MEET LIBERTY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Debra acquired the property known as Liberty Ranch in 2015 and lovingly developed it with her husband, Scott Horner, creating an infrastructure to accommodate animals in need. This was the foundation of Liberty Sanctuary which she founded in 2022 after identifying America’s Forgotten Equines as a population in need of relief, protection and advocacy.
 

“Our goal is to help save equines from dire circumstances and slaughter. We raise funds to bail them out of kill pens and transport them to our Utah ranch where we can vet them, care for them and work to build trust so they can have a chance at fulfilling lives.  We are on the horse’s timetable – trust is built slowly and steadily. Our dedicated group of volunteers are tireless in their passion and work ethic helping to gentle and care for the animals. The eventual goal is to rehome the majority into qualified and caring forever homes,” Debra explained. “The majority of equines sent to slaughter are mostly healthy according to the USDA. The mistreatment and slaughter of these gracious animals is abhorrent and must end.”
 

Always an animal lover, Debra moved to Utah from the east coast over 20 years ago where she left a career in marketing. She has enjoyed working for companies like Warner Records, BMG, Viacom, Sony Music, Mark Burnett Productions and Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. She has also contributed to a variety of local nonprofits before launching Liberty Sanctuary. Debra is an enthusiastic and versatile professional and has had the opportunity to work with a range of respected colleagues from artists to C-suite executives.  
 

At home in the mountains, Debra enjoys life with her husband and animals, skiing, and exploring the outdoors.

Scott grew up in rural New Jersey and made his way out west in the mid 80’s while serving in the United States Air Force.  After a decade in the Salt Lake Valley, he relocated to Heber City and began caring for and enjoying horses with his wife, Debra.   

While typically more at home setting World Records on his racing motorcycle with several hundred horsepower beneath him, Scott has found much joy with just a single horsepower and interacting with the animals and volunteers. 

At Liberty Sanctuary, Scott supports daily operations and handles many of the infrastructure projects.   In the corrals his calm energy and patience working with the horses is very beneficial in building trust and positive human interaction with all of the rescues. With equines and other animals we rescue, Scott has a true gift and plays a leadership role in making animals feel secure. 

Josh began practicing law at the international law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago in 2002. There he focused his practice on preparation and trial before federal and state courts of cases involving a broad range of business-oriented substantive law issues. Those issues included breach of contract, torts, products liability, employment matters, construction litigation, real estate and insurance overage. From 2006 to 2012, Josh continued his litigation practice in Atlanta, most recently at Rogers & Hardin, LLP. He has experience defending financial institutions, manufacturers and sellers of consumer products and services, and other large corporate clients. He has represented them in individual suits, class actions, qui tam claims and other complex cases in venues across the nation, including courts located in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, California, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, Texas, Delaware, New Mexico, Louisiana and Utah. Josh has also cost-effectively resolved numerous commercial disputes for clients by pursuing creative litigation strategies, and by obtaining favorable results short of trial through arbitration, mediation and negotiation. 

Scott Beckstead is one of the nation's leading voices on equine welfare and protection and is the Chief Equine Programs Director at The Wild Animal Sanctuary/The Wild Horse Refuge in Craig, CO. After receiving his bachelor's degree from Utah State University and his JD from the University of Utah, Beckstead worked as an attorney in private practice for 17 years on the central Oregon coast before going to work full-time in the animal protection sector. During his time on the coast he also served as the mayor of Waldport, Oregon from 2002 to 2007.

He became known for his special expertise in the field of animal law, and has taught that subject at the University of Oregon and Willamette University law schools. In 2000, he co-authored Animal Law, the first casebook on the subject, and continues to teach animal law, wildlife law and policy, Endangered Species Act, and cannabis law and policy as an adjunct professor of law at Willamette University. From 2008 to 2020, Beckstead served in a multitude of roles for the Humane Society of the United States, including Oregon state director, equine protection specialist, and Rural Outreach director; he also helped lead a successful ballot measure campaign in 2016 to ban the trade in endangered wildlife in Oregon.

Because of his close familiarity with horses, livestock, and farm animals, Beckstead provides training to law enforcement agencies on how to handle and work with those animals, and how to investigate equine and livestock cruelty and neglect.

Kris is originally from Salt Lake City but grew up as an Air Force pilot’s daughter and lived stateside and abroad.   She attended the University of Utah and studied Communications and Interior Design. She has worked in communications and marketing for the healthcare industry and several non-profit organizations. In 2020, Kris started her own interior design business focused on using repurposed aspen trees in many art forms, including lighted aspen tree builds for corporate and residential displays. She also designs aspen/floral arrangements and ‘Aspen Bark Art’ wall creations.

Kris spent twenty years managing, fundraising, and marketing for two therapeutic equine centers in Texas.  She raised horses all of her life and was finally able to combine her professional background and love of horses with the adaptive programs of equine therapy at the National Ability Center. Her son, Jared, became a participant in the equine program at age four as life came full circle with the benefits he received. She and her family relocated to Utah twelve years ago, and the entire family has been involved at many levels with the National Ability Center.  Utah has provided a warm family atmosphere, fantastic outdoor opportunities for Jared, and, most importantly, a safe and accepting place they call home.