John Berney
President
I have lived in the San Juan Capistrano area my whole life. My relationship with horses started at the Smith Stables in Capistrano Beach. As a young boy it was Western and bareback riding. I started riding English at Coto de Caza in the early 70s as well as continuing to ride in San Juan Capistrano where my sister ran a stable. I helped her run her training business until I left for college in 1980.
Cathy Hanson
Vice-President
My name is Cathy Hanson and I grew up showing western horses in the Riverside area. I went to England to study Dressage, Cross Country Jumping and Hunters. After passing the BHSAI Exam I moved to San Juan Capaistrano in 1978 and started a horse training business.
I currently own and operate Hanson Quarter Horses, a boarding and training facility for both Western and English disciplines. I have been a Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Association Director for 17 years, serving as President from 2003 to 2005. I am currently the Youth Advisor for PCQHYA. I am a lifetime member of the American Quarter Horse Association and am a member of the Professional Horsemen’s Association. I am an AQHA Director and serve on the AQHA Youth Committee. I was honored in 2007 to receive the Professional Horsemen’s “Most Valuable Professional Award”. I opened my facility in 2009 to the Mustard Seed Ranch, a wonderful organization, which uses horses to help abused children. I enjoy showing on the Quarter Horse Circuit as well as open shows. I have a wonderful and amazing 17 year old daughter, Taylor. In addition to my special equine friends, I have 1 Labrador, 2 Corgis, and 3 cats, one of which loves to ride on the horses!
Julie Ryan Johnson, DVM
Ways and Means
I grew up in San Juan Capistrano riding the trails to horse shows to compete in barrel racing since I was 11. I worked my way through Cal Poly San Luis Obispo training Arabians, riding endurance and playing polo for the school team. During veterinary school at University of Wisconsin, I was exposed to English riding. While completing an internship in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, my students taught me to ride Hunters and Dressage.
My husband, Dr. Gary Johnson of Dana Niguel Veterinary Hospital, proposed to me by braiding my engagement ring in the forelock of the horse he bought me as an engagement gift (yes he is a keeper). Gary caught the 3-Day Eventing bug while visiting Ireland. He is making up for learning to ride during his 40′s and now competes regularly on his Irish Thoroughbred horse, Irish Blue. I enjoy riding Dressage on my lab-like horse Beau, also of Irish descent. And I am the proud owner of a beautiful Dutch Warmblood yearling filly, Alainn (beautiful in Gaelic) who was given to me by my best friend Kari. You can see me and my friends regularly running up the trail we affectionately call ‘Mt Doom’ aka Shea Trail with our pack of dogs (Noah, Darby, Graham, Riley, Duke, Chewlo and Cooper) and yes sometimes we even take the horses. I hope you will join us for our very informative summer lecture series or have your pets micro-chipped at one of our ID clinics.
Debi Brum
I am a life long resident of Southern California and, as a child, spent endless hours pining over the dream of someday owning my own horse.
Well, that dream came true 13 years ago when I acquired my first horse and decided his home would be in San Juan Capistrano. During visits over the next few years my husband, Roger and I became so captivated by this unique and friendly town that we decided to make San Juan Capistrano our home as well. Now that we are residents we recognize just how special our city is. We particularly enjoy observing the different species of wildlife that co-exist right along side of us as well as the cool ocean breezes and distinctive natural ridgelines. I am currently enjoying the challenging sport of dressage with my two equine partners, Keepsake and Milano. I am fortunate to be able to compete at horse shows here in Southern California and have witnessed first hand the gradual disappearance of show venues and stables. So much of what we have enjoyed in the past may be in jeopardy and only through commitment and education can we hope to slow this progression and preserve our heritage. I am excited to represent the equestrian community through the SJCEC and will work diligently to maintain and make possible the dream of horse ownership here in Orange County.
Linda Renee
Member at Large
I grew up in West Los Angles and Malibu riding in the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains and along the beach by Paradise Cove. One of the many fabulous memories I have from those days is riding bareback in my bikini (!) and swimming my horse through the swells at high tide toward Catalina Island and then turning around and riding the swells back to shore—the horse loved it—and so did I. During those years I rode a lot—bareback, western pleasure, saddleseat, sidesaddle, and a little bit of hunt seat. I just loved to ride and it sure didn’t matter the type of saddle I was in or the type of horse I was on it was (and is) what I love to do.
After high school I moved to Utah and enjoyed the skiing and beautiful canyons for six years and then moved back to Southern California, got married and moved up to La Selva Beach in Santa Cruz County. Of course, I began riding again and enjoyed the experience of being on horseback under the fragrant canopy of the giant redwoods. It was in Santa Cruz and Monterey that I became involved with the sports of endurance, ride-and-tie, and eventing.
I’ve been happily living in San Juan Capistrano since January of 1990 when I accepted a job at Irvine Valley College in Irvine. I chose to live in San Juan Capistrano and commute to Irvine because of San Juan’s commitment to the enhancement and preservation its equestrian heritage. I am proud to be a citizen of San Juan and enjoy the benefits of living in a city that values not only the money the horses bring in to the local merchant and city coffers but also values the intrinsic qualities horses bring to our community.
My horse, River Court, competes in eventing at the international level and I am kept very busy making sure he is happy, mentally challenged, and in top condition. I am particularly interested in the nuances and science of equine conditioning, preventative medicine, and injury rehabilitation. I am an active member of the City of San Juan Capistrano’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Large Animal Response Team (LART). I am a graduate in management from Saint Mary’s College of California. I have been a member of the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition since its inaugural year.
Sam Allevato
Advisory Board
City Councilman, former Mayor of San Juan Capistrano, and retired Irvine police lieutenant (1979-2002), Sam Allevato was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia. He moved to California in 1950, and has lived in San Juan Capistrano since July of1976. He is married and has two children. As a member of the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition, Councilman Allevato is also an avid horseman.
He is an active member of El Viaje de Portola Riders and a Board Member of Padre Junipero Serra Trailriders. Sam sets an example for young people to remain active and always learning. His work as Community Chairperson for the South Orange County Explorer Scouts Learning for Life Program also helps him to achieve this goal of providing leadership and inspiration for youth in our community. Sam graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with a BS in Police Science and Administration in 1969, and went on to graduate from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles with a Masters of Public Administration degree in 1976, from P.O.S.T. Command College at Cal Poly, Pomona in June of 1989, from the F.B.I. National Academy in 1992, and from Southwest Command College in 1998.
