About the Stables:
SunHorse Stables is located in a quiet neighborhood just southwest of the I-15 and 215 junction, and is near the Las Vegas Strip and Summerlin. The property has a beautiful, historical, 7 stall cinder-block barn built in the 1950s, and a 70’ x 90’ fenced, lighted arena. Additionally, the Western Trails Equestrian Park is within easy riding distance, with access to several large arenas, roundpens, and a bridle path, maintained by the Park.
Our barn is a small, quiet barn, focused on teaching horsemanship skills. Because we don’t focus on competition (though we certainly don’t discourage it) we are free to enjoy our horses and the peaceful ambiance they create.
We offer one on one lessons for added safety, to guarantee the instructor’s undivided attention, and to provide more value for the student.
Kids are welcome at our barn (we have two of our own), but we also set-aside time in the schedule for adults only. The benefit of this is that kids get to experience horses in a safe, welcoming environment, and adults get to unwind without the chaos that kids sometimes (ok, usually) create.
About the Horses
We have big horses and small.
Dakota is one of our miniature horses. She loves people and she loves being groomed. She is 10 years old and trained for riding, and because she is quite big (for a mini), she can carry kids up to 40 pounds. She is also learning to pull a cart.
Roxy is a Quarter Horse x Arabian, rescued through L.E.A.N. She is very affectionate and sweet and incredibly patient with beginning riders or those who want to go slow and easy. She is 19 years old and 14.2 hands high.
Sport is a Quarter Horse and a retired high-earning rope horse. He has a mischievous personality — unlocking gates, untying leadropes, and causing other chaos. But he is calm and rock-solid under saddle for lessons, and ver patient for beginning riders. He is 20 years old and 14.2 hands high, though built like a rhinoceros or a tank.
Stella is an off-the-track thoroughbred (OTTB), retrained in Western pleasure and then dressage, who has settled nicely into her new life with us. She is a high energy horse and does well with strong intermediate to advanced riders. She is 11 years old and 16.2 hands high.
Looker is a breeding stock paint who has been with us for 14+ years. He loves people and is a very high energy horse. He has been a guide horse for backcountry mountain trips, chased cows on weeklong cattle drives, has had years of dressage training, and has entertained many people with his beat-box lips. Because of his high energy he is suitable only for strong intermediate to advanced riders. He is 20 years old and 16.2 hands high.
About the Instructor
Laura began competing in junior rodeos at 3 years old. She started her first young horse when she was 12. She has since worked with many trainers and coaches in multiple disciplines, including rodeo, dressage, equitation, and reining, which gives her a well-rounded approach, and many many tools in her equestrian toolbox.
Laura has taken that experience and passed it on to new riders. Beginners and kids are her specialty. She has taken hundreds of beginners on trail rides, often on their very first ride. She truly enjoys seeing their doubts transform into joy. But she also has the ability to help more advanced students improve and continue to learn. Her multiple areas of study allow her to continually offer something new to prevent monotony for students and horses. Learning across disciplines is also a chance to gain new tools and to create respect for other types of horses, riders, and riding philosophies.
In her decades of equine experience, Laura has started dozens of horses, ridden and learned from hundreds, and has created a well-rounded training program that combines the best of cowboy groundwork and self-sufficiency with the finesse of dressage and the benefits of biomechanics.
Competition Record:
- Multiple medals at Utah Summer Games – Dressage (on self-trained horse)
- Many 1st/2nd place ribbons at local shows in Northern Nevada and Southern Utah – Western and English Pleasure, Equitation, Trail, Reining (on self-trained horses)
- Qualified for Nevada and Utah High School Rodeo State Finals – Breakaway Roping
- Year-End High Point buckle in Kanab, Utah Tri-Valley Rodeo Series – Breakaway Roping
- Year-End High Point, 12 & under, Rocky Mountain Barrel Racing Assoc. – Barrel Racing
- Many 1st/2nd place awards in junior and high school rodeos – Breakaway Roping, Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, Goat Tying
Studied Under:
- Working student for Gail Alterwitz, Esther Hillner, Terrill Heaton
- Attended clinics with Sue Curry, Will Faerber, and Than Hatcher
SunHorse Stables 