EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDED 24/7: (760) 591-9952

MEET OUR TEAM

Clinic Staff

Paul McClellan

Rafa Garcia

Lead Groom & Assistant Clinic Foreman
Rafa joined San Dieguito Equine Group after a long career in the thoroughbred racing industry where he worked as a groom.  He is responsible for horse care, stall management, assisting doctors with orthopedic evaluations, and assisting with advanced imaging procedures.  His love for the horse is obvious in all that he does.  He loves to learn and is always keeping his eye open for ways he can improve his skills.  He completed his education in Mexico and has been working with horses for over 25 years. 
 
He enjoys taking part in activities that will allow him to learn and progress in his field and also enjoys spending time with his family.
Paul McClellan

Lupe Barroso

Clinic and Imaging Assistant
Lupe joined San Dieguito Equine Group after a long career working with performance horses as a groom.  He is responsible for ensuring the best daily care for all the horses seen at the imaging center.  In addition to his responsibilities as a groom, he is also very involved with assisting the veterinarians and technicians with clinic procedures as well as providing basic farrier needs associated with advanced diagnostic procedures. He also assists the doctors and technicians in handling horses during orthopedic evaluations and imaging procedures. Lupe’s experience is a great asset when a nervous horse needs to be settled by a confident and careful handler.
 
Lupe spends his free time with his wife and three kids. He enjoys playing basketball and swimming.
Paul McClellan

Chris Brown

Facilities and Maintenance

Chris brings over 30 years of construction and maintenance experience to San Dieguito Equine. 

In 2006, he earned his California State Contractor’s License and operated his own cabinet and woodworking business, managing projects from initial design and measurement to fabrication, installation, and long-term upkeep. 

Chris’s experience extends well beyond cabinetry. He has handled a wide range of construction and maintenance responsibilities, including performing the practical, day-to-day improvements that keep facilities running efficiently and safely. 

In his spare time, Chris continues to build and maintain structures—most notably the retirement facility he constructed for his wife’s horse, which keeps him busy with its ongoing maintenance needs. He also enjoys playing music, cooking, and fishing. 

Paul McClellan

Laura Zeller

Gardener

Laura Zeller has been a part of the San Dieguito Equine team since 2011 with a brief hiatus to run her family Bakery. She has worked in a diversity of fields, including the surf industry, owning a small business, and becoming a certified Equine Massage therapist.

Laura first became interested in horses as a child, taking riding lessons in Illinois, but it wasn’t until much later in life when her two sons left for college that Laura truly got the itch. Along with her husband, Laura has made their rural Valley Center home a refuge to many horses, dogs, and various other farm animals, including pigs and goats. Laura has two grown sons and has recently been promoted to the title of Grandma!