Lisa Ciesniewski

Professional rider Lisa Ciesniewski is the owner/trainer of Dark Horse Farms. Her love for horses and riding began at the early age of six and has developed into a lifelong passion. As a junior she competed extensively on the west coast under the guidance of trainers Susan Holden, DiAnn Langer and Randy Durand. During which time she competed in the hunter, jumper and equitation divisions winning multiple championships and top medal finals placing. In 1992 Lisa received the LAHSA Sportsmanship of the Year Award.

Turning in 1999 to focus on college Lisa attended the University of San Diego and began working for Mike and Christa Endicott and their Pegasus Show Stables Inc. as Assistant Trainer and Financial Manager. Since graduating in May of 2001 with a BBA in Business Administration with a marketing and entrepreneurial emphasis. Lisa has remained involved in the hunter jumper industry as a catch rider and competitor, as well as, an equine sales agent, marketing consultant and website/media designer.

Dark Horse Farms has been established to enable Lisa to follow her true passion of developing and campaigning equine athletes. In the past years she has work alongside a long list of top show jumping professionals developing and promoting horses, riders and equine related businesses. Taking her experience and love of working with horses to the next level, Dark Horse Farms aims to develop and promote quality show jumpers and derby hunters.

Specialized experience with:

horsemanship - young horses - retraining - problem horses - preparing horses for junior and amateurs - preparing horses for show ring and professionals - preparing horses for sale - stallions - catch riding - competition riding - show competition management - consignments and sales - marketing/promoting sales horses - corrective rides - rehabilitations

Experience - Professional Rider/Trainer

01 - present - Freelance Rider/Trainer - catch riding and coaching

Some of the barns/professionals/owners worked for:
Baycrest Farms / Cyndi Merritt
E & E Inc./ Emily Esau
Equine Trading Co./ Terri Baugh
Gracelynd Hill / Alanna Bloomberg Snowden
Hunter Haven / Barbara Vasileros
JPTF / Jill Pierce
LACRC/ Leslie Figgie
Langtree / DiAnn Langer
Lisa Cahn Stables / Lisa Cahn Jope
New Haven Farm/ Rand Durand
Open Arm Farm / Stephanie Hanie
Oscany Inc /Tracy Esse
Pegasus Show Stable / Mike & Christa Endicott
San Marcos Training / Corrine Bevis
SBR Farms / Stacie Ryan
Seahorse / Devon Gibson
Sovereign Place / Joe Thorpe & Keri Kampsen

10-present - HayNet Creative: creative consultant/co-founder

06- present - Equine Reflexion: equine marketing and design

05-present - Exuis Sales: equine sales agent

99 - 01 - Pegasus Show Stables/ Mike & Christa Endicott: Assistant trainer, financial manager

Formal Training

New Haven Farm/ Rand Durand - working student/barn manager
Spent most of the time on the road competing at "A" rated shows riding, managing, grooming, braiding and competing. Rode multiple horses daily. Schooled and exercised clients horses. Won multiple championships in hunter and equitation divisions, qualified for numerous medal finals. Won California State Medal Finals and placed in the top 10 of LAHSA Senior Medal Finals, Foxfield Medal Finals, and the AHSA Medal Finals.

Karen Healey Stables / Karen Healey - working student/barn manager
Traveled to shows on east coast for the summer. Accompanied horses on flights, assisted in daily management and care of 20 horses on the road and cared for junior rider Kirstin Coe.

Langtree/ DiAnn Langer - working student
Rode an average of 5-10 horses a day and performed additional tasks such as grooming, schooling, barn management and catch riding. Competed at "A" Rated shows, qualified for multiple medal finals and was awarded the LAHSA Sportsmanship of the year award.

Susan Holden Stables/ Susan Holden - working student
Rode multiple horses and ponies. Competed at local "A-B" rated shows and qualified for first medal finals; SFHSA 11and under.

LACRC / Leslie Figgie - student
Learned basic horsemanship skills, rode multiple horses and ponies. Attended first horse show at Paddock Riding Club, mainly competed at local one day shows and Flintridge children's show.

Linda Klaussner - pony student