We also welcomed a new group of vets into our veterans program. That group comes on Tuesday mornings. Bridle Path to Success also welcomed a new group of participants on Thursday.
We are off and running, and looking forward to a fabulous 2017 season.
You know exactly what great volunteers you have when over 40 of them turn out in the pouring rain to participate in our Volunteer Training Day. Never was our covered arena more appreciated, yet still good-natured folks braved puddles, cool weather and the occasional downpour. Volunteer Training Day is a big day for both new and seasoned volunteers alike. The day consists of stations through which our volunteers rotate to hear presentations on common disabilities and associated challenges, adaptive riding equipment and why it is used, why instructors use toys and games in sessions, Volunteering 101 (which covers expectations of volunteers in and out of lessons), a mock lesson session, and horse herd dynamics. Each session is taught by one of our instructors, who all have a wealth of knowledge to share. While much information is imparted throughout the day, it is also a time for friendships to be renewed and new friendships made. Our seasoned volunteers do an incredible job of welcoming the newcomers and getting them excited about helping during lessons. It is a great way to kick off the new season. We are grateful to all the folks that came and look forward to seeing you all during lessons.
Thank you to all who turned out for the recent Center Clean-up Day last Saturday, January 28, 2017. Saddles were polished, bridles were cleaned, trees were trimmed and plenty of weeding done. From a major office cleaning to a complete revamping of the toy shed and tool shed, the center received a much needed cleaning and facelift. It was wonderful to see new volunteers as well as those more “experienced” turn out to lend a hand, along with sons, daughters, husbands, friends and board members. We were thankful for the beautiful weather and the many hands. Our center looks beautiful and is ready for the opening of our 2017 season!
Sadly, at the beginning of this year, Xenophon lost one of its own. Julie Taylor, a dear volunteer who has been with us since the program began, lost a 10-year battle with cancer on January 1st. Julie started as a sidewalker, but as with most volunteers at the center, her duties did not stop there. She soon was coordinating volunteers, cleaning tack, helping with fundraising, or restocking emergency kit. There was never a job too large or too small and the enthusiasm that Julie had for the center and life in general was contagious to anyone who work with her. She constantly brought new volunteers into the fold and happily provided guidance to those less experienced than herself.
Even as Julie faced challenges of her own, she continued to come to the center nearly every single week, taking on small and large tasks, demonstrating the value in volunteers that goes far beyond sidewalking. Julie will be dearly missed at Xenophon. She will live on in the hearts of all those whose lives she touched here.
Xenophon was not the only lucky recipient of Julie’s time and talents. Her heart for children was evidenced by her extensive involvement in the East Bay Children’s Theater and Mauzy School for children with disabilities. Horses were also a major part of Julie’s life. She was actively involved in her daughter’s horse showing career and with the Moraga Horseman’s Association. We are thankful that Julie’s husband, Jim, is still involved at Xenophon and we can still be part of this wonderful family.
Services for Julie will be held on April 1, 2017 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, at the Lafayette Community Center, Jennifer Russell Bldg, Lafayette, CA 94549
Numerous areas of Xenophon are shining and more functional thanks to the hard work of members of Boy Scout Troop 810. These industrious young men spent their Saturday morning volunteering at the center. They gave a new coat of stain to our observation deck, spruced up the the tool shed with a new coat of green paint, raked yards and yards of bark on the sensory trail, pulled weeds and did numerous other jobs. The experience at the center included watching our Saturday morning lessons and meeting some of our amazing riders. A huge thank you goes out to this hard-working group. As a non-profit, getting these types of jobs done is not easy and we are so grateful for their time and work.
It was with much sadness that we had to say goodbye to one of our equine partners. Ranger, our palomino Morgan gelding, was on loan to us from Christine Shandley and Roxanne Smith. Ranger’s owners were going through a series of medical issues that precluded them from caring for him, and Xenophon turned out to be the perfect job. Now that those times are behind them, Ranger’s owners asked that he be returned so that they can love him and enjoy him as we have. Ranger has been working for Xenophon for almost 2 years. He was adored by riders, staff and volunteers and will be dearly missed.
Thank you to his owners for the use of this tremendous horse. We wish him health and happiness in his new home.
The perfect opportunity…Monday, October 3rd from 5:00 – 9:00PM, come experience some of the best Italian food in the Bay Area, while being waited on by the Xenophon 
staff and board members.
Yes, that is right, the Xenophon staff will be moonlighting as waiters in order to earn your tips. Gianni’s Italian Bistro in San Ramon opens their restaurant on Monday evenings (a day they are normally closed), so that a non-profit can come in, provide the wait staff and then keep all of the tips earned that evening.
Reservations Required. Please call (925)820-6969. Book early, as last year the event sold out. Or visit opentable.com to make your reservation.
Tuesday, August 30, 2017 started out as a typical cool and foggy morning in Orinda. But, it was soon evident to the horses that this morning was different than most quiet days at Xenophon where not much happens before the afternoon. Activity began with volunteers and staff arriving, augmented by early morning turn-outs for the equines, and finally the arrival of a group of 8 special individuals.
The day marked the beginning of a pilot program for veterans from the Martinez Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital. The program provides equine-assisted therapy to veterans with traumatic brain injury and PTSD. The goal of the program is to provide relief of symptoms and/or restore function due to disease, illness or injury. Through their work with the horses, the hope is for the vets to improve their physical, psychological, social and emotional growth. Activities will include grooming, leading, round pen work and interaction, as well as learning basic and intermediate horse training skills.
Months ago, Xenophon was contacted by a representative from the Martinez VA, looking for a center to provide equine-assisted therapies to their veterans. While this fell outside of Xenophon’s usual paradigm, we have been looking for opportunities to use our beautiful center in the morning hours. While we do not have the size nor scope of herd to provide riding programs for adults, there is great work that can be done through un-mounted interactions with equines. Our board of directors felt that since we had the facilities and expertise to offer this opportunity, that we should meet this need. One of our Registered Therapeutic Riding instructors, Haley Mathews, is leading the program. Haley attended an intense conference in Chicago, Illinois, designed to assist centers in offering effective and beneficial programs to vets. She is now applying her gained expertise to this Tuesday morning program. The program will run through the end of the year, and hopefully, if successful, carry into 2017 as well.
Summer Camp 2016 was filled with fun filled surprises this August. To start with each day, we covered various themes of discussion relating to our horses. Communication of body language i.e. tail swishing and ear movement; tack equipment; the horse skeleton and showmanship. Arts and crafts galore were done daily along with coloring related pictures of the topic given that day. A special guest arrived on the second day of camp to share his talents in balloon making! This guest was “Harpo the Clown”. He was quiet, gentle and fun for our campers. To top the week off, we had 2 horses from SonRise Equestrian Foundation visit, a mini named Blackie and a pony named Derby. Tom Locke (their trainer and Traveling Tails Coordinator), who also takes these 2 horses to various hospitals for children to meet, conducted a demonstration of arena work. After his show, the campers did a meet and greet with the horses and were able to lead them through a obstacle course. To end the day our campers got to paint and bathe the SonRise horses and Kiwi! Campers got to play games while riding horseback, a ribbon was received upon completion for riding a patter with obstacles and they also learned how to groom, clean waters and muck the pastures. Wow! What a week of busy excitement had by all.
A special thank you goes to Laura Fend, Melissa Maker, Heidi Koch, Danielle Coburn, Christine Raddeck and our valuable volunteers for assisting in Xenophon’s camp!
Many of you may have noticed the beautiful new lids covering our compost bins. That make-over is thanks to the hard work of Jim Taylor, our fix-it man extraordinaire. Designing new lids was no easy task. They need to be light-weight, easy to lift from the arena side, weather resistant and portable so that they could be removed when the bins are emptied. Jim was definitely up to the challenge, and with the help of Larry Arnold from San Leandro Auto Upholstery, came up with the sturdy canvas design. We had a number of very happy muckers when they discovered they no longer had to deal with the old lids that were awkward, heavy and falling apart. A big thank you to both Jim and Larry for making merry muckers!
