Lauren Kanarek, a dressage rider at the center of a widely publicized 2019 shooting case, continues to draw public attention following the release of the Netflix documentary Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill in 2026. Kanarek survived after being shot twice and has since spoken about the traumatic incident involving her former coach, Olympic equestrian Michael Barisone.
What Happened in 2019
In August 2019, Lauren Kanarek accused her trainer, Michael Barisone, of shooting her at his Hawthorne Hill farm. The case quickly escalated into a major criminal investigation. Barisone was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree attempted murder, along with other offenses.
The incident shocked the equestrian world and raised serious concerns about safety and professional boundaries in elite training environments.
Police Response and Trial Outcome
Authorities responded rapidly to the shooting, leading to Barisone’s arrest shortly after the incident. During the legal proceedings, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2022.
Although he avoided prison on criminal charges, Barisone was permanently banned from participating in United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)-sanctioned events.
Lauren Kanarek’s Life Today
Following the attack, Kanarek focused on recovery and rebuilding her life. While she has maintained a relatively private profile, she reemerged in public conversation through Netflix’s Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill, where both she and Barisone share their perspectives on the events leading up to the shooting.
Kanarek’s family has expressed concerns about how the documentary presents the case, with her father, Jonathan Kanarek, stating that it gave more attention to Barisone’s account than to his daughter’s experience.
Despite the trauma, Kanarek continues to be recognized as a survivor whose story remains part of ongoing discussions about mental health, accountability, and safety in competitive sports.
FAQs
Was Lauren Kanarek seriously injured?
Yes. She was shot twice during the 2019 incident but survived.
What happened to Michael Barisone?
He was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2022 and banned from USEF events.
Is Lauren Kanarek in the Netflix documentary?
Yes. She appears in Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill, released in April 2026.
Where is Lauren Kanarek now?
She is living a private life while occasionally speaking about her experience through media coverage and documentaries.
Lauren Kanarek’s story remains one of the most discussed equestrian-related legal cases in recent years. While she continues to maintain privacy, renewed attention from Netflix’s documentary has brought her experience back into the spotlight, highlighting both her survival and the lasting impact of the 2019 shooting incident.