Just like the best of childhood friends, Leslee Pugh and horses go way back. She started riding before she can remember, and by the time she was three years old, she was enrolled in formal lessons. Taking advantage of all the opportunities she could while growing up, she came to acquire expert-level familiarity with Arabian breeds and showing, and has worked with nationally renowned trainer Vickey Bowman. Eventually, her love of horses—which she shares with her husband, Jason—inspired the founding of Oak Haven.

At Oak Haven, they work as trainers, sharing their expertise with other horse lovers of all experience levels. They also place a premium on cultivating students' independence and self-confidence around the beautiful, big creatures they admire so much. Through this, they say, they've discovered that their pupils can develop fundamental skills that help them not only on horseback, but in life as well.