History

Love for horses at an early age and a strong work ethic achieves her goal!
 PictureAt age 7, Kristi takes her first riding lesson on Lucky at Camp Deer Valley
Kristi Lazzaris has been in love with horses as long as she can remember. Her first ride at age 7 at Camp Deer Valley had her begging for a horse every Christmas and birthday.  Plastic horses covered her room, but a horse of her own was all she dreamed of.
Finally at age 11, she convinced her dad into trail rides at Ruthies Riding Stables. Before long she was working there brushing and tacking up horses in exchange for free rides after the barn closed. 
For her 13th birthday, she was given jumping lessons at Bonnie Dell Acres, but when those ran out she was told she must pay for her own.  Given this dilemma, she decided a horse of her own was the true goal, and started to save her earnings from working in her father's office.  The next two years she read and learned everything she could about horse. 
PictureA little girls dream pony is found!
By 16 she had achieved all her parents requested, she could drive, had a job and money saved, so the hunt for a horse of her own began. That fall she went to the Canfield Ohio Fair 4H Pony Auction. After a very disappointing search through the ponies she resigned to watch the tack sale and go home without her perfect horse. But one last walk through the stalls, she spotted the most beautiful Half Arabian / Quarter Horse pony she had ever seen! 
Shana was a 13.2 hand unbroke 20 month old ball of fire, wide eyed and snorting,  chestnut gelding. After a tearful pleading with his owners, they pulled him from the auction and agreed to sell him directly to her for exactly the $400.00 she had saved! :) Thus began her first breaking and training adventure. Two years and a lot of learning scrapes and bruises later, they were riding through the trails of South Park, PA! 

Education

From the class room and the barn she gained an equestrian education
PictureIn two short years of competition, Ace takes Kristi to the top ten at Appaloosa Nationals, before being tragically put down from complications due to a broken leg
Kristi majored at Salem College in Horsemanship Breeding and Management, while working in the barn to pay for her pony's board. She went on to further her education at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Business and Psychology.
She decided to further her horseback riding education after becoming bored with trail riding. In 1997 she moved her pony, Shana, to Fallen Timber Stables to learn Western Pleasure under Terri Willey. It was here that she first began to train for the show ring. After he suffered a broken leg and was retired to pasture, she bought her next horse. 
Ace took her to the top ten in Western Equitation at the Appaloosa Nationals  in 2002 under the tutelage of Patty Cardin.  After his tragic loss two years later, she began the search for a gaming horse.
Bon Bon, rocketed her into the top 20 in Pole Bending at the All American Quarterhorse Congress in 2008, but went on to teach her the amazing results which can come from a truly bonded, relationship, built on trust and mutual respect between a horse and her rider. 

Methodology

To create a working partnership between horse and rider based on mutual trust and respect
 PictureSmiles from riding lesson student, Rielly
Through the teachings of many exceptional trainers including Reining Champion, Butch Gardil, Barrel Racing Champion, Terri Willey, and  Western Pleasure Champion, Patty Cardin, as well as the study of the methods of Monty Roberts, and John Lyons, Kristi has developed her own unique methodology to horse training. She combines the gentling techniques of the gurus with a more practical approach for the busy modern equestrian.
Her method is to work with horse and rider as a team, to create a happy working partnership. The needs of both partners are always considered, with an emphasis on fun as well as hard work to achieve the rider's personal goals and nurture each individual horse's natural abilities and potential.
This approach brought her to two Grande Championships in 2011 and 2012, with Bon Bon in a wide range of western events from Halter, to Competitive Trail, to Western Pleasure, but unbelievably all with a horse who also ran at the top in speed events, like Barrel Racing and Pole Bending! She lost Bon Bon the following year due to complications from Cushings disease. Her legacy will live on! She is featured on the home page. Please take the time to view her photo slideshow!
Kristi's two new horses, Cheros and Samara, also featured on the home page,  have been broke and trained with Kristi's unique approach; they were "gentled under saddle."  Samara has expressed a natural talent toward dressage, and Cheros went on to Western Pleasure and Trail competition, jumping, and most recently is excelling as a gaming horse! She has tuned into each horse's own unique skills and personality so as to bring out the best in each of them.  This continues on to her students each individual strengths and interests so as to create a team between them and their mount that best suites each individual.
Kristi continues to further her knowledge as a horse woman in the English discipline, studying under Dressage Champion Dana Fiore and George Felder.  Thanks to both of them for all their knowledge and experience!