Welcome to
Calling Bird Farm
We embrace horse enthusiasts and help them develop into confident horse riders able to ride, train, and care for a horse in 2 years using progressive mounted and unmounted skill levels, longe lessons, dressage focus, and Straightness Training.
Calling Bird Farm Visions
-Transforming from wide eyed beginners to confidently taking care of and enjoying a horse of their own in 1-2 years. Achieving feats like bridleless, bareback, liberty, and beautiful balanced movement as the norm. Horses are calm and sensitive willing partners with clear leadership and appreciation.
-Barn Family supporting each other watching each others’ lessons, making friends in group classes, and having fun at barn parties. Creating a culture with our own traditions, in-jokes, High Expectations, and shared sorrows and joys.
-Smiling and efficient team at horse shows, exhibitions, trail rides, and other activities. Bursting with camaraderie. Cheering for strangers, volunteering at events, supporting the barn, and making friends.
-Straightness Training barn where everyone fluidly uses the concepts and exercises to develop a horse body, mind, and spirit. While The Horse is a path for our own self mastery, Straightness Training is for the horse; the horse is not for ST.
-Riders achieve their USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Rider Award Medals.
How we achieve our Mission
At Calling Bird Farm LLC we embrace horse enthusiasts and help them develop into confident horse riders able to ride, train, and care for a horse in 2 years.
The only way to learn anything is to put in Hours of Hard Work, which is easy when you love the work of riding and horsemanship.
“The man who loves walking will walk further than the man who loves the destination.” Lao Tzu
We offer a variety of lesson services to develop mounted and unmounted skills in a barn full of laughter and learning.
Basic, Regular and Intensive Monthly Memberships
All memberships include a weekly 1 hour Unmounted Group Horsemanship Class, Barn Parties, and Members Area access.
$350 Basic - 1 lesson per week
$550 Regular - 2 lessons per week and option to start Showing Offsite.
$1050 Intensive - 5 lessons per week mix of longe lessons, private lessons, and hacks
Leadline or Unmounted Group Monthly Classes
$130 Leadline classes are weekly group classes geared for younger riders.
Barn Parties!
$150 Unmounted Group Horsemanship Classes are offered as as standalone service for waitlist students or students interested in unmounted knowledge and skills.
A la Carte Single Lessons or Travel Lessons
$50 Remote lessons 30 minutes
-Pivo/Zoom live or Zoom video review
$70 Single lessons 30 minutes
-longe, "regular" lessons, or Straightness Training
$80 Travel lessons 30 minutes
-Straightness Training or "regular" instruction
Christen Schweizer
Owner & Head Trainer
I have not yet trained a horse to the upper levels, by which I mean the airs on the ground (piaffe, passage, levade)....but I am on my way. Until I do that I have a hard time calling myself a real rider.
However, when we teach a child to read we do not hire an English professor. We look for a kindergarten teacher - high energy, patient, fun, and encouraging. I am on my way to get an equivalent of a Ph.D. in horses and I am passionate about teaching horsemanship and riding to students. I can switch from teaching 4 year olds on leadline, to speaking about biomechanics theories on the longe, to explaining the Six Keys of Straightness Training as I am a Licensed Grade 1 Straightness Training Instructor....with the enthusiasm and patience of a kindergarten teacher and the desire to go deep like an English major.
My students learn how to post the trot, how to train a horse to target, and what to look for in correct movement and riding. We do it together with a lot of encouragement, high standards, and fun.
I train horses the same way and reward the smallest try, building from one better step into an entire ride of good steps over time. With the help of my mentors I have changed my two horses from exhibiting various "problem horse" behaviors into helpful schoolmasters, as well as developing my care lease lesson pony from rushing into a pony that children can ride bareback and bridleless.
You don't have to take my word for it...
What students were like before, what happens at CBF, and what they are like now!
Julie Williams
Student
I can speak to the adult who has always wanted to learn to ride or has taken a break and wants to pick it up again.
My riding experience was limited when I came to CBF. I was nervous around horses, had never tacked up a horse and was afraid to canter. My primary goal was to gain confidence - CBF has done this for me.
Christen’s teaching style is gentle and informative - she works on foundational skills and builds from there all while teaching about horses and riding. I have learned so much - I have a better appreciation for horses and how best to ride and treat them.
The CBF environment is nurturing and supportive - it’s a great community! Today, while still a novice, I now feel confident around horses, tack them up (I even own two saddles!), and canter. I have much more to learn but I’m excited that I’ve found a place that is supportive and fun and caters to all ages. I highly recommend CBF!
Azra Kulasik
Parent
We have been at Calling Bird Farm a little over 2 years now.
We started with my oldest daughter first who always had an interest in riding. We now have 3 kids taking lessons with Ms. Christen.
It is a true one on one experience and the girls love every minute they spend learning and bonding! It's not just riding, it also learning what it takes to be a horse owner.
My oldest has started schooling shows with Calling Bird Farm.
Ms. Christen is genuine and the passion the students and coach have for the horse unites them!
It's rewarding seeing them move up and learn new skills.
I can’t say enough good things about this place and I will always recommend it to others.
Janelle Wittenberg
Parent and Student
We’ve been with Calling Bird Farm for a few years now and absolutely love it.
Both myself and my son take lessons (private, group, and summer horse camp) and have learned so much.
Christen’s patience seems endless and her love of teaching - both riding and horsemanship - are evident each lesson. Each lesson is tailored to the student’s particular goals and she really appreciates everyone’s comfort level and continues to make lessons fun, informative, and challenging.
We cannot recommend Christen enough.
Laura Richer
Parent
If you are considering this camp for your child, I want you to know that we (parent & child) HIGHLY recommend it. Riley has done numerous camps of all kinds as well as horse camps at 3 other bars and this is by far, the most fun she's ever had. Ms. Christen created memories for her that she will never forget. If your child already takes lesson from Ms. Christen, then you know that she really cares about her students and goes above and beyond to give everyone the best experience possible. This camp was no different....she blew us away. We would be returning for the other camps she's offering but unfortunately, we have scheduling conflicts. Riley is already talking about next summer though! Definitely 5 stars and 2 thumbs up.....well worth the money!
THE.BEST.CAMP.EVER!!!!!! 🤩🐴
Sandra Flees
Parent
We love Calling Bird Farm! Christen has been incredible with our son. Before starting lessons, he was eager to learn how to ride but was too scared to even get on a horse. He had so many fears to overcome, but Christen has been the most patient and understanding teacher, allowing him to progress at his own pace while supporting him through any setbacks.
In the two years he’s been riding, I’ve watched his confidence grow, and he often talks about how proud he is of his accomplishments. He looks forward to every lesson and is always excited to keep learning and riding at Calling Bird Farm.
Stephanie Locke
Parent
Our daughter is thriving at CBF.
Having only started riding six months ago, we have enjoyed witnessing her confidence increase every week.
Christen’s passion for horsemanship and training shines through as she motivates our daughter to push herself and grow as a rider.
The group events are excellent opportunities for the children to bond, and the summer camps were the best part of our summer! We are thrilled to be part of the CBF community.
Stacey Lake
Student
My name is Stacey Lake and I found CBF and Christen 2 years ago thanks to my friend Azra. I was Christen’s oldest student but recruited a couple other old ladies so now I’m not. I was looking for more saddle time and loved her lounging style and bareback lessons. I grew up riding but hadn’t ridden for 30 yrs. Christen’s unique horse first philosophy has helped me to become a much stronger overall equestrian. She teaches love for horses and educates constantly. She always is patient and never gets upset or worried.
She also is supportive of our goals- even if they differ from her program. She just wants you to be successful in whatever aspect you want to pursue and firmly believes life is too short to not love what you do.
Sarah Ilg
Parent
My daughter had a little experience with other barns and instructors before we found Christen at Calling Bird Farm. Other places would just have her get on the horse and start riding. She never learned any basic skills, or safety skills like emergency dismounting. Calling Bird Farm is such a wonderful program!
My daughter has been riding with Christen for 2 years. Christen has been crucial on building the foundation of horse back riding for my daughter, who continues to grow and learn with Christen’s teachings. Not only does she teach riding skills, she also teaches what it takes to own and care for horses in a group setting, which fosters friendships and collaboration with other riders.
We all love Christen and we’re so glad we found her! We highly recommend Calling Bird Farm!
Nicole Kramer
Parent
Bella has talked about horseback riding for quite some time. When my cousin told me about her daughter taking lessons with CBF I knew we had to try it. I didn't think my daughter would like the other things that came with riding, mucking stalls, cleaning horses, etc. I was pleasantly surprised when those things didn't bother her. CBF has taught her about taking care of animals.
But along with that her confidence has grown so much. My daughter is shy, and usually keeps to herself. But her whole face lights up as soon as she steps into that barn. I wouldn't trade that smile for the whole world. She has grown so much in the last two years. Her determination and drive has improved and she has learned so much since starting CBF. She pushes herself every lesson and I attribute that to her lessons and the confidence Christen instills into her students.
R.K.
Parent
Our children have been horse riding for more than 3 years and for the past 1.5 years they have been taking lessons at Calling Bird Farm with Mrs. Christen. Our experience at Calling Bird Farm has been truly amazing! Mrs. Christen is a talented trainer, who helps her students to feel comfortable with the horses, who teaches them how to be attuned to the horse and understand the animal language and behavior. During her lessons she strives to inspire and challenge her students to perfect their skills. She also puts a strong emphasis on teaching safety rules while riding and learning how to fall correctly. Mrs. Christen also teaches them about the importance of not being afraid to make mistakes as they move towards their riding goals. Our children have progressed so quickly under her guidance (cantering, jumping) and learnt more just after a few months riding with her than in 1.5 years of taking lessons at a different, much larger barn. That was truly impressive!
We greatly appreciate the fact that in Mrs. Christen's farm when you arrive for the lesson, you have a full 30 min (or more) of uninterrupted riding experience, without needing to tack and prepare horses for riding. Everything is ready for you to start the lesson. For busy parents, who have no prior experience with horse riding, it was a huge relief and a very (!) an important factor, as in another riding barn we would have to help our children to tack up horses, and had to arrive 30-45 min prior to lesson to get the horse ready for the lesson. It was a stressful experience to say the least.
Mrs. Christen is an extremely organized, professional trainer with an impeccable work ethic, who always keeps open communication about student's progress, skills they have achieved and are still working on achieving. She is a wonderful person and we are so lucky to have found her! Our children love taking lessons with her and nothing beats seeing their wide beaming smiles at the end of every lesson! Having prior experience of taking lessons at two other STL barns we can say with full confidence that riding under Mrs. Christen's guidance has been THE BEST experience for our children and us, parents!
Come ride with us!
Horses are infinitely interesting and fun.
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