Author Archives: Christine Raddeck

red box
‘Twas two hours before lessons and throughout the center

The staff was beginning to run helter and skelter
Danielle with her phone
Pressed tight to her ear
Was checking the weather
…To cancel, her fear.

Christine ran the arena her whip tight in her hand
Stomped her feet at ‘lil Kiwi, who blithely ignored her commands
In the office all toasty
Could be found the director
Writing checks, making copies
Quite buried in paper

Volunteers were arriving, pulling helmets and mail
“Oh my goodness”, yelled Jan, “Are the animals on the trail?”
Jim Hogg, he arrived
The arena to smooth
But his tractor was gone
Where did Massey get moved?

It appears that the compost began running amuck
And Sam upon emptying in the pasture was stuck
Oh heavens, Oh golly
The lessons draw near
And all is chaos
Or so it appears

The Trox small can’t be found, the clipboard is gone,
We’re supposed to take photos! Will Jim Pire be along?
Our PT and OT
Appear to be lost
There’s a sprinkler now leaking
Ranger’s foot’s in the box

When what to staff’s wondering eyes should appear
But Fix It Jim Taylor with all of his gear.
He sets right to workgreen bow
With a wink and a nod,
Fixin sprinklers, the hay box
Doing Christine’s odd jobs

And as time ticks on by, it becomes quite apparent
The staff need not panic, for now it is evident
The volunteers with their smiles
And amazing good cheer
Have it all under control
There is nothing to fear

The PT and OT were found in their shed
The clipboard and phone now are hung
They all made it happen, they pulled it together
The children arrived and the lesson’s begun
The arena is set
The mail it is out
The horses are saddled
And each’s been turned out

So thank you dear people for all that you do,
Week after week when you come
You make it all happen, the lessons, the magic
You quietly get it all done
We love you, we need you
You keep us all sane
So thanks and good wishes
‘Til we see you again!

Written by: Mari Parino

Twas the hour before lessons

Looking for the perfect gift?

christmas-wreath7Honorary or Memorium Gift Donation

Are you looking for that perfect gift for a loved one or friend? Give the gift of smiles. Would you like to honor the memory of a loved one by a gift that changes lives? Make a donation in someone’s honor or memory and help sponsor a child’s riding lesson or hippotherapy session. Donating is easy. Simply click below and Paypal will walk you through the process. For Honorary gifts, please include your recipient’s name and address. For a memorial gift, please indicate the name and address of the person to whom you would like the acknowledgement sent. We will send a donation certificate notifying them of the special gift made in their honor or memory. You can also mail a check to

Michael

Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center at PO Box 16, Orinda, CA 94563 and we will send the certificate straight away. Please be sure to include the recipient’s name and address with your check.


Amount of Donation
Recipient’s Name
Recipient’s Address


Welcome Home Kiwi

KiwiAfter 15 months of rehabbing her injured leg (a torn suspensory ligament) at Summit Ranch, Kiwi is finally back home. Kiwi’s return put a big smile on students, volunteers and staff’s faces. She has settled back in at home reconnecting with her old pasture mates and meeting our new herd members. Kiwi started working in Hippotherapy lessons at the beginning of Session 3 and is acting like she has never left. She still remembers her job and is enjoy being back with her students.
Kiwi's first lesson backShe remembered one of her long time riders in particular and gave him a slobbery kiss on her return, Ben was happy to see her too.

A BIG thank you to the volunteers that have helped with Kiwi’s hand-walks and riding during her rehab.

Welcome Haley Mathews!

Haley with Ruby

Haley with Ruby

Meet our newest Therapeutic Riding Instructor Haley Mathews.

Haley grew up riding horses on her family’s cattle ranch in San Ramon, California.  She graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in Agricultural Science with a concentration in horses.  Right out of college she worked with at-risk high school students in various countries and Hawaii for three years.   Haley worked for 12 years as the assistant director of Shepherd’s Gate in Livermore, a homeless shelter for women and children.

In 2008, when her 3 children were in High School, Haley became involved with therapeutic riding at SonRise Equestrian in Castro Valley where she continues to teach riding lessons.  She received her PATH certification in 2014.  The beautiful connection between the horse and the child is what Haley loves most about therapeutic riding.  She joined the Xenophon team in January 2015.

When not teaching riding lessons, Haley works at her family’s commercial real estate business and manages the cattle ranch in San Ramon where she and her husband, Brian, live.  She loves walking on the ranch with her two dogs Max and Zorro.

Xenophon’s “Denim & Diamonds” Gala Auction

This year’s Gala auction is shaping up to be one of the best ever. Check out these Live Auction Items. Plan with your friends for parties, trips and activities not to be missed.

 

Live Auction

Elegant dinner for 8 with Xenophon’s Executive DirectorHere is your chance to snag the dinner that is becoming the talk of the town. For four years running this culinary experience has been the highlight of Xenophon’s live auction. Prior winners were taken on a Culinary Tour of Europe, with each course highlighting a different country through the delectable foods and intriguing wines. Another winner and guests were whimsically taken to the island of Morocco, complete with a tent and a sampling of the culinary delights that area has to offer.
Private piano concert for 20pianoTalk to those who attended this spectacular event last year and you won’t put your paddle down. This intimate venue creates a magical concert setting. Fabulous food, great wine and attentive servers, make an experience not to be missed.
Spend a week in beautiful Cabo San LucasVilla-del-Arco-vistaThe 5-star hotel is situated on a beautiful, private beach and offers three beachfront pools with a swim-up bar, two tennis courts, restaurants and a business center. This condo sleeps four so invite your friends for this beautiful getaway.
Bend Oregon 3-night 4-day Getaway and Golf You don't want to miss out on this private beautiful 4-bedroom home that sleeps eight, located in one of Bend, Oregon's most prestigious resorts. This package includes golf for 4 on Pronghorn's world class award winning Nicklaus golf course.
Here are some other live auction items you don't want to miss
Xen pics - Cabs and Carriages, carriage ride
tiki
- Hawaiian Tiki Party for 12 people
- Private Tour of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, including lunch
- Sailing on the San Francisco Bay
- Carriage ride through the vineyards, with catered lunch and private tasting

 

Silent Auction

Here are a few highlights of our silent auction items:
Golf and Dinner at the prestigious Monterey Peninsula Country Club
Vacation home in beautiful Calistoga
San Francisco Adventure Day
Private tour of the Demptos Napa Cooperage
Private plane flight over the San Francisco Bay
Dinner at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
Cakebread Cellars - 2012 Pinot Noir
Spire Mountain Cellars Wine - 2012 Pinot Noir, 2012 Tempranillo
San Francisco Giant's Dugout Tickets for 2
4 hours of Handyman work
Fabulous collection of art work
Golden State Warrior Tickets
Disneyland Tickets for 4
Tour of the San Francisco Bay on the Blue and Gold Fleet

 

 

You are invited; “Riding My Way Back” Documentary Premiere

RMWB Screening Poster

Riding My Way Back Poster



On Monday, December 1, 2014, Xenophon has the privilege of premiering an amazing documentary, “Riding My Way Back”.  This short documentary chronicles one soldier’s journey back from the brink of suicide. In 2010, Staff Sergeant Aaron Heliker returned from multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). At his most desperate and isolated, on 42 medications and suicidal, Aaron is introduced to the unlikeliest of saviors: a horse named Fred. Through caring for Fred, Aaron begins the difficult process of reconnecting to the world around him and healing the invisible wounds of war that nearly defeated him. To see the trailer and learn more about this film, please visit www.ridingmywayback.com.
Invite your friends and family!  Come see this amazing film of heroism and healing.  Refreshments will be served.  We hope to see you there.

When: Monday, December 1, 2014
Time: 7PM
Where: Lafayette Veterans Memorial Building (3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette 94549)
Cost: $10 per person

We have the perfect Christmas gift for you

Christmas Gift Donations

Michael

Are you looking for that perfect gift for a loved one or friend? Give the gift of smiles. Would you like to honor the memory of a loved one by a gift that changes lives? Make a donation in someone’s honor or memory and help sponsor a child’s riding lesson or hippotherapy session. Donating is easy. Simply click below and Paypal will walk you through the process. For Honorary gifts, please include your recipient’s name and address. For a memorial gift, please indicate the name and address of the person to whom you would like the acknowledgement sent. We will send a special Christmas donation certificate notifying them of the special gift made in their honor or memory. You can also mail a check to Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center at PO Box 16, Orinda, CA 94563 and we will send the christmas-wreath7certificate straight away. Please be sure to include the recipient’s name and address with your check.

 


Amount of Donation
Recipient’s Name
Recipient’s Address