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About 'SHR'

Cutter Benker Group Shot
Cutter Scarlett

Welcome to the web home of Secret Hills Ranch located in beautiful Alpine, California 35 minutes East of San Diego. "SHR" is Owned by the Benker Family – Peter, Missy and their two kids Cody & Scarlett. The Benker’s created SHR in 2008 with a goal of producing high quality Tobiano horses.

 

Along with the Benker's, Missy's parents Stan and Penny Boney are also involved in the horses and live on the ranch as well. It's definitely a family affair here at SHR.

 

Kaity Sotomayor came on board as our Trainer in 2020. Her and her wonderful husband, Matt Sotomayor, have been an incredible addition to our team.

The Team

Cutter Group Shot

Top L to R: Matt Sotomayor, Kaity Sotomayor, SHR QTs DiamondCutter, Missy Benker, Scarlett Benker, Cody Benker and Peter Benker

Bottom: Stan and Penny Boney

Penny_edited.jpg

History

While Secret Hills Ranch was officially created in 2008, our history goes back quite a bit further. My (Missy’s) Step-Grandfather Arnold (Arnie) Bobick married my Grandmother when I was 18 months old. One of the first things that he did when I met him was put me onto one of his beautiful Tobiano Paint horses. I definitely have my amazing Step-Grandfather Arnie to thank for my love of these gorgeous Tobianos. Arnie bred Tobiano Paint horses for 30 years here in San Diego, California. Many of his horses carried Bloodlines that we still treasure today. Names like Poco Bueno, Doc Bar, King, Leo, Pepsi Poco, Q Ton Ace H, Mr Gun Smoke and many great Foundation Quarter and Paint Horse lines that we still incorporate into our breeding program here at SHR today. I am so grateful to Arnie for my love and appreciation of Tobianos and the eduction he gave me about horses growing up. If it were not for Arnie, who knows where my life would have taken me! Thank you Arnie.

Secret Hills Ranch would not be where it is today without the love and support of our family. My (Missy's) parents Stan and Penny Boney have been a huge part of our success. My (Missy's) late Brother, Shon Boney as well as his wife Heather, his kids Sydney, Brooke and Megan have all been so supportive of the ranch and horses. Peter's family especially his sister, Rachel who lived with us and helped care for the horses for several years and his mom, Heidi who traveled with us to several World Shows to help care for Cody while we competed. SHR truly is a family ranch with lots of love poured into every horse.

The Ranch

The Ranch was re-built on a new property a couple of miles away in 2022 as a joint effort between Stan & Penny Boney and Missy & Peter Benker. It is nestled in the mountains of San Diego in a small town called Alpine. The ranch is on 18 acres of developed property and has a total of 136 acres. It borders the Cuyamaca National Forest and has 360 degree views of mountains and even the Pacific Ocean to the West. The Ranch was built with our family and horses in mind. There is everything we need here to continue to work on our tireless goal of producing the best Tobiano's we can and spending valuable time with each other, too.

The Barn

Barn

Mare Motel

Mare Motel

The Stallion Side of Barn

Barn

Round Pen

Round Pen
Barn

300x150 Arena

Arena

Euro Walker

Walker

Arena Viewing

Gazebo
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