Welcome to Sunrise Farms Sport Horses
About Us
Sunrise Farms Sport Horses, Inc (or SRF) is a family owned and operated training, import and sales facility located on 15 pristine acres in Newberry ( North Central) Florida just 30 minutes from the Gainesville Regional Airport.
Shelley has enjoyed a successful training and show career since early 1990’s in a variety of riding disciplines. Karel has been training and competing horses in Europe since he was an early teenager and is an integral part of the program as Master Farrier. Hannah Lisec, our newest assistant rider and trainer is also an Equine Dentist having completed her training at one of the best schools in the Nation.
Together the team has a successful import and dressage horse sales program. We select horses from private owners in Holland , Belgium and all over Europe and after import spend several months in our program where we learn all about their personalities both on and off site , including horse shows and clinics. This extra time with the horses allows us to make the horses confident and happy athletes on American soil and in the Florida heat. This extra time spent with each Equine athlete enables us to find the right human athlete match.
It is our goal to be a presence at the USDF Regional and National Finals each year and also to see our imported horses there as well with their owners and riders.
Meet Our Team
Shelley Van den Neste
Owner / Winning Rider / Trainer
Shelley has enjoyed a successful training and show career since early 1990’s in a variety of riding disciplines
Karel Van den Neste
Master Farrier
Karel has been training and competing horses in Europe since he was an early teenager and is an integral part of the program as Master Farrier
Hannah Lisec
Assistant Trainer / Equine Dentist
Hannah Lisec, our newest assistant rider and trainer is also an Equine Dentist having completed her training at one of the best schools in the Nation
Shelley’s Career Highlights
- 2022 US Dressage Finals reserve Champion Grand Prix
- 2022 USDF Intermediare 1 Champion Vintage Professional
- 2022 USDF Grand Prix reserve Champion Vintage Professional
- USDF ‘L’ program graduate with distinction
- 2022 USDF Region 3 Grand Prix Musical Freestyle Champion
- 2022 USDF Res Champion Grand Prix Open
- 2021 USDF Res Champion Grand Prix Open and Grand Prix Musical Freestyle
- 2021 USDF Intermediare 2 reserve Champion Vintage Professional
- 2020 USDF Grand Prix Reserve Champion Vintage Professional
- 2017 USDF Intermediare 1 Champion Vintage Professional
- 2016 USDF Prix St George Champion Vintage Professional
- Multiple National
- Championships at IALHA Nationals
- Multiple National Champion Hunter Pleasure Open Horse, National Show Horse Finals
- Trainer and coach of champion equitation riders in Dressage , hunt seat, and saddle seat.
Karel’s Career Highlights
- 2007 Handler of USDF Region 5 Champion Stallion
- Trainer and Jockey Standard Bred race horses
- 1981 received “Meester-Hoefmeden” from Anderlecht, Belgium
- 1977-1980 Graduate from Ecole des Jockeys in Graignes, France
Hannah’s Career Highlights
- 2022 Region 3 Champion first level musical Freestyle
- USDF bronze and silver medalist , silver freestyle bar.
- 2022 TerraNova CDI small tour AM Champion
- 2022 WEC November CDI small tour AM Champion.
- 2021 US Dressage Finals fourth level freestyle top ten