Sigrid Schaerf

Founder and owner of Papillon Riding Stables, Sigrid began riding in her native Germany at the age of five. Migrating to Australia when she was 18, Sigrid trained with Portugese NCAS Level 3 Instructor Major Miguel Tavora for five years, leading her to compete successfully with her horse Papillon at Prix St George level. Major Tavora continues as an occasional guest coach for Papillon Riding Stables.

Sigrid’s Australian working background includes working for the Randwick Equine Centre and providing riding tuition to students. September 2003 found Sigrid training the horses and riders of the Chinese Regional Equestrian team in Beijing.

Sigrid is an NCAS Level 1 Instructor (general) and teaches experienced riders. She is available Sundays to Fridays from 8am to 12noon.

Frank Fitchett

Frank is from New Zealand and has been working with horses and riders for over 40 years. He trained and qualified as a Coach in NZ in 1980. His experiences include working in racing stables, riding schools, studs, sport administration and competition. After competing in showjumping, eventing, dressage and showing early in his career he then concentrated on Dressage and Showing.

His last Three Day Event was Kooralbyn at the age of 40 completing the event on 2 horses. Since then Frank has competed on many horses. These include the warmblood stallion Uraeus - ridden by Viggo Mortensen in Lord of the Rings.

In the NZ showring Frank was very successful winning National Champions and Horse of the Year titles with Hacks and Hunters. His pupils have won NZ National Titles in Eventing, Showjumping and Dressage. Frank's initial training was from BHS Instructors, then Malcolm Barns, Art Uytendaal, Lockie Richards and most recently Fritz Stahlecker in Germany.

Frank is available Monday to Friday 3pm to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 6pm.

Zoe Stirling-Wall

Zoe is from the UK and has been working with horses since she was a teenager. She is an NCAS Level 1 Instructor (general) and is also an Assistant Instructor with the British Horse Society. Zoe trained with classical riders and trainers in England, training with a pupil of the classical dressage trainer and author Erik Hebermann and later riding with Tim Downes, a British Horse Society Chief Examiner and international 3 Day Event judge.

Zoe has ridden dressage, showjumping and eventing in the UK and has taught in the UK, United States and Australia. Zoe teaches beginners to advanced riders and can also teach special needs riders. She is available to teach and take park rides on Mondays & Tuesdays from 1pm to 6pm and on Fridays & Sundays from 6pm to 8pm.