Horses
Kiwanis, nicknamed Kiwi, is a 15 year-old Haflinger mare, who was donated to Xenophon by Creeky Routson, and funded in part by Kiwanis of Moraga Valley. She is a golden chestnut color with a flaxen mane and tail. She came to Xenophon in 2004 with minimal experience under saddle. At that point in her life she had already achieved a lot by being the proud mother of two foals. From the time that we acquired Kiwanis it was obvious she was willing and able to do whatever was asked of her. She is a stocky horse, standing at only 14 hands. Kiwi is now one of our most dependable Hippotherapy horses, having taken to be long lined, or driven from behind. Hippotherapy is physical therapy on horseback. Hippo is “horse” in Greek. She was a fast learner and seems to enjoy her new role at Xenophon.
Starlight - is a 19 year-old Morgan mare. She came to us due to the wonderful generosity of Jo and Brent Johnson of JaF Morgans in Sanger, CA. Starlight has been an all around riding horse, has packed in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, has worked cows and has had a number of beautiful foals. Starlight took quickly to her new job and passed all her training with flying colors. She began working in lessons last week and walks as if to say, “I was meant to do this”. Thank you, Jo and Brent, for donating this wonderful mare to our program.
Dandelion, nicknamed Dandie, was purchased in the summer of 2011, thanks to a generous grant by the Lion’s Club of Walnut Creek (her new namesake). Dandie is a 14 year-old quarter horse mare that came to Xenophon from a family near Morgan Hill. Dandie has done many things in her life: she has been a halter champion, has shown in Western classes and on the hunter A circuit, and has also been an all-around trail horse. Despite arriving at Xenophon at the peak of our construction activity, Dandie has been a star in training and passed all of her testing with flying colors. She has quickly become a popular lesson horse due to her quiet manner and smooth-as-silk gaits.
Ozzie came to us in the fall of 2011. He served as a lesson horse and riding companion for a 12 year-old girl before being donated to Xenophon by the Brenna family. Ozzie is a 14 year-old powerful little Quarter Horse/pony cross. Standing at 14.1 hands with a somewhat slender build, Ozzie is the perfect sized therapy horse. His size makes the sidewalker’s job easy, children with tight muscles appreciate his slender build, yet he can carry older children and shows patience and care with more independent riders. He has proven his worth in Hippotherapy, where he took immediately to long-lining and has filled a much needed space within that part of our program. Ozzie has personality plus and loves interacting with people and his herdmates. He is known for enjoying long naps stretched out in the sun in the arena.
Glory, or Go-Go as she is called, is a lovely 7 year-old Arabian mare who is on loan to us from Lori Trenbath. Prior to coming to Xenophon, Go-Go was a reliable trail horse who safely carried her rider across Mount Diablo and Briones park. She has had a solid introduction to dressage. Go-Go took immediately to her job as a therapy horse, acting as though she were meant to do this. She passed her testing with flying colors and is already working in lessons. At the rate she is going, it won’t be long until she is a favorite mount at the center.
Annie - in March 2013, we were fortunate to be offered a “tried and true” therapy horse from another program. This bright and beautiful girl’s name is Annie. She is a 14 year old Canadian Arabian cross who in her former life, was an endurance horse. Annie’s easy-going nature and calm demeanor makes her a ‘go-to’ Hippotherapy horse. Annie compliments our herd nicely because of her height and build.