In 2019, dressage rider Lauren Kanarek was shot twice in the chest by her trainer, Olympic equestrian Michael Barisone, at his Hawthorne Hill estate in New Jersey. Kanarek survived after emergency surgery and a coma, while Barisone was arrested and charged with attempted murder. During the 2022 trial, Barisone was found not guilty by reason of insanity and subsequently admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Both Kanarek and Barisone recount their tumultuous relationship and the shooting incident in the 2026 Netflix documentary Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill, which has sparked controversy as Kanarek’s family claims the film favors Barisone’s perspective.

Kanarek, who began training with Barisone in 2018 and paid $5,000 monthly for training and boarding, experienced a deteriorating relationship marked by mutual accusations and social media conflicts. Despite the trauma, Kanarek continues to pursue her passion for dressage and remains with her boyfriend Rob Goodwin, who was also present during the shooting. While Kanarek participated in the documentary, her family’s attorney criticized it as an inaccurate true crime portrayal that exploits victims, emphasizing their goal to advocate for Kanarek’s truth and well-being.