In 2005, Lisa and her horse, "Kris", wowed them at the Arabian Youth Nationals in
Albuquerque, winning both National Top Ten in the Half Arabian Open division and
Reserve National Champion in the Freestyle Reining.
She went back on the road in 2006, with even bigger plans! So, if you like a story
that motivates and inspires you to do better, buckle up, cuz here goes:
This not a story about how to play the game with the most money or the best
trainer; Instead it shows us what can be done through sheer perseverance and
dedication.
Lisa and "Kris" won the 2006 Canadian National Championship in Half Arabian
Reining Amateur Owner to Ride!! Then, she rode back in the Open division, and was
named the Reserve National Champion against nothing but trainers!
"Kris" is now "Karizmas Best +", the plus mark is a new addition to his name; they
won the Arabian Association's Legion of Honor by accumulating the required amount
of points.
"Kris" was a rescue horse that was already 6 years old and un-broke when Lisa
zoned in on him. He had tons of natural ability for reining and Lisa had dreams of
having a reining horse. Through her past years, she had learned to ride, show and
compete on Arabians at Vista Farms, through the training and horses of Wendy
Onstott and Candice Young. In fact, she even ended up owning an Arabian horse,
"El Charo", that showed her the ropes and took her to many wins in the youth
divisions, including Western Pleasure, Hunt Seat and Showmanship. She still owns
"El Charo"; he is now 27 and is a tenured school master for the pre-school aged
riders at Vista Farms and every child's favorite horse to learn on.
When Lisa was getting itchy to move on, suddenly there was "Kris"...needing
someone to take him on and make use of his great build and "give me a challenge"
attitude. They met each other head on, and the rest is history.
Most reining trainers didn't want to give Lisa the time of day, but Lisa, Candice and
Wendy all knew the potential this horse had packed away. So, they started a
training program for him to get "Kris" in the ring as a rail horse, get his mind
working and get settled and comfortable in the ring. He showed his first year as a
Western Pleasure, Showmanship and Hunter Pleasure horse. In fact Lisa won her
age division in Youth Saddle that year, 2004!
Then, the hard work was ready to begin. Lisa took "Kris" down to Lehi, UT to ride
with top reining trainer, Jake Stephens and Jake took Lisa through all the steps to
get it going. Lisa was already a top horseman; her goal was to train "Kris" herself
and she did, with Jake at the helm, teaching her how to do it.
Lisa's national wins have come as a shock to many of the riders and trainers that
compete against her. How can someone who knew nothing about reining two years
ago come out of nowhere and beat them?
"There were quality horses and quality riders. They we multi-national champions,"
Janssen said. "I was intimidated, to say the least. I was showing against people
who have beaten me before. But, I asked him ("Kris") for everything that he could
give me, and he gave everything he had."
There's an advantage to training your own horse. He knows you, and you know
him. It is a unity that cannot be acquired any other way. And, at the national level
shows, that fact came clear to a lot of people.
Her personal relationship with this horse is what made them champions, that and the
unwavering support of her dad, Eric Janssen.
Where will Lisa go from here? Well, she is not resting, you can count of that. She
has a young (2 year old) quarter horse filly coming up that she is training herself,
and she plans to take her the same route...start her slow and easy, and build to a
huge finale. Lisa knows what value time has, and how to use it to her advantage.
Meanwhile, she is attending the University of Utah, and puts the same effort into her
education that she has put into her equestrian accomplishments. Lisa Janssen is a
success story that all of us can learn from: Never think that you can't do
something. Just set your mind to it, make some goals and GO FOR IT!