Hello,

My name is Nicole and I am the owner, head trainer & instructor and program coordinator here at Dark Horse Farm.  I'd like to take this space to tell you more about myself and my 15 years of experience with horses. 

I was raised in the heart of the Standardbred racing industry in central New Jersey on a picturesque Standardbred turn-out and racing farm. My family had been active in the racing business for over a decade before I came along. I guess you could say I was 'born into' the wonderful world of horses. I took my first ride on a horse at two months of age and as I grew up my passion for horses grew as well.

In 1990, my family doctor suggested that I take up a sport as physical therapy to help me cope with my asthma.  Being raised in the Lupo family, the choice of sport was clear.  I wanted to ride horses!  It was hard to find a trainer to take on a rider under 6 years of age but because riding was to become my therapy I was accepted into the theraputic riding program at 'Riding High Farm' in Allentown, NJ.

Then in 1991 I recieved my first 'dark horse', 'Black Beauty'.  By this time I had now advanced to riding and training under Joy Lopez-Hogan.  Joy had trained with Jimmy Williams who is a member of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame and who served as USET coach in Calgary in 1978-80 and Chef d'Equipe there in 1981-82.

In our first season in the show ring, 'Beauty' and I had placed in both rated and local shows.  We won enough to be able to attend the National Horse Show that year although, we politely declined. 

As my riding and showing continued, my need to learn more about horses and their training started to consume me.  I wanted to learn everything that I could and build a partnership with my horses. 

I continued to show on the local and rated circuit in New Jersey and consistantly placed well in each class. In 1997, my horse Ginger G. Bandit and I won the award for the 'Best Quarter Horse and Rider Team' at a well known and competitive farm known as 'The Meadow' in southern New Jersey. We had been competing all season against thirteen other top riders in the area for this award. Needless to say, I was very proud of what 'Bandit' and I had achieved. However, our victory there was only the beginning.

I have trained with top riders on the East Coast including; Joy Lopez-Hogan (trained under the legendary Jimmy Williams), Sally Secrest (trained with Jean Jacques Funfschilling, owner and rider of the legendary stallion 'Gaugin de Lully') and Kimberly Carnevale, a preliminary level jumper rider who trained extensively under George Morris, Mark Leone (Gran Prix Rider of Ri-Arm Farm), his brother Peter Leone (Former Olympic Medalist) and Anne Kursinski (also an Olympian).

Kim was one of my best and most influential instructors and more than that she was my mentor in the horse world. She passed her extensive knowledge, love of the horse and competitive spirit on to me.

Since our relocation from New Jersey to Tennessee I have continued to train and show. Although I have been on a sort of hiatus from the show ring I have no doubt that I will be back in the ring this upcoming season.

I take great pride in my horses and my training and riding. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have and will try my best to serve your needs.

I have sucessfully shown, trained and ridden in many different disciplines including: English, Western, Speed Events, Hunters, Halter and Showmanship, Dressage and more!

I have shown all different breeds of horses in breed association, rated and local shows.

I specialize in 'problem horses', abuse cases, re-training off track Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds, starting horses, re-training and re-conditioning and much more.  Please visit our training and services page for more information or feel free to e-mail or call with your questions.

Sincerely,

Nicole Schifando