Education

Lisa Diersen is an equestrian; riding since she could sit in a saddle, Diersen has a great appreciation for all types of equestrian disciplines. She is Founder and Director of the EQUUS Film Festival, now in its 12th season. The EFF empowers storytellers to show horse’s rich history and diverse tapestry in human culture through equestrian content, film, art, and literature. The EQUUS Film Festival is the first film festival oriented around equestrian-themed content from all over the world that also travels the world. Screening feature films, documentaries, shorts, music videos, commercials, training educational materials, art, and literature, covering all equestrian disciplines, creating a home for the storytellers of the horse world.

Created for Horse Lovers…by Horse Lovers!

Her mission is to show the world how horses can bring everyone together regardless of race, age, gender, abilities, or disabilities. Lisa is passionate about the education and enlightenment of others to the wonderful world of horses and everything they can do to enrich our lives.

Producer and writer credits on the DOWN Syndrome equine documentary “A Pony and His Boy: The Story of Berry & Josh” for the EQUUS Film Festival in New York City and the National DOWN Syndrome Congress 2019 with SPOTLIGHT Rescue Series partner and film director Julianne Neal. Working on additional SRS documentaries to add to the series she and Neal started in 2017. The Mustang Discovery Ride Project is now in production. Lisa is the Executive Director of the Mustang Discovery Foundation. Adding “The Mustang Summit” to the programming in 2022. With a focus on educating the general public about the American Mustang Horse and its importance in the world today.

She is a published equine author with many articles to her credit. Diersen spent the early part of her career with General Motors in engineering, then moving into the subdivision development and home/barn building market, winning an Illinois Home Builder Award, before returning to her first love…working with horses! She spends her time, when not promoting equestrian film, having fun promoting Classical Dressage, Lusitano, and Mustang horses, and spending time with her faithful Jack Russell Terrier, Amore, and her Lusitano, Urano.