Meet the Staff
David and Laurie Gainey
Founder & Owner
David Gainey grew up right here and started his riding at 6 years old. He was self-taught, having learned through his own dedication to understanding how horses think, move, and learn. Through the years, David found he had a talent for training horses with groundwork and bringing them from “green” to “broke to ride” level of training. This started his 35-year career in training horses, gaining immeasurable experience, to include frequently working with “problem horses” with specific training needs such as loading into trailers. David has two sons, one of which, Brian Gainey, joined David in training horses by finishing their training in the saddle once David had completed groundwork training.
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Together, David and Brian started Gainey’s Horse Heaven Stables Inc 25 years ago and built, by hand, the red barn and pastures seen on the property today. After Brian joined the Army and moved away, David continued to grow and improve the business, and eventually married his wife, Laurie Gainey. David and Laurie have made this facility what it is today. After many long years of success at Gainey’s Horse Heaven Stables Inc, David and Laurie are semi-retired from the business and maintain ownership but have passed along management of the business to Richard Davis. Fortunately, the staff here has the opportunity to continue learning from David and his vast experience with horses as the “Barn Family” remains a close-knit community, going on organized trail rides, enjoying late night fires, and maintaining the “heaven on earth, here on horseback” way.
April Lee
Inbound Barn Manager
Mother of two, 16 &15 boy n girl
My story of how I got into horses is not one of a fairy tale. I didn’t get to grow up on a farm around animals or even ride a horse till I was 10 when visiting my sister. One horse, one creek, one ditch, while bareback with her leading…got thrown and never again I said to my 10-year-old self.
Fast forward to years later, my in-laws have a ranch in Montana. Nothing crazy, just a little hobby ranch with 12 + horses, 6 head of cattle, 10 dogs, and 4 cats. My exs aunt was diagnosed with cancer one summer and right away I flew down with my kids while their dad was deployed to help where I could. I ended up running the ranch in a learn as you go method for a year and a half while they focused on treatments and hospital visits. I spent one summer with two mustangs and a trainer from Guatemala who had been working with mustangs for over 30 years, two of us even made it in the local paper about our training methods. To say I fell in love with these animals is an understatement, I can’t stop searching and applying knowledge to my work with them. Every day there is something to learn if you’re open to it.
Before leaving Montana, we made a 6 hour trip one way to pick a pony up for these three little girls who lost their mother in a domestic fight that also ended in a horrible accident where two of the three girls were thrown from the car. After many surgeries, and many many doctor appointments the girls met their new pony that was going to teach them much more than to be humble and how to ride. We spent the who summer switching off lessons 3x a week. These girls, to watch them heal, learn, grow, and fall in love with something was more than I could have imagined being apart of. They were trail riding and galloping by the end of summer after just 10 lessons each.
After Montana I found some amazing horse friends at a barn I volunteered at to further my knowledge and experience around horses. I gained some great friends who I still learn from, and some great ideas and ways to run a barn.
I then volunteered at my now home. The Gainey’s Horse Heaven Stables. Before, I volunteered helping with anything and everything, I never wanted to leave but life and time. Time that has finally come back around. I am so excited to get there and start working with horses and meet new boarders, riders, and horse enthusiasts. I’m also excited to teach others, bring some amazing programs and activities to the barn for the who community to enjoy and fall in love with like I and many others have.
Courtney Dunlap
Riding Instructor
Courtney brings 15 plus years of equine industry experience into her coaching sessions. Whether teaching fundamentals or advanced skills, she believes coaching is about building a partnership with students. She shapes every ride according to the needs of the horse and rider. Courtney is passionate about helping veteran riders meet specific goals, as well as helping the next generation of riders fall in love with the sport.