JAN LARSEN

Jan, a native of California, has been training horses professionally for close to 30 years. Jan showed as a youth rider primarily in “A” Circuit Hunter & Jumper shows such as Del Mar, Indio & Santa Barbara under the guidance of well known trainers such as Don Swan, Mary Jacubic, Leslie Ortley, Pam Lynn, & Max Bonham.  She began showing English Horses on the Quarter Horse Circuit in 1974 and learning about the Western Horse industry. 

After many years showing on the Southern Calif. Quarter Horse and Open circuits, specializing in Youth and Amateur all-around horses, Jan entered the Paint Horse world in 1984.  Since then she has concentrated on APHA Shows, training numerous California State Champions, Reserve Champions, and top five all-around horses in most every calendar year.  She has trained & shown numerous APHA World, Reserve World, and Congress Champions in classes such as Trail, Western Riding, Hunter Hack, Hunter Under Saddle, Working Hunter, Horsemanship, Hunt Seat Equitation, Walk Trot & Lead Line, along with countless top five and top ten placings.  She has had multiple Honor Roll and top 20 winners as well.  In 1992 Jan also took a Jr. Trail Horse to the AQHA World Show in Oklahoma, placing 3^rd. 

In 1995 Jan was the very proud to be the recipient of a Trainers Award given at the Memorial Weekend POR in Rancho Murrietta for Outstanding Professionalism.  That was one of the highlights of her career, since the award was voted on by both the show management and the show judges.

Jan’s focus is to teach students and their horses to achieve attainable goals while having fun.  This is her client’s hobby, and very much a family affair, and that atmosphere is crucial to everyone’s success.

Jan lives with her husband Pete, a Senior Medical Laser Technician, their 4 cats and one dog, on their 10 acre facility in Gilroy, Calif.

PETE LARSEN

Although Pete doesn’t have much to do with the horses themselves, he is a very important part of the team. Pete is known as a combination of “Tim, the Toolman, Taylor and Macgyver”.  He is responsible for most of the building of the beautiful Gilroy facility, and all of the repairs.  He is always there to repair anything, and lives for projects.  He does all of this after he has gone to his “real” job building surgical lasers.

LOU MOORE JACOBSEN

Lou is the heart and soul of the Hunters and Jumpers for Jan Larsen Performance Horses.  She often doesn’t get very much at home time with most of the horses, but has ridden clients horses to both World Championships and Honor Roll titles.  Not to mention, many State Champion and Reserve Championships.

She is one of the most talented riders in California, and her professionalism cannot to be rivaled.  She has countless times stepped upon one of our horses she has never ridden, and gone out to win with them in the very first class!  We are so lucky to have her helping us.

Lou and her husband Rick Jacobsen run “One Moore Training” in Templeton, Calif. Specializing in 3 day eventing, hunters, mules and driving.

ABOUT OUR FACILITY

Jan Larsen Performance Horse is located just 3 blocks from Hwy 101 in Gilroy, Calif.  The ranch sits on 10 acres overlooking the valley.  The amenities include a 13 stall FCP main barn with 10 -  12 x 12  and 3 -  12 x 16 box stalls,  complete with indoor grooming areas , wash racks, office  and tack rooms.  There is also an additional 5 stall barn and 3 grass turnout paddocks approximately 116 x 118.  All stalls have rubber mats, automatic waterers and timed lights.  Horses are fed, and stalls cleaned twice daily seven days per week. 

A spacious 90’ x 150’ covered riding arena, a 110’ x 200’ outdoor sand jumping and driving arena, 60’ round pen, and trail arena are available to ride in.

There is full time staff that lives on the property.  Jan & Pete also live on the property.

Of course we count on our backup team - Lexus, Crash and Mimi - from helping lounge the horses, to picking up those wayward treats, they are ready to help!

Photos by

Gail Bates, KC Montgomery Photography, John O'Hara Photography, Alyssa Marschke and Katherine Filice, Photo by Mikey Harchol. Facility Photos by Kim Fancher-Lordier.