Charni Lewis

Charni Lewis
Basic Horsemanship
(626) 993-4014
charni@earthlink.net

Charni Lewis became a trainer at Flintridge in 2002 after studying Dressage with Kit Stebbins and Gerhard Politz at Flintridge since 1998.  Charni has participated in clinics with Alfred Knopfhart and Col. Christian Carde and has shown successfully at 3rd level. Previously, Charni was on staff at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona as their English equitation instructor teaching horsemanship and guest lecturing in a variety of classes, including Equine Physiology and Equine Management. In addition to riding instruction, Charni worked at Cal Poly Pomona’s Equine Research Center assisting professors and veterinarians in equine physiology research, which has been published in scientific journals and presented at international conferences.

Charni’s diverse horse career began with American Saddlebred horses in 1977, when she rode and showed at the local Altadena Stables. She then progressed to breaking, training and teaching riding lessons, while also handling horses at Thoroughbred racehorse auctions in California and Kentucky. These two horse pursuits ran in parallel for over 20 years, complimented by a variety of work experience: working on Thoroughbred breeding farms; working as an equine veterinary assistant; studying Western riding, training and trail work with trainers like Mike Baker and Hal Shiftner; leading the educational pack in the High Sierra; completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Business Management; and eventually studying Dressage at Flintridge Riding Club.

In addition to traditional riding and equine management ventures, Charni has choreographed, produced and performed in riding exhibitions in the United States and abroad. In preparation for a performance in the closing ceremonies of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, Charni worked with a trick horse trainer teaching 10 horses to rear on command and walk on their hind legs. After a successful performance in Japan, Charni and these horses, owned by Scripps Miramar Ranch of San Diego, appeared on television specials, participated in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade and were featured in this year’s Chinese New Year’s Parade in Hollywood, CA.