Owner and trainer Gianna Pfanku of Pfanku Horsemanship has spent over 15 years learning the language of the horse, and developing a fresh approach to help equestrians of all disciplines and learning levels understand their equine partners in a whole new way. Gianna gives her students and horse training clients the skills and knowledge necessary to become a complete horseman, from the ground up. Whether it be trailer loading, colt starting, "last chance" cases, etc - Gianna is always ready and willing to put herself to the test to achieve positive and life-long training results. Gianna is a firm believer that our interactions with our horses reflect the things happening in the rest of our lives, and has made it a piece of her program to help clients unearth what is truly holding them back and hindering next-level success with their equine partner. Kind, relaxed, direct, and fluff-free, Gianna will take things at your pace, while expertly knowing when to guide you out of your comfort zone. 

Gianna has worked tirelessly to develop a calm, relaxed, direct and FUN approach to help horses gain both confidence in themselves and respect for their owner. She has studied the programs of some of the best horsemen to date, including Buck Brenneman, Warwick Schiller, Ian Francis, and John Lyons. With years of experience, Gianna has developed a program unique in both the way she works with the horse, and the way she teaches the rider. 

  “Our end goal is to help clients create a space that develops a respectful and relaxed equine partner, and a confidence within themselves to handle any situation they find themselves in. Clients can expect to improve greatly not only as a rider, but as an all around horseman. From the ground up, we will build your confidence as a team, and change your relationship with your horse for the long term.
 When you choose Pfanku Horsemanship, you will immediately be set up for success. Your horse is already telling you what they need, we just need to do a little translation together. We will address what is holding you back, and give you the confidence (for perhaps the first time in your life) to break down those walls and insecurities, and achieve your goals with your equine partner. I can not wait to see you succeed. " 

- Gianna Pfanku  

  Abbi is an assistant trainer and joined the Pfanku Horsemanship team in  April 2023.  Her areas of interest include groundwork, giving horses  confidence, miles under saddle and trailer loading.  Abbi enjoys helping  horses become solid citizens in all situations by following and  applying concepts from the California vaquero.  

Abbi has  been a passionate equestrian and has enjoyed horses her entire life.   As a child Abbi took lessons and competed in her first horse show in  1996 at the Hoofers Riding Club Mothers Day Show.  She continued with  lessons growing up at Hy-Lee Farm, Madison Dressage, Timeless Farm and  Lisa Sharer Equestrian Stables.  As a teenager and young adult Abbi  competed on the local hunter/jumper circuit, dabbled in ranch and team  roping and working off track thoroughbreds and green horses.  Some of  Abbi’s favorite horse industry influences include Buck Brannaman, Ray  Hunt, Clinton Anderson, Lee Smith and Joe Wolters.  

While  in high school Abbi was involved in FFA and during her summer breaks  and days off from school Abbi worked for Madison Equine Clinic as a  veterinary assistant from 2003 to 2008.  In 2008 she made the transition  over to small animal medicine and worked for Veterinary Speciality and  Emergency Care/Edinger Surgical Options from 2008 to 2013 as a surgical  assistant and overnight assistant.  To further her skills Abbi went and  worked for Veterinary Emergency Service from 2013 to 2018 as a  veterinary technician on the emergency side and occasionally picked up  shifts in oncology as well.  While small animal medicine was fun Abbi  missed large animal medicine and worked for Rood & Riddle Equine  Hospital from 2015-2017 as a veterinary technician.  Abbi went back to  school and started working for UW Health as an inpatient pharmacy  technician and narcotic vault technician from 2019 to 2021.  


When  Abbi is not at the barn she enjoys cooking, gardening, managing her  apiary, trying new restaurants, collecting bourbon and traveling!  At  home Abbi has a cat named Saxon and a labrador retriever named  Poppyseed.