The story of 26-year-old Cathrin Gutmann’s life reads like a fairy tale.  In 2008 the Austria native found her prince charming, Barron Guntard Gutmann, a man her parents, Alfred and Monika, had known for years but Cathrin had never met. It was love at first sight for both and their 19-year age difference did little to sway their feelings. The couple was married three years later and welcomed a daughter, Emilie, later that year.

Soon after settling in to married life, the young family moved into their castle, Gut Jaidhof, a 19th century family estate with a history dating back to the 7th century. Gut Jaidhof is located in Jaidhof, a very small town five minutes from the town where Cathrin grew up in the Northwest of Austria. It is one hour from Vienna and just 15 minutes from the Danube River and the Wachau region.

As baroness and baron von Gutmann, Cathrin and Guntard have many responsibilities. Gut Jaidhof has 7,413 acres of woods that must be managed daily and next year the Gutmanns will finish renovating the whole estate, which has been in progress the last seven years as it includes several monument-protected buildings. They also run a family office with lots of activities from heating power plants to real estate around the world.

“I am happy that in addition to my civic responsibilities I can live my love for horses to a full extent,” Cathrin explains. “I ride six horses a day and manage the barn at home, we also breed a few horses every year that we either sell right away or train and sell.”

Over the years the Gutmanns have carefully built their broodmare band with the marepower they need to establish a serious breeding program. Mares they own include: A Natural Sensation, by Coats N Tails and out of Sure Natural, the 2013 European Champion in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle; Onlyafraid Inthedark, by Invitation Only and out of I Likeitin Thedark, the 2012 AQHA European Reserve Champion in Amateur Western Pleasure and 2013 NSBA European Champion Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure; Al Be Graceful, by Allocate Your Assets and out of Polished Grace, the 2012 Champion in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle and 2012 International Amateur High Point Horse 2012; Blue Couture, by Skys Blue Boy and out of Twice As Tall. Last year Cathrin rode Blue Couture to a Quarter Horse Congress Championship in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle and placed third in the Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Maturity.

“I was thrilled to even be able to compete there,” she says. “It has been my dream to ride in the Celeste ever since I visited the Congress for the first time in 2011.”

This year in the United States Cathrin is showing B Endless Legs, a 2011 mare by Good I Will Be under the guidance of Allison Clark at major futurities and they will compete at the Congress. Cathrin will continue to show Onlyafraid Inthedark and A Natural Sensation at major European events.

Though she got her start as a classical dressage rider Cathrin says she got hooked on Quarter Horses and Hunter Under Saddle when a high school friend introduced her to the breed. Her first show horse was Doc Twins Bonnie, a Reining mare she showed at local shows. A forester by trade, Cathrin’s father hauled her to the regional shows when she was a youth and was the member of the family most interested in horses.

“Unfortunately he passed away in 2011,” Cathrin says. “He was the one that supported me the most with my horses.”

With all of the events she has tried, Cathrin still says Hunter Under Saddle is her favorite.

“It is such a classy and elegant event and I love the beautiful, big, braided-up horses with their free-floating strides and elegant movement,” she explains. “It’s just something I feel really attached to.”

Though Cathrin relies on many people to help her with her breeding operation she says she couldn’t have done it without the help of Karin and Ruggero Prevedel from Italy who helped her get into the Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle disciplines and her biggest influence throughout her career has undoubtedly been Georgia trainer Allison Clark.

“She is a real horsewomen in the true sense to me and in addition to that a great rider and real hard worker,” Cathrin says. “Her way of riding a horse is very respectful toward the animal, yet very competitive. We spent a lot of time with each other last year and she didn’t only teach me a lot about riding and showing but also about working.”

When she’s not at a show or busy with the family estate Cathrin enjoys being with her family and having “family weekends” at home or inviting friends over for dinner. She also loves to travel and see new things.

Cathrin’s first priority is being a great mother for her daughter and then to live up to the family tradition of creating and preserving the family and family business for future generations. With her horses, Cathrin wants to improve her skills over time and continue to showing in the United States, though maybe not every season but consistently.