Smoke Tree Ranch - Hunters and Jumpers

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Betty Beran

Betty Beran is the head rider, trainer and instructor at Smoke Tree Ranch. She grew up in Evanston, Illinois, moved to Arizona in 1964, and attended ASU and Stanford University, where she majored in Elementary Education and minored in Psychology.

Betty was a working student for Jimmy Kohn (from the USET squad) and Richard Keller before returning to Scottsdale to marry her college sweetheart, Bill. Bill and Betty have three children - Amy, Jeff, and Billy, and three grandaughters - Grace, Reagan, and Kelsey, and a grandson, Daniel.

Betty has been a USEF "R" judge for 30 years, is a member of the Zone 8 Committee for Hunters & Equitation, serves on the National Hunter Seat Equitation Task Force and the Special Projects committee. She is a US Hunter/Jumper committee member.

Ali Cost

Ali Cost grew up in Long Island, New York. She attended Hofstra University, with a major in Communications and a minor in Psychology. Ali started riding, along with her twin sister, at age 3 and has had a passion for the sport ever since! She competed extensively as a junior, beginning with her large pony Texas Two Step. She had much success, qualifying and showing Indoors at Harrisburg and the Meadowlands. As an amateur she showed her horse Bold Magic in the Adult and Amateur Owner Hunters, with wins at the prestigious Saratoga and Hampton Classic horse shows.

After living and working in Manhattan, she and her husband George decided to move to sunny Arizona in January of 2006. George is a Valley golf professional; he and Ali share their lives with their dogs, Sandy and Liberty(affectionately nicknamed "The Girls"), and their horse, Brooks. Ali runs our entry level lesson program, as well as seasonal day camps during the summer and school breaks. She specializes in children and treats each one as her own.

Dana Rutherford

Dana Rutherford grew up in Mission Viejo, California. She attended Saddleback College in Mission Viejo studying education.

Dana started riding at the early age of 3 years. She worked in San Juan Capistrano for Katie Berney. In 1993 she went to England where she worked at a private facility and earned her first teaching certficate. From England Dana moved to Portland, Oregon. She worked for Rich Fellers and rode professionally for Linda Worley at Cornerstone Farm.

Dana has been working privately since arriving in Arizona and is now employed at STR.

Casey Boerner

Casey has spent her riding career at STR beginning as a child in the Short Stirrup division. She has garnered many championships, beginning with her pony "Leo" aka "Rain or Shine", and continued through the Children's & Junior ranks. She was very successful with her jumper "Joe Black" in the Junior and 1.40's. As an adult she showed "Pandora" and was undefeated in the Adult Jumpers at Pebble Beach.

Casey graduated from Arizona State in May of 2006 and now teaches math at Chaparral High School. She tutors students in mathematics, enjoys ballroom dancing and spends afternoons and weekends teaching young riders at Smoke Tree. On school breaks Casey works with Ali Cost on the STR day camp programs.