92 SIDELINES JULY 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Katie Navarra
Rocky Mountain trainer Laurie Jueneman loves her life in
Colorado. It’s a far cry from her childhood in Kansas, but with the
gorgeous Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, Laurie feels like she’s
home at last. Living in Parker, Colorado, Laurie believes it’s one of
the nation’s best places to live. Coincidentally, CNNMoney agreed
and in 2013 named Parker the #12 Best Place to Live.
Located less than 30 minutes from metropolitan Denver, the
small town of Parker offers the perfect combination of panoramic
mountain views, tall pine trees and rural traditions.
Sheltered by the pine trees of South Parker, Snowfield Farm
— owned and operated by Laurie — is surrounded by a bustling
equestrian community and is a short drive from the Colorado
Horse Park. “The horses are happy and relaxed here,” she said.
“It has a real mountainy feel.”
Through quality teaching and an ability to ride and manage
horses, Laurie is able to help her clients achieve a relationship
with their horse that’s comfortable and allows them to
perform to the best of their ability. “It’s about helping people
feel confident and when they feel confident in themselves
and their horse, their best can come through,” she said.
Not in Kansas Anymore
Born and raised in the Midwest, Laurie first visited Colorado
for a month-long vacation after leaving a position as Operations
Manager for Aldis, Inc., a European grocery chain. Following the
one-month holiday, she intended to return to Kansas City, Kansas,
where her parents owned and operated White Fox Manor, a
hunter/jumper facility. The facility, purchased in the 1990s, was
originally intended as a real estate investment for her father, a
banker. “Little did he know what he was getting into,” she laughed.
Instead of returning home, Laurie settled in Vail where she
managed a ski shop and taught lessons alongside Phillip
Dreissigazker. “Winter turned to summer, summer turned to fall,
e
Rocky Mountains
In the Rockies —
Home at Last
fall turned into 13 years,” she laughed.
Eventually, she decided it was time to go out on her own. She
left the ski shop in 2000 and started her own training facility
located on land rented from the local school district. A few years
later, the school needed the property for expansion and gave her
six months to evacuate. “It was really sad, the barn was leveled to
make room for a new high school,” she said.
In search of a new place to call home, Laurie looked eastward
to Parker.
Happy to Be Home
Today, approximately 25 riders train out of Snowfield Farm,
which features a heated 23-stall barn, a smaller 10-stall barn and
two giant arenas, one indoor and one outdoor.
Riders range in age from 4 to 72 years old. “My biggest strength
is to take an individual and their horse and bring out the best of
both of them,” she said.
While her farm is located in Parker, Laurie remains committed
to the clients she left behind in Vail. Twice each week she drives
Laurie Jueneman and Rio’s Firefly
Photo by Flying Horse Photography
Laurie with her clients.
Photo courtesy of Laurie Jueneman
