This year's NARHA conference was held in Hartford, CT and was attended by seven of our staff. The sessions were all very informative but the highlight of the conference was the awards dinner.

Anthony Fusaro was awarded the NARHA Youth Equestrian of the Year Award. Sadly, Anthony passed away earlier this year. His father was there to accept the award and gave a beautiful speech in his memory. Anthony’s spirit will always be remembered by those that heard the speech that night and all those that he touched at Xenophon.

Ken Bergstresser was there to receive his award as Region 11 Volunteer of the Year. Ken was awarded a beautiful belt buckle. He has been a Saturday volunteer since the very beginning of Xenophon & we are grateful for his continued service to us.

And, finally it was announced that our beloved Cocoa had won the 2008 Horse of the Year award! Jan Bindas accepted Cocoa's award for her as she could not be there! We received a beautiful painting of Cocoa and she received some extra carrots!

Congratulations to all our award winners!

Xenophon closed its sixteenth year with our annual student horse show. It was a beautiful sunny day filled with happy students, grateful parents and a score of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers. Xenophon honored Bill Lange for his continuing support of Xenophon and our horses. It was a fitting end to another successful season.

View many more pictures of the day's activities here.

Xenophon is proud to announce the following awards that will be presented at the NARHA Conference banquet on November 1, 2008. It is unprecedented to have three awards go to one center. We are so proud of our winners. The national awards will be chosen from the regional winners on the night of the banquet.

2008 NARHA Youth Equestrian
Recognition Award

Anthony Fusaro - Xenophon Therapeutic
Riding Center, Orinda, CA

Region 11 Volunteer of the Year

Ken Bergstresser - Xenophon Therapeutic
Riding Center, Orinda, CA

Region 11 Equine of the Year

Cocoa - Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center,
Orinda, CA

On Thursday, June 19th our beloved horse Cocoa was taken to the UC Davis Veterinary hospital. She became critically ill with a mysterious, life threatening intestinal problem which required emergency colic surgery.

Cocoa returned home on June 30th. She has recovered remarkably well. She is now being ridden briefly every day and will resume her job as a premiere therapy horse next season. Thank you to everyone who provided good thoughts and prayers & to those who provided financial support. We are so grateful!