NJ Olympian who shot his trainee says US Equestrian Federation ignored complaints of her abuse

The shocking incident involving the shooting of equestrian trainee Lauren Kanarek by Olympian Michael Barisone in 2019 has brought to light a series of disturbing events and allegations. Barisone, who was eventually acquitted of attempted murder by reason of insanity, has now filed a lawsuit blaming the US Equestrian Federation for not taking action on complaints about Kanarek’s abusive behavior.

According to Barisone, the federation had received reports from at least three women about Kanarek’s troubling conduct more than a year before the shooting took place. He claims that if they had acted on these complaints in 2018, the tragic incident could have been prevented. Barisone had appealed to the federation for help with Kanarek in the weeks leading up to the shooting, but his pleas went unanswered.

Barisone, a former member of the Olympic team, had been working with Kanarek at his Florida facility before allowing her to live on his New Jersey farm with her boyfriend while continuing her training. However, he was unaware of the complaints lodged against Kanarek with the USEF, including disturbing behavior such as tormenting a woman over the death of her son and making abusive and threatening statements towards others.

The lawsuit also alleges that Kanarek had a history of drug abuse and had made threatening statements towards Barisone and his fiancée. Despite his efforts to address the situation, Kanarek continued her harmful behavior, leading Barisone to fear for his life and warn the USEF that she might try to kill him.

Barisone’s legal battle and subsequent acquittal have shed light on the failures of the equestrian governing body to address complaints of abuse and misconduct within the sport. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of taking action against individuals who pose a threat to others in the equestrian community.

While Kanarek has not responded to requests for comment, the lawsuit against Barisone was dropped, and the USEF has declined to comment on the matter. The aftermath of this tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the need for accountability and action to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.