They love horsing around

Shared by Lynn Field-Karsh
Director, Academic Personnel Services, UC San Diego

Three UC San Diego retirees turned the dream of “horsing around” into a literal retirement reality. We three met at Triple S Horse Ranch — a hidden slice of heaven in Lakeside, California, where bald eagles nest nearby.

April Apperson retired as OESS Director in 2022 from the Office of Educational Support Services at the UC San Diego School of Medicine after 32 years of service. Growing up, April was a “horse girl,” but had to part with them for college. Since helping train Tiki in 2019, April now regularly practices dressage with the mare. Medieval re-enactments let her and her husband Scott ride, fence, and practice martial arts together. In addition to trail riding, she competes in local medieval equestrian games with Scott.

Shannon Scott began his UC San Diego career in 1994 at The Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) as an undergraduate in the SIO Hydraulics Laboratory. After graduation, he worked as a staff diver and programmer/analyst at the Center for Coastal Studies. In 2008, he transferred to the Coastal Observing Research and Development Center at the SIO Marine Physical Lab. After 25 years, Shannon retired in 2020 and took up therapeutic horsemanship and trail riding. He bought his first horse, Chester, in 2024, and they now explore local trails.

As for me, I retired in 2022 after 33 years with the university. I began riding horses at age 10, but they faded from my life when it was time to attend college and law school. Horse fever returned in 2021 and I acquired Dancer, a palomino Peruvian Paso and later, Bentley, a buckskin draft cross. When not riding, I train for half marathons with the San Diego Track Club and am attempting to run a half marathon in every state (22 of 50 states completed). I also finished the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon — best day ever!

We all look forward to new horsey adventures and perhaps, even riding into the sunset once in awhile!