It was in Connecticut and New Hampshire where Laurie grew up showing and training hunter/jumpers, dressage, and endurance horses. After joining the Air Force in 1982 she met and married Andy in 1987. Andy grew up in Texas, raising beef cattle while participating in FFA. Andy joined the Air Force in the 1970s near the end of the Vietnam War, serving at many bases overseas and state side, retiring from Active Duty upon returning from Saudi Arabia at the end of Desert Storm in 1991.
Their first horses together were strictly for riding in the beautiful Wasatch mountains that surrounded the area. Their horses were kept at the stables' on Hill Air Force Base, which they ended up managing and hosting 'fun shows' for the other boarders.
Pheasant Run Stables was established in 1989. Andy and Laurie found their 8 acre stables'. Andy always dreamed of owning a farm-Laurie dreamed to be surrounded by horses. The facility had been previously used for breeding and training flat track quarter horses and consisted of one 12 stall barn and a 10 stall foaling barn. Sometimes little boys and girls dreams do come true.
At first, they were a large horse boarding and training stable. Seventy-five horses were in their care during full operation. In the summer months they hosted many 'fun shows' and 'play days' at their facility. Giving their boarders a chance to compete in a variety of horsemanship classes. Several boarders have gone on to compete and win on a national level.
Their vet's secretary had miniature horses and had helped plan for the AMHA Nationals in Odgen, Utah--better known as "Hurricane Nationals", due to a sudden horrific wind storm that occurred and sent outside portable tents flying. They spent the entire day-fascinated with the beauty of the animals and those prices! Not long after, a neighbor gave them their chance to own their first two miniatures.
