Lisa Carlsen skyrocketed to the top of Canadian show jumping aboard Kahlua, the diminutive Thoroughbred gelding she partnered with as a 15-year-old new to the sport. Together they won individual gold and team silver at the North American Young Rider Championships, two Canadian Championships, were members of the Canadian Team at the 1988 Olympics, competed at two World Cup Finals, and were 1987 Pan Am Games gold medalists. Kahlua’s induction into the Canadian Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 2011 solidified their place in show jumping history.
Lisa has remained a force at the biggest tournaments in North America. With her 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding, La Boom, she was team alternate for the 2012 Canadian Olympic team in London, and competed in Nations’ Cup competitions in Gijon, Spain, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Together with husband and business partner Dayton Gorsline, she operates Trademark Stables, a 40-acre facility in Spruce Grove, AB.
The two first met in 1988 at Spruce Meadows when Lisa was still living in Toronto. Lisa moved out west in 1996 and the pair began dating shortly after. Dayton is an accomplished rider and trainer who has represented Canada as a team member and acted as chef d’équipe for the 2012 European Young Riders Tour. He is currently the head of the selection committee for Alberta’s North American Young Riders team. Lisa’s half-sister, Christine Carlsen, 14, competes as well, recently earning a bronze medal at the Interprovincial Championships in Alberta. Her step-sister, Kelsey Perry-Carlsen, rides out of Angelstone in Rockwood, ON, with Kevin Crosby.
Widely regarded as a ferocious competitor, Lisa sometimes finds it tough standing ringside while her daughter Cassie, 11, competes with her medium pony hunter, Black Pearl. “I love the fact my daughter rides and is enjoying it, and I think it teaches great responsibility. I really enjoy coaching her at home, but do like outside assistance at the shows, as I get a bit nervous for her.
“At a show in Bend, Oregon, this summer we were warming up for a class and Cassie and her pony had a bad fall. Cassie’s pony landed on the back rail and flipped over. The coach in me made sure she was all right and made her get back on and go to the ring. The parent in me wanted to sit down and cry, I was so scared for her safety. I cried by myself when she wasn’t around. I think I’m much more nervous watching her at this point than I am about jumping the 1.60m classes.”
Lisa has noted other changes as a horsewoman since becoming a mother. “I’m not nervous as much as cautious since becoming a mom,” she explains. “I’m more aware that I have someone who really relies on me. I don’t even get on my daughter’s pony or walk a horse without a helmet on my head, and some days in the ring I’m okay with not taking crazy risks and just taking second or third. You are much more aware that you’re always being watched, and it’s a reminder to always try to be a role model and set a good example in everything you do, from cleaning stalls to sportsmanship.”
The family works hard, but also finds time for play. “Our daughter probably keeps the balance for us, as for her sake we try to do different things,” says Lisa. “The summers are hard because of the busy show schedule, but in the winter we’ll take a holiday and go skiing or skating, stuff like that. The really nice thing about having a family in the industry is that we get to spend a lot of time together.”
The fact that her daughter is fast approaching the age where Lisa’s career began its upward trajectory offers an interesting perspective on youth and priorities. “I was just a kid, but even then I realized how special Kahlua was. When you’re that age you don’t think about commitments, looking after your family, getting older, or career longevity. It’s just you, your horse and your dreams. I am so grateful to have had that opportunity to realize those dreams.” She remains a role model to every little girl with Olympic aspirations. “It doesn’t happen that often and I’m lucky that it happened to me. I want it to happen to somebody else, to be able to find that special horse and realize their potential.”
