses to be trained in a manner which encourages their natural instincts and abilities, as well as your own well being."

From Barb, Jasper, Alberta:

"I took my 4-year-old gelding to Birgit in May of 2009. With him having bucked me off once shortly after I purchased him as a 3-year-old, I was concerned that he would attempt the same thing in 2009. I decided it would be a good thing for me to send him to a qualified trainer to 'evaluate' his abilities. I wanted someone to work with him, to find out what he knew and what he needed work on. I didn't feel I had the ability to do it myself. Also, knowing my fear level was pretty high I knew taking him to someone like Birgit would accomplish more in a three week span, then me fumbling along with him over the entire summer. I was so correct. Birgit worked with him for three weeks, finding out what level he was at and where he needed work, she them took him out on the trail to 'de-sensitize' him and get him trail ready for me. Once I knew what he could do and how to ask him to do it we started to work pretty well together. He was moving off my leg with half the amount of pressure I had used in the past and he picked up his gaits a lot easier and kept going in them longer. He was also a lot more relaxed while being ridden. So over all, she ended up producing a well started horse for me to work with. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending Birgit. Whether it's for an evaluation, training or a 'tune-up', she can work wonders with your horse."

Back to the top of the page

Training Philosophy

At the Falling Star Ranch, Birgit's goal is to train horses, not to break them. All horses are handled and trained in accordance with Chris Irwin's non-resistance principles. Birgit, a Chris Irwin Gold Certified Trainer and Coach, works with the horse, and not against it, in an assertive, non-threatening way, using positive reinforcement and verbal praise.

The non-resistance training principles are based on the concept of getting the horse's body, spirit and mind ready, able and willing to say "yes" to whatever we want it to do.

Birgit believes in the importance of solid foundation training. Whether dealing with a young or an adult horse, Birgit always starts all training with ground work which helps develop a foundation for a good relationship between the horse and trainer. Birgit also uses the principles of classical dressage as a basic training tool for every discipline.

If working with a "problem" horse or if a problem arises during training, Birgit tries to properly identify the problem and what causes it. She then focuses on eliminating the root of the problem (the cause) in order to solve the problem, instead of applying a quick-fix band-aid to solve the problem. Birgit believes that if the cause isn't eliminated, the problem will remain or reoccur.

All of Birgit's handling, training and riding is carefully geared to engender calmness, willingness, focus, respect, trust and sensitivity. During the training process, Birgit's goal is to keep the stress level low by keeping things simple and consistent and to establish a positive pattern of success. Birgit wishes for the horse to become a happy, safe, sane, calm, relaxed, level-headed, reliable, willing, responsive, balanced, focused and collected equine partner, instead of a scared, inverted, braced, angry, sullen, high-strung or defeated animal. It is Birgit's belief that riding should be a pleasure, both for the rider and the horse, and not a daily struggle, exhausting for the rider and excrutiating for the horse.
Patience is a key factor in the training process, and Birgit feels that it takes several years to produce a well trained, all-around horse. In Birgit's experience, it generally takes a minimum of three month for the horse to be confident with its new skills and ready to return to the owner. Some horses may take a bit longer than three months, while others may require less time.

"You can't teach a horse if it is afraid, confused, bored or tired."

Back to the top of the page

Horse Owner Involvement

Owners are encouraged to come and observe the ongoing training during the training sessions to fully understand how the horse is being trained. Included in the monthly training fee is one riding lesson per month for the owner of the horse in training. It is highly recommended that owners take the lesson(s) before taking their horse home to ensure they understand how their horse is trained in order to keep working with their mount along the same lines as well as developing their own skills as a horseman/woman. Just like people, horses can develop bad habits or get lazy. It is important to continually work with a horse if the rider wants the horse to mature as a mount. Birgit is always looking for the best way to communicate with each individual horse and then share the information with its owner/rider.

Assistance by phone or email is available to Falling Star Ranch clients after they take their horse home in case they have any additional questions regarding their horse's training.

Back to the top of the page

Priorities for Training

• Safety of the horse and handler/rider
• Consistency and clarity of requests
• Psychological well-being of the horse
• Developing mutual respect, trust and understanding between horse and rider
• Confidence building for the horse
• Owner/handler's active participation in the process

Back to the top of the page

Types of Training

Basic Training

Basic training includes teaching the horse ground manners and respect for and confidence and trust in people.

Basic Training includes:

• Leading
• Standing tied
• Trailer-loading
• Standing still for grooming and handling
• Picking up feet
• Standing still for farrier
• Getting used to spray bottles
• Getting used to being blanketed

Other tasks can be added according to the owner's requests.

Back to the top of the page

Ground Work Training

Ground work, if properly done, will prevent or correct many problems. It is the foundation for having a horse's trust and respect, in other words, accept and look to the handler as its leader. The goal is to have a well-behaved, responsive, happy, relaxed horse so he can be a willing partner to its human.

Ground Work Training includes:

• Round penning
• In-hand leading
• Lungeing (includes teaching voice commands for walk, trot/jog, canter/lope, stop (whoa) as well as slow down on command)
• Long-lining (ground driving)
• Teaching the horse how to turn, back, sidepass, stand still, jump small obstacles, going over, under, between or over obstacles
• Sacking out/distressing (exposure to potentially "scary" things like plastic bags, trash bags, umbrellas, tarps, flags, ropes, etc.)
• Lateral and vertical supplying
• Disengaging the hindquarters
• Teaching the horse how to carry a saddle
• Teaching the horse to accept the bit
• Teaching the horse to accept pressure on the bit with the use of side-reins and long lines
• Teaching the horse how to carry himself properly with tack

 

Back to the top of the page

Basic Saddle Training/Colt Starting

Creating a solid foundation with a horse so that its mind, body and spirit are ready, willing and able to perform in any discipline.

Training is tailored to the individual needs of your horse and is focused on creating a calm, confident, willing, respectful horse that says "yes" to whatever is asked.

Basic Saddle Training includes:

• Teaching the horse to stand still for mounting/dismounting
• Teaching the horse to accept a rider and carry the rider comfortably
• Teaching the horse to walk, trot/jog, canter/lope, turn, stop under saddle
• Teaching the horse to understand the rider's aids (seat, leg, hands, voice)
• Teaching the horse to yield to leg and hand pressure

Back to the top of the page

Conditioning

If your horse has had the winter off and is feeling a little fresh.

If your horse has had time off due to an injury...

If you want your horse to be exercised into a working shape..

... consider sending your horse to Falling Star Ranch for conditioning.

Conditioning is working your horse for a couple of weeks or more to take the edge off or to get your horse into working shape as well as creating a solid work ethic so your horse is ready to go for you.

Back to the top of the page

Advanced Saddle Training

Advanced saddle training not only focuses on developing a good work ethic in the equine student, it also teaches the horse in training the finer points of being ridden (true bends, canter leads, lateral movements, smooth transitions, contact, more collected gaits, etc.). It also teaches the horse to actively move forward with steady rhythm while staying soft, supple and athletic.

Back to the top of the page

Trail Training

Exposing the horse to trail riding is done with an older and more experienced trail horse leading the way. Birgit usually ponies the horse in training off an experienced riding horse for the first few times, and then rides the horse in training while following an other rider on an experienced trail horse before venturing out by themselves. The horse in training will be exposed to traffic, bridges, creeks, trash cans, tractors, dogs, wildlife and anything else encountered out on the trail.

Back to the top of the page

Re-Schooling and Tune-Ups of Older Horses

Falling Star Ranch offers re-schooling and tune-up training for older horses in order to make them more enjoyable and safer for their rider/handler.

Back to the top of the page

Training to Resolve Behavioural Issues (Problem Solving)

Falling Star Ranch also offers training to resolve behavioural issues in horses. Preventing problems is the ideal, but at times problems arise and often escalate, becoming dangerous and potentially habitual.

Birgit works with an equine massage therapist and veterinarians/equine dentists to rule out pain as well as dental issues as causes for behavioural issues.

The training will then start with ground work in order to find the cause of the problem instead of just applying a quick-fix band-aid.

Bad habits such as bucking, rearing, kicking, striking, bolting, biting, trailer loading problems, standing still for mounting/saddling/fly spraying/clipping, etc. will be addressed in an assertive, but non-threatening way.

All fears and problems are dealt with in a manner that creates trust and respect and builds confidence to quickly eliminate and further prevent problems and fears from reoccurring, creating a safe, relaxed, happy, and willing horse.

Birgit will then also work with the owner to make sure the problem isn't caused by the owner and doesn't resurface as soon as the horse returns home.

Back to the top of the page

Options

• The horse in training is boarded in its own paddock at Falling Star Ranch for the duration of the training unless otherwise agreed on by both the owner and trainer. The boarding fee is $100.00 per month in the summer time and $200.00 per month in the winter time (included in the training fee). If the owner wishes to board the horse in a box stall, an additional $150.00 per month will be charged for bedding and extra labour.
• The horse in training is kept at its home and the trainer travels to the owner's property for the training sessions. If the horse is kept at its home during the training period, a trip fee will be charged for each training session. The trip fee depends on the distance the trainer must travel.

Back to the top of the page

Fees

• The training fee is $800.00 for one month in the summer time and $900.00 for one month in the winter time (including paddock board at the Falling Star Ranch) or $35.00 per session.
• A trip fee will be charged if the trainer travels to the client's place for the training sessions.
• Discounts are available for multiple horses or for horses in training for more than three months.
• All payments must be made in cash, money order, personal cheque or certified cheque prior to the beginning of each month of training.
• The owner of the horse in training is responsible for all costs directly related to the training agreement, included but not limited to transportation, veterinarian bills, farrier services, and necessary special equipment.

Back to the top of the page

Requirements

• The owner of the horse in training is required to fill out and sign a waiver, medical release form, training agreement and training information form.
• If the horse in training is to be boarded at the Falling Star Ranch, the owner of the horse is further required to fill out and sign a boarding contract and a boarding information sheet.
• If the horse in training is to be boarded at the Falling Star Ranch, a current negative Cogginstest is mandatory. The horse is also required to be up-to-date on immunizations (5-way shot) and regular deworming.
• Up-to-date dental and farrier work are highly recommended to ensure maximum benefit of the training program.
• The owner of the horse in training will provide grain and/or any other supplementary feed (except salt and minerals) as needed for the horse during its stay at Falling Star Ranch. Hay and labour in the care for the training horse's daily needs are included in the board.
• The owner of the horse in training is asked to bring along the training horse's grooming kit, halter and lead rope, as well as bridle, saddle and saddle pad for horses to be trained under saddle.
• Protective boots are recommended for all types of training.
• Blankets are recommended in the winter time.
• Fly masks and fly spray are recommended in the summer time.

Back to the top of the page

Please email or call us for information regarding horse training. We look forward to hearing from you!

"The shape of the horse's body is its mind.
We have to earn the right to shape the horse." - Chris Irwin

"Repeat frequently, be happy with very little,
and reward generously for progress." - Nuno Oliviera

"The means of getting there, not the end, justifies the result." - Chris Irwin

"It's the quality of the journey, not the destination." - Chris Irwin

"A lot of people get along pretty well with their horses until they go to training those horses." - Tom Dorrance

"Good horsemanship is not about phases. It's about clarity, feel, and timing." - Brent Graef

"There is a HUGE difference between a horse moving to evade pressure, and a horse that is following a feel, seeking the release. Evading pressure is avoidance, and creates brace. A horse that is following a feel and searching for a release is a horse that is thinking, and is much more likely to be supple and soft." - Brent Graef

"One of the keys to good horsemanship is to work on yourself... get yourself right on the inside... It's not about self-gratification, but more about being at peace, and doing things for the right reasons." - Brent Graef

"Learn to read your horse, learn to listen to him. If you want to be his leader, be a good, solid and caring leader instead of a dictator." - Brent Graef

"We as humans have a choice to act like a predator or not. Have you ever seen someone in a round pen chasing a horse around with a flag or throwing ropes? That person is showing the horse he's a predator, and really, he's just teaching the horse distrust, because there is pressure there the horse wants to get away from." - Curt Pate

"We can teach the horse to move forward off pressure, but there always has to be somewhere to go to get relief, or else we become predators and he gets suspicious of us. The idea is to teach the horse to accept a certain amount of pressure - and respond to it appropriately - without feeling threatened." - Curt Pate

"The softness of the horse starts with softness in the jaw. Never pull on a horse, because when you pull, the horse has to lock his jaw." - Francois Baucher

"Your horse needs to respect you if you want her to bond to you. That means you need to set the limits. I am not saying that you should not 'love on' your horse. Go to it! But do it on your terms, not hers. You set the rules, and the most important rule is that she never invades your space. So many other good things in your relationship will flow from that simple rule." - Charles Wilhelm

"It is the very difficult horses that have the most to give you." - Olympic rider Lendon Gray

Page last updated February 16, 2010

Back to the top of the page

Home || Horse Training || Lessons and Clinics || Facilities

Trainer Bio || Events || Volunteer Positions

Horses for Sale || Stallion || Broodmares || Foals || Riding and Lesson Horses

Photo Gallery || News & Info || Directions || Links || Gift store || Sitemap || Articles

Click here to listen to background music

(You need RealPlayer to listen to the background music. If you don't have RealPlayer, you can download a free copy of RealOne Free Player at www.real.com.)

Thank you for visiting our Website!

Website design by Birgit Stutz
Email webmaster
Copyright © 2006-2007 Falling Star Ranch

Site hosted by WebServe Canada

This site best viewed with Internet Explorer
at 1024x768 pixels screen resolution.

Site statistics provided by StatCounter.com

All Rights Reserved.
All images, photos and materials on this website are copyright protected and cannot be used without permission from Falling Star Ranch.

Back to the top of the page