SAN JUAN experience
EQUESTRIAN LIFE AND THE OUTDOORS "Just living is not enough.
One must have sunshine, green grasses and a little flower." Hans Christian Anderson
BY ROBYN WYMAN-DILL Tese words were written for a butterfly but also aptly describe San
Juan Capistrano’s landscape of almost 50 percent open space, devoted to the enjoyment of nature. Tere are 26 community parks, 13 horse stables, six main sports parks, two private golf courses—known for having the best greens and fairways in south Orange County—two youth roller hockey courts, a world-class equisports center and 43 miles of multi- purpose trails for hikers, bikers and equestrian riders. Te community has always valued the land for its natural beauty, begin-
ning with the Indians who settled here roughly 8,000 years ago, leaving behind 29 acres of sacred burial plots. In 1775, Franciscan Fr. Fermín Lasuén would consecrate a parcel of
valley real estate as the sacred grounds of Mission San Juan Capistrano. While ranching families, who took up homesteads here in the 1830s, brought their cattle and sheep to graze on San Juan Creek’s grassy banks, creating a network of trails to connect their properties. Many of the origi- nal trails are still active and considered to be the best-maintained dirt and paved trails in Orange County, according to Saddleback College Professor of Kinesiology Jan Duquette, who has been instructing walking and trail hiking fitness classes for 15 years and especially appreciates San Juan’s variety of trails. “I hike some of the same San Juan trails with my students that I used
to ride with my dad on cattle roundups,” Duquette said. “Te city does an excellent job of maintaining the trails with good signage and mileage markers from community-supported volunteer efforts.” In fact, it is the city’s strong endorsement of preserving open space and supporting the efforts of the Open Space Foundation that has made
22 | San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce Business Directory & Visitor Guide |
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public-use property more accessible for recreational use today. One of the more recent city acquisitions from the Open Space bond is Reata Park and Event Center, part of the 132-acre space purchased by the city that includes the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Club, six acres of native plant garden and 42 acres of open space and creek habitat. Te RMV Park grounds are open to the public with regional soccer
teams putting their practice field to use whenever Blenheim EquiSports is not hosting world-class equestrian events, such as the World Cup Qualify- ing Grand Prix. In August, the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo, the richest two-day rodeo in the U.S., returns to the park, showcasing world champion cowboys competing in exciting bull riding, rop- ing, steer wrestling and bronc riding events. Community mem-
bers can make use of the city’s public tennis courts, athletic fields and attend fitness classes held at the San Juan Community Center, including ball-
room dancing, youth karate and yoga. Besides soccer clubs, there are little league clubs and soſtball teams. Meanwhile Marbella County Club and San Juan Hills Golf Club set the standard for outstanding golfing facilities. Along with the cornucopia of nature trails for hikers, biking and eques-
trians, the city offers walking tours to historic sites with maps for “Walk- ing Tour Guide to Historic San Juan Capistrano” available at City Hall and downtown businesses. For a taste of wilderness, camping in the river terraces and sandstone
canyons of the Santa Ana Mountains at Caspers Wilderness Park is just eight miles down the road. While two miles west of the city center, lies the Pacific Ocean at Doheny State Park where beach volleyball, camping and water sports can be enjoyed year-round. San Juan Capistrano is truly an outdoor and equestrian lover’s paradise.
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