About us
Julia Rottensteiner
Julia manages the riding school giving riding lessons for all ages and guiding horse-riding tours. She is also in charge of the Summer Weeks for Teens and Team Pony Concept. In addition to riding, she looks after visitors and takes care of the farm products. This is where her training as a confectioner and Hotel Manager comes in handy. In recent years she has completed the training as a Team Pony Concept (TPC) teacher, as a cross-country guide and as a riding instructor at the association of Leisure Riders of South Tyrol (VFS). Julia is now doing a two-year physiotherapy course for dogs and horses in Munich. The species-appropriate treatment of animals and a riding style that goes easy on the horse are close to her heart. Due to her inquisitive, open nature and her diverse interests, Julia is planning further education in the areas of horse work, nature and people.
Anna Rottensteiner
Anna works part-time on the farm. As a Jack of all trades, she is responsible for correspondence, planning, bookkeeping, horse riding lessons, Team Pony Concept, housekeeping, herb cultivation and whatever else comes up. Her talent for organization is displayed by her administrative skill. Within the project “Schule am Bauernhof” she demonstrates the yard to school classes and other groups of children (e.g children’s birthday parties). During the summer months Anna, along with Giuseppe from Officine Vispa, organizes child care weeks at the farm. Those weeks are usually a huge success each year. She is also a hiking guide, dog trainer, forest and wildlife pedagogue, Team Pony Concept (TPC) teacher, cross-country guide, horse riding instructor and she has graduated in agricultural and agro-environmental sciences. Anna works in the mornings at the Museum of Nature in Bolzano giving tours. She enjoys inspiring children to treat animals and nature with care.
Thomas Rottensteiner
Thomas is certified by BESW in hoof care. He is a passionate farmer, who is responsible for everything on and around the farm - the centrepiece of the Flachenhof, so to speak. In 1988 he inherited the land from his parents and laid down the foundation of the Flachenhof. Year after year, the farm has been extended and has developed into the special habitat it has become. Thomas contributes to the preservation of the typical South Tyrolean landscape through the minimal use of machines. By adding small creative details, he gives the Flachenhof its distinctive look. His artistry can be found anywhere around the farm. Although Thomas is retired, he is out on the farm every day from dusk till dawn making sure that everyone feels comfortable.
Irmgard Georg-Rottensteiner
As a certified horseback cross-county and multi day horse trekking guide, riding instructor grade A and trainer (VFD), Irmi gives adult riding lessons, therapy sessions and horse-riding tours. A registered nurse, she works part-time in the care sector for people with dementia. She acquired further qualifications in Palliative Care & Hospice, “Retirees at the farm”, Theatre Pedagogy and she is a certified Yoga Instructor. Social care, animals and nature are all connected in a way and make her daily work varied. Irmi invites you to exchange ideas via mentoring webinars. The goal is to stay connected through open conversation and to elaborate on moving topics together, so that life gets into action instead of getting stuck in drama. Everyone is warmly welcome.
A portrait about Irmgard and her decision to live on a farm in South Tyrol was shot for "Land&Leben", which can be viewed in the media library of RAI Südtirol starting at TC 21:06 (german).
We need many helping hands to manage the farm, to care for our guests, to provide riding lessons and to run all other projects as smoothly as they do. In some cases, other helpers actively support us. Jean-marc Poisson supports us with professional classic riding lessons, so that our horses stay trained and healthy.