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LAHC Board Members
ROYAN HERMAN BIOGRAPHY
http://www.peacockhill.com/peacock.html
A rider of the "fastest pony" whenever mom and dad said yes to a $0.25 ride, Royan Herman bought her first horses as an adult, about 40 years ago. In her first house, bought for the first horses, Royan soon discovered that her horses in the Glendale Riverside Rancho had become less equal than those of the previous homeowner. Laws had changed entitling Royan to only one horse on her land. When faced with losing an equine friend, Royan morphed from business owner and horse woman into a force at City Hall. Within 90 days her horses were legally grandfathered in her Glendale back yard.
In 1980 Marc and Royan married and moved with their critter family to La Canada. After a few quiet years, non-horse people began to discover the little city for its exceptional school system. Horse ordinances threatened to change. Royan again became active in efforts to preserve the equestrian nature of her City. That battle was eventually lost. Ordinances did change and the result was virtually total loss of the La Canada Flintridge equestrian community.
In 1989 Marc and Royan left La Canada and moved to 7 acres in Shadow Hills, where pressures of urban sprawl were already consuming horse zoned land for tract housing. Royan wasted no time and immediately began supporting efforts to preserve the equestrian lifestyle in Los Angeles.
Today Royan Herman, once a simple volunteer Pony Club District Commissioner, serves in various capacities for ETI and in the Flintridge La Canada Guild of Huntington Memorial Hospital as the equestrian 'go to' person during its historic "A" Circuit Flintridge Children's Horse Show. Royan is a Vice President on the board of the recently formed Los Angeles Horse Council, Recording Secretary for Foothill Trails District Neighborhood Council and Chair of the Neighborhood Council Equestrian Committee.
Marc and Royan Herman own two horse boarding facilities, Peacock Hill Ranch in Shadow Hills and The Horse House in Lake View Terrace. They also control Peacock Hill Ranch, Inc. a 501c3 horse rescue.
DALE GIBSON BIOGRAPHY
http://www.gibsonranch.us
This real life cowboy is one of America's leading stunt riders and coordinators. Gibson has expanded the complex and potentially dangerous skill of horseback riding to new dimensions.
Raised on a Quarter Horse ranch on the outskirts of Louisville, Gibson was given his first pony when he was 4-years-old. His mother, Beverly Sue, was a professional trick rider and his father, George Robert, rode bucking horses, bulls, and was a professional stunt rider. When he was very young his parents toured with Cherokee Hammond's "Wild West Show."
When Gibson was eight, his mother taught him trick riding. That same year he began competing in Junior rodeo events. He furthered his training by studying ballet, tap, and ballroom dancing for seven years. His agility, body control, coordination, and fearlessness were evidenced by his increasing collection of ribbons and trophies horse-shows and High School and amateur rodeos throughout the Midwest.
After High School Gibson became a professional rodeo rider for two years. He then studied business administration at Murray State University in Kentucky, which he attended on a rodeo scholarship. While there, he was a Regional Intercollegiate Bull-riding and Saddle Bronc-riding Champion, and was second in the nation in Bull-riding competition.
He was a member of the Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society and a Founding member of the Delta Pi Chapter of Phi Kappa Tau at Murray State. He was President and Vice President of the Murray State Rodeo Club which was responsible for hosting two college rodeos a year and raising thousands of dollars of travel and scholarship money for the men's and ladies rodeo team. In 1997, he was voted an Outstanding Young Man of America.
A sense of humor and an appreciation of drama are important aspects in Gibson's life. On a lark Gibson and several other rodeo cowboys went to Mississippi to work on the mini-series North and South, Part 2. He was spotted by producer Ray Herbeck, and was asked to come to Los Angeles to work on the rest of the film.
Encouraged by his success, Gibson loaded his trick horse, saddle, and gear and arrived in Hollywood in 1985. Although he started out as an extra, reputation of his talents spread. Within a few years, he was a featured stunt rider in major productions.
Gibson stunt doubled for Lou Diamond Phillips in Young Guns I, Young Guns II, Renegades, and Three Kings. In Glory, he assisted in the choreography of the period weapons used in the battle scenes and doubled Matthew Broderick. In Alamo, The Price of Freedom, he was stunt coordinator and doubled for Don Swayze.
His stunt skills include being dragged from a horse at a full gallop and then remounting, trick and roman riding, five styles of sword fighting, and period combat. He used many of these skills while being the White Knight and fight choreographer on the Award Winning Marine Corps Chess Theatre commercial.
While working in the movie business he met his wife Heather, a stuntwoman. They were married in 1997 and a year later they started Gibson Ranch. In 1999, their son Reid was born.
In 1997, Gibson retired from riding bulls in his own fashion. While stunt doubling an actor on the cable series Arlis at a Professional Bull Riders event at the Anaheim Pond, he rode his bull twice stepped off after the second take and started working on a new sport in Team Roping.
Dale Gibson has been chairman and host of the "Ride For A Cure" event the past two years. The event raised money for Parkinson Disease Research and Cancer Care. Becoming involved in neighborhood council and local politics opened the door to becoming involved with the Los Angeles Horse Council.
BARBARA UNDERWOOD BIOGRAPHY
http://www.ravensviewranch.com/aboutus.php
Resident of La Tuna Canyon since 2005, where I own and manage Ravensview Ranch a boarding stable.
I am a Registered Nurse who has worked in the ER, Post op Recovery and Information Systems at a Pasadena Hospital. I traveled for 10 years selling Medical Information Systems and I've visited almost all of the 50 states. I have traveled extensively both for business and pleasure.
I have been a horse woman for 20 years.
I enjoy horse camping and trail riding and just getting together with other horse people. I am committed to maintaining the equestrian way of life in Los Angeles County.
NATALIE BLANCARDI BIOGRAPHY
http://www.easypropertysearches.com
Natalie was evacuated from Beirut in the midst of its Civil War in late '76 to her other native country Italy and lived in Rome for 17 wonderful years. After receiving her Bachelor's in Business from John Cabot International University, she worked in Banking and Hospitality staying in Rome for a few more years; then left Italy for the United States looking for an adventure and never looked back! Natalie has now lived in Los Angeles since '93.
She has always had the love and passion for horseback ridding and finding Shadow Hills was the culmination to her adventure; fortunately, her daughter Mitch, has grown to love the same passion. If home is where you can be yourself, then, Los Angeles, in particular Shadow Hills and the surrounding areas, has made Natalie become who she enjoys being today. She has successfully been selling Real Estate now since the year 2000, making friends and changing lives, for the best, one always hopes!!! As time has past she felt that more could be done in the community. So other than being a room mom and a member of the PTA throughout her daughter's years at Stonehurst Elementary School, she was also a Board Member of the HOA where she currently lives; she can be found at the Dronfield Park, helping out Phil Tabbi (an amazing resident and very close friend) in August, preparing, cooking and feeding Foothill Division's LAPD, LAFD and neighbors at the "National Night Out"! She is still an active member of LAPD Foothill C
PAB Division, as well as an active member of the Hansen Dam Advisory Board, and now the Secretary of the newly established Los Angeles Horse Council.
"Being an integral part of the community is not just about doing the right thing, because it feels good, but because it makes one's home a better place; which ultimately makes us all better people!"
With all the boundaries, restrictions and differences faced on a daily basis, taking care of our community makes people appreciate what they have! A community needs to be cared for and it does not occur on its own, we all need to be an integral part of it!
Natalie hopes that her involvement in her community will guide her beautiful 14 yr old daughter to become a caring individual whose impact in her community will one day make a difference too.
God Bless.
FRITZ BRONNER BIOGRAPHY
http://www.warhorsefoundation.com
Fritz Bronner has been an equestrian advocate for the last 10 years, supporting equestrian land-use, properties and zoning; promoting equestrian activities & businesses in the region. He is an equestrian property owner and avid equestrian of endurance, drill. precision riding, tent pegging, mounted shooting, jumping and regularly performs at festivals and benefits in southern California. He is the author of the Equestrian Bill of Rights
As founder of the War Horse & Militaria Heritage Foundation Fritz is promoting a Multi-purpose Equestrian Park as a component of a major habitat restoration project in Lake View Terrace; increasing our footprint for equestrian use, trails and benefits for equestrians. War Horses' promotes the role of the horse in military history, by presenting and training rider & horse in the classical sports and equitation of cavalry with famous cavalry regiments throughout the world. No other species than the horse has contributed so much to so many cultures throughout the world. Humanity and civilization owes its debt and can mark its own progress in the hoof prints of the horse.
The War Horse has received recognition from the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, the State of California, US Congressional Office, national television as well as the Crown Prince of Bavaria for its contributions to culture and heritage. The foundation has appeared several times in the Tournament of Roses Parade as well as major festivals throughout California and regularly presents educational programs in local schools.
Fritz was involved in the manure issues and the initiation of the LA compost program and hopes to see this increase city & county wide. He assists in equestrian rescue coordination and is currently a board-member of the Foothill Trails District Neighborhood Council (north-east region of the San Fernando Valley) and former chairman of the Land-Use Committee. Fritz also works on trails and security for its users.
He is an author of several historical books and is a boardgame and computer game designer of several successful titles. Fritz is a working SAG actor for over 25 years appearing in many television shows, films and commercials and is a consultant on history and the cavalry.
MARY BENSON BIOGRAPHY
http://www.californiatrails.org
Mary Benson is founder and CEO of the Los Angeles Trails Project (a part of the National Heritage Foundation a 501(c)3. Mary is also a member of the Upper Los Angeles River Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) Steering Committee. She graduated from CSUN with a BS in Business Administration and is a Former VP for the Sun Valley Neighborhood Council and the Treasurer of Foothill Trails NC.
LA Trails Project is the NGO advocate for the Rim of the Valley (ROV) Trail.
LA Trails is assisted in its efforts to reach out to supporters and advocate for the healthy benefits of trails through a Technical Assistance Grant from the National Parks Service: Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance unit.
Mary is a 2nd generation Angelino, and became active in trail issues to preserve access and right of way for completion of the trail in the face of open space loss due to residential development and help coordinate between multiple jurisdictions. Mary is also advocating the incorporation of the ROV into the 'mobility element' of the L.A. City's General Plan. In May 2008 Mary joined Congressman Adam Schiff to celebrate the passage of federal legislation to study Rim of the Valley resource.
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