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about us

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danandstacie-ownersatvistadelmarranch

HOW THE RANCH CAME TO BE ...​

Dan and Stacie purchased "Rancho Vista Del Mar", as it was called back then, on March 8th, 2002. The property was covered mostly in avocado trees. A small house with a detached garage was perched at the highest point on the property, boasting the "vista del mar" (view of the ocean). 

Their plan was to develop a boarding facility that was clean, safe and friendly with a focus on the horses being comfortable and happy.

 

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STACIE'S LOVE FOR HORSES ...

As a lifelong rider and competitor going back to her youth, Stacie has owned horses since she got her first horse "Flicka" back in Minnesota, when she was 6 years old. Since then she has always had horses in her life. Today, along with her husband Dan, Stacie is at the helm of Vista Del Mar Performance Horses where she oversees a busy operation including Training, Boarding, and Sales. 

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Stacie and her Clients compete at the top levels of Quarter Horse competitions and hold several Championship, as well as, All-Around titles and World Qualifiers each year. Owning Vista Del Mar has been a life long dream and she feels blessed to be able to get up every day and love what she does. Horses are her life and even after so many years in the business, she still gets excited about competing and helping horses and clients reach their full potential. 

stacievanwatermulen-horsetrainer

DAN'S BACKGROUND IN CONSTRUCTION AND HORSES ...

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danvanwatermulen-onahorse

Dan was born into a construction family in Minnesota. He operated his first tractor when he was just 6 years old. He worked with his father doing all types of construction projects from excavation of home sites, exterior home plumbing, and waterlines to building roads. Being a "jack of all trades" is an important part of running a small business successfully. The family business required knowledge of all aspects of running a small business. 

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After earning a BS degree in Business Administration, Dan worked as an assistant manager, then general manager for FedEx during his 13-year career with the Fortune 500 Company. The extensive management experience gained during his time at FedEx has been a valuable asset in running his own small business. 

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Dan also had a horse growing up named "Brandy". "Brandy" was one of the family pets for many years. He participated in birthday parties, camping adventures, as well as trips to nearby lakes for a swim on hot summer days. Horses enrich our lives in so many ways every day. They are truly a gift from God.

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