There’s no doubt about it, Justin Resnik was born with an equine spirit -- a natural-born champion in an English saddle fearlessly conquering any obstacle in a career of riding and training some of the best international show jumpers this regal sport has ever seen. The ease and freedom of movement he commands in both riding and training is indeed testimony to his complete faith in the bond that is possible between man and horse, a bond he innately understood as a young child.
A childhood which clearly steered his spirit and formulated his destiny began when he was 5 years old and living in Laguna Beach and wanting to learn to ride horses more than ride surfboards. It began an evolution from western gymkhanas to arena polo and then to jumping horses, which gave Justin’s life a singleness of purpose; the world of riding and training horses.
Being athletic and fearless himself, Justin learned first-hand that the art of training horses was about allowing a horse’s individuality to shine through. “If a horse is not allowed to be himself, he will never be his best.” It was a defining lesson and the philosophical arc that characterizes his ongoing training at Eurosport Horses today.
At 16, Justin landed a paying job as a rider and never looked back – his professional status was launched. In between participating in competitions, Justin spent the next three years breaking stallions that were sold to The Oaks Ranch in San Juan Capistrano. The Oaks had become the hub for the California circuit of great riders. Justin continued training horses and competing for several high-profile owners until moving to Germany in 1999 to be a working rider under the German regime at the prestigious sales yard and training facility of Paul Schockemohle in Muhlen.
Justin’s career and aspirations continued to flourish. He was hired to be the Grand Prix rider for a family in Hamburg, which allowed him to show in competitions in Italy, Austria, Holland, France and Belgium over the next six years. He had many placings in the CSI *** and CSI**** -- and won a German National Grand Prix on his horse Lynas.
Today, Justin’s barn at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center is home to some of the best horses in the country.
His top competition horses includes: Carismo Z (Carthago Z/Galant de la Cour) a 10 year old Zangersheide stallion. Carismo z is owned by The Carismo Group, LLC. and will be starting in the Grand Prixs this year. Contact Me (Carthago/Acord), an 11 year old Holsteiner stallion, Lycos (Landor S/Zeus), a 13- year-old approved Oldenburg stallion. Lycos had 2 Grand Prix placings, Copias, a 13 year old Holsteiner gelding (Calido/Caletto I) with 10 Grand Prix placings, Quantum Leap, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Quinar/Cassini I) Citoki (Catoki/Chambertin), a 5-year-old Holsteiner stallion and Contact Em (Contact Me/Calando I), a 5-year-old Holsteiner stallion, Qupid (Quidam de Revel/Cor de la Bryere) a 6 year old Holsteiner stallion.
Justin regularly imports horses from Germany to train and sell as well as accepts horses from around the world for initial training, or to be re-trained in a manner where the horse and rider can reach their maximum potential.
Justin credits his deep industry experience in Europe, along with the multitude of horses he has ridden and trained, with giving him a unique training philosophy that allows him to work with horses to not only perform well, but to love what they do!
