Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center

The new covered arena is on its way.  This is a dream that will really come true in the very near future.  The expansion will allow us to have  a year-round program and expand to meet our ever-growing wait list.  We will have the help of Clark Construction and McGuire and Hester, among others, to make this dream come true.  This is the beginning of our $150,000.00 campaign.  I know that is a huge amount of money, but with your help I know we can  reach our goal.  Your donation will mean so much to so many.

All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Please consider donating at one of these levels,

but no donation is to small:

$100.00     $250.00     $500.00     $1000.00

We would like to thank our sponsors, donors, volunteers, parents and our wonderful riders for your kind and generous support and all you do throughout the year. We could not do it without you!
Wishing you and yours a magical holiday season and a wondrous new year!

Love,
Bandit, Cocoa, Kiwi, Pooh. Pal, Echo and all of us here at Xenophon

I finally finished the horse show pictures. Click here to view the album. Enjoy!

Xenophon on KTVU

Bob MacKenzie, the Emmy Award-winning reporter for KTVU News, came to Xenophon to do a story highlighting the benefits of therapeutic riding and the wonders it can do for children with autism.

CLICK ON THE LINK ABOVE TO VIEW THE STORY

Rupert Isaacson spoke to sold-out crowds at the screening of his film, The Horse Boy, in Berkeley on Saturday night.   The film is a powerful saga of his trek across Mongolia on horseback, with his autistic son to see a shaman in the northernmost region of the country. It is a heartwarming, insightful, and entertaining film.

Xenophon was there, along with Access Adventure, with  displays about our programs.

Look for it in a theater near you.

Chevron executives came to Xenophon again this year.  The task was to pound posts, dig trenches to build a new paddock, and paint the picket fence.   It was hot and dirty work but now we have a new place for our horses to live and a bright white fence.  THANK YOU CHEVRON!

Each student’s lesson is customized to meet his or her individual needs. Instructors work with the parents, teachers, and therapists to achieve each individual’s goals. Our instructors work one-on-one with each student teaching them riding skills and sportsmanship through different activities and games. The interaction with the instructor and volunteers, during the lesson, help the student learn important lessons about socialization.
Our students often form bonds with their horses. This bond helps our students learn responsibility and to rise above their disabilities with a newfound freedom of movement and skill.
Individuals with the following disabilities commonly participate and benefit from equine facilitated therapy and activities:

• Muscular Dystrophy
• Cerebral Palsy
• Brain Injuries
• Visual Impairment
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Down Syndrome
• Amputations
• Mental Retardation
• Attention Deficit Order
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Learning Disabilities
• Autism
• Deafness
• Spina Bifida
• Cardiovascular accident/stroke

Our program accepts students between the ages of 5 and 17. At the moment, there is a 1-2 year wait to become a permanent student. However, this doesn’t mean that your child will not be able to ride during that time. Once your child is on our wait list, he or she will become a substitute rider. When one of our regular students is unable to come to his or her lesson, we call our sub-riders to fill the spot.
First step is to contact us to determine the eligibility of your child. Please email info@xenophontrc.org. You will then need to complete and return the attached forms. They must be filled out completely. The Student Medical History and Physician’s Statement must be filled out and signed by the student’s medical doctor. This form must be updated annually.

• Student Application and Health History
• Medical History and Physician’s Statement
• Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment

Please send the forms to Xenophon Program Director, P.O. Box 16, Orinda, CA 94563.
Once Xenophon receives the completed application packet, the student’s name will be entered onto our wait list. You will be called when there is an opening.
When your child comes for lessons, he/she will be provided with a helmet. We ask that students wear closed-toed shoes; tennis shoes are okay. The student may wear either shorts or long pants, whichever is most comfortable.

All lessons are weekly, for a duration of 30 minutes. Our program will start up in again in June.  We will have our 2010 program schedule posted shortly.

Lesson times are as follows:

• Weekdays (Mon – Thurs) 3:00 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:15 p.m.
• Weekends (Sat) 8:45 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:15 a.m., and 11:00 a.m.

Lessons are $270.00 per session. We require twenty-four hours notice if you will not be present at your lesson. Scholarships are available if needed; for more information please contact the Program Director.

I know how much you love me, as much as I love you.
And each time you think of me, I know you’ll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name, and took me by the hand.
So when tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re far apart.
For every time you think of me, I’m right here in your heart.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a beautiful little girl.

Shelby Tudhope passed away in a tragic accident on August 15, 2009. Shelby was a student with us for five years and rode several of our horses, but her favorite was Pooh. We will always remember her smile when she trotted and took trail rides.

God bless you Shelby.

Jean and Andy Tudhope asked that donations be made to Xenophon in lieu of flowers. Funds donated in Shelby’s name will be put into a scholarship fund to help needy families with tuition for lessons.

You may also leave a comment if you wish and it will be forwarded to Shelby’s parents.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation on your credit card via PayPal – please click on the Donate button below!

If you’d like to mail us a check, please make the check payable to Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center and mail it to:

Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center
P.O. Box 16
Orinda, CA 94563

This is the eleventh year that the Martinez Horsemen have held this fabulous event for Xenophon. Two of our students demonstrated their riding skills for all to see. It is always so much fun to show off our program and to be part of the “Battle.”

Thank you Martinez Horsemen!

Thank you to Eric and Julie Thomas for their fabulous evening. Sixty enthusiastic horse lovers came to Thomas Ranch to learn about reining and other horse-helping topics.
Eric demonstrated how to work in partnership with the horse focusing on the value of allowing the horse enough time to process our requests.
It was a wonderfully informative event.

Eric demonstrating cutting with the cow, Matilda.

Julie and Eric and friends