SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO WILL ALWAYS BE SYNONYMOUS WITH THE MISSION AND THE SWALLOWS, BUT AN EQUALLY PROMINENT HALLMARK OF THIS CITY IS ITS RENOWNED EQUESTRIAN LIFESTYLE.


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nown as the “Equestrian Capital of the West Coast,” San Juan offers a wide array of equestrian activities,


facilities and services, which are all backed by strong support from the community and the city. The city boasts more than 57 miles of


trails to ride in San Juan’s picturesque hillside community and more than 2,000 horses in the city with enough resources to support them. San Juan’s equestrian history harkens


back to its early cattle-ranching days during the 1800s. Ideal weather condi- tions and large, expansive land for cattle grazing made San Juan an ideal spot for the “California cowboy.” A lot has changed since then, but San Juan has always been a staunch protector of its history and char- acter, and that has allowed the equestrian community to prosper. One such example is Rancho Mission


Viejo, the last working cattle ranch in Orange County. “We’ve been here 130 years. We’re


ranchers, and we’re proud of our heritage,” said Tony Moiso, Rancho Mission Viejo’s president and CEO. Through its annual two-day rodeo, which celebrates early California history and the traditions of the American West, Rancho Mission Viejo has donated more than $1.1 million to local charities, includ- ing The Shea Center for Therapeutic Riding. The Shea Center is dedicated to improv- ing the lives of people with disabilities through therapeutic riding programs. With only 12 full-time staff members, the center relies heavily on volunteers, many of whom are from San Juan. “We have a unique triangle of service


here with the horses, our highly trained staff and our highly trained volunteers,”


said Dana Butler, executive director of The Shea Center. “San Juan Capistrano has a wonderful sense of community and belonging. I think this sense of community translates throughout the equestrian com- munity.”


American Horse Products, located at 31896 Plaza Drive, Suite C4, bills itself as Orange County’s largest equestrian store and is a popular spot for local enthusi- asts to pick up anything and everything they need to take care of their horses and maintain their lifestyle. This one-stop- shop for all things equestrian features nearly 14,000 products, including saddles, tack, supplements and horse feed. “What we have tried to do is become a


part of the community and do things for the equestrian lifestyle,” said owner Jim Carter. “We get people from other states who are usually involved in local riding shows to come into the store frequently. They’re reaction is they’ve never seen a store like this,” Carter said. Carter, who runs the business with his


wife Diane Carter, moved the store to San Juan from Laguna Niguel in 2007. Carter said that one of the things that convinced him that he and his wife made the right move was when then-mayor, current councilman and equestrian Sam Allevato joined the two for lunch to welcome them to the city. “That’s really the difference between the mentality of other cities and San Juan Capistrano,” Carter said. “The city is alive with talk and equestrian activities … What we have tried to do is become part of the community and do things for the eques- trian lifestyle.” Peel back the layers of the city, and you


are likely to find some influence of the city’s equestrian past, present and future: The annual Swallows’ Day Parade,


heralded as the nation’s largest non-mo- torized parade, might be inspired by the birds, but it is most notably powered by the horses. In 2003, the Chamber of Com- merce started its own Equestrian Council to support and unify the city’s equestrian businesses and organizations. And San Juan Hills Golf Course is the likely the only golf course in Orange County with its own horse corral, making it a popu- lar meeting place and watering hole for equestrians. The Equestrian Council has put together


a comprehensive online resource for equestrian enthusiasts, sanjuanhorses. com. The website features a complete directory of equestrian businesses, orga- nizations and services that are part of the


council. “It’s brought a synergy between the dif-


ferent businesses and stables,” said Shelly Barker, who not only represents the coali- tion but is also a member of Las Vaqueras, a local nonprofit women’s riding club, and an equestrian activist. There is always work to be done to pro-


tect San Juan’s equestrian past and ensure its future, so it’s no coincidence that there is an organization in town that operates by that very motto. The San Juan Capistrano Equestrian


Coalition, established in 2003, is a non- profit dedicated to promoting San Juan’s equestrian lifestyle through education and support of various causes, issues and events. The coalition’s annual Barn Dance and


Equestrian Fair serves a dual purpose, both as a fun night of food, wine and live entertainment and as a fundraiser for local causes. In recent years, the Barn Dance has supported Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano, a program sponsored by St. Margaret’s Episcopal School and whose goal is to increase educational opportu- nities for Marco Forster Middle School students from low-income families. The coalition also hosts a summer lec-


ture series that offers guests the chance to hear about the latest developments in the equestrian world from civic leaders, industry experts and equine specialists. Trails and top-notch facilities are plenti- ful in San Juan, as well. There are seven major stables, plenty that cater to both Western and English-style riders. The city’s staging areas also allow for easy transportation of horses. On the city’s east side, Blenheim Equi-


sports, an equestrian event management company based out of the city-owned Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, hosted the first Olympic Equestrian Team trial on the West Coast in 2000 and two more in 2004 and 2008. The coalition has also provided a useful


resource for riders by putting together a comprehensive virtual map of San Juan’s 57-mile trail system. The interactive map not only features key trail facts, but it also includes photos and videos of the trail itself. The maps can be found on the city’s website, sanjuancapistrano.org. Needless to say, San Juan has plenty to


offer for equestrians. There’s always room for growth, as local equestrian activities are likely to tell you, but simply put, San Juan is one of the premiere locations in Southern California to live and own a horse. —Brian Park


San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce | Business Directory & Visitor Guide 33


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