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.

Melissa Duven

Melissa Duven is originally from the East Coast and began her riding career under the tutelage of such Hunter/Jumper greats as Nanci Ciesluk, Paul Valliere, and Leslie Howard. She competed and gained national recognition, qualifying for Harrisburg and New York three years in a row. Prior to moving to Arizona in 1996, she worked back east training, showing and selling horses for several top show barns. With a strong emphasis on equitation and a real "eye" for what it takes to be competitive on the "A" circuit, Melissa covers all aspects of horsemanship--including great sportsmanship! In 2004 Melissa started Remington Hill Farm and has since coached numerous students to Year End Award Championships and Reserve Championships regionally and throughout the state. Husband Russel and young son Remy keep her busy when she's away from the barn.

Renee Wasnik

Renee grew up in Caro, New York and graduated with a BS in Psychology from Syracuse University. Her experiences include working and teaching at Beacon Hill, and being a working student for Gary Duffy and Rob Bielefeld at Asbury Hill Farm.

Before moving to Arizona in 1992, Renee joined forces with Scott Fitton and organized a show services business in addition to training. Soon after moving she joined the staff at Smoke Tree Ranch, and throughout her years here has helped produce top riders and horses who compete at local and national levels.

Renee has been married for eight years to Ruben Soto, owner of Fountain Hills Landscaping. She is "mom" to many, including her dogs Lilli and Pumpkin (a Corgi and Queensland Heeler, respectively), and to all the young riders at Smoke Tree.

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.