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C Lazy U Ranch in the Press

Running Free: How a Colorado Ranch and Its Horses Inspired a Debut Novel

October 23, 2024

We’re happy to share two regional outlets, The Gazette and Fox31, looked back on the ranch’s experience with the East Troublesome Fire while covering Ami’s debut novel, Running Free, in online articles and broadcast segments.

The Gazette article, “Colorado equestrian releases book inspired by the evacuation of 200 horses during East Troublesome fire” takes a deep dive into remembering how the wildfire impacted the ranch. It includes a conversation with Ami about the evacuation, detailing the team’s and volunteer’s efforts while providing a brief on Ami’s background and how the book’s storyline came about.

Additionally, Fox31 produced a segment on the story that was published online and aired twice yesterday evening, at 5pm and 9pm.

Read The Gazette article.

Read the Fox31 article.

Watch the 5pm segment.

Watch the 9pm segment.

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It was so wonderful. We all had a great time, but my four-year-old in particular was just thrilled with everything he got to experience. My mom asked him, "What was better, Disney World or the dude ranch?" He didn't hesitate: "Dude ranch!" And he made me pretend to be a horse doing the jingle last night when we had to come upstairs for bathtime, so he could be Brooks, one of the ranch hands we met. What a special place.

~ J. LaRusso, 08-10-2025

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