We have an exciting lineup of extremely immersive experiences to bid on during our Live Auction! YOU can swim freely with dolphins for a week, indulge in Napa wine, wine, wine, and culinary delights paired specifically with more wine, head to Nashville for a week of southern hospitality, and make yourself at home at a 16th Century French Chateau! OR maybe you prefer a road trip down the California coast, up to Tahoe, golfing at Pebble Beach, OR a family day at Xenophon with our herd! Whatever your interest, we have a journey for YOU!

Check out all our LIVE AUCTION LOTS!

Through a grant generously donated by the Lions club we introduce Lion’s Sergeant Pepper as the newest member of the Xenophon herd. Pepper is a 10-year-old bay Appaloosa Gelding. Coming from a reigning/roping background, therapeutic riding is all new to Pepper. That said during our initial testing we were pleasantly surprised by his near non-reaction to the many therapeutic toys we presented to him. Curious and playful yet he approaches his job in a very calm manner. Pepper adores people, has an abundance of character and has been eager to take  on these new challenges. He has a willingness to work  and is a quick learner. Standing at 15.1 hands with his beautiful appaloosa eyes and light dusting of white speckles, he is an eye catcher.

Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center’s ambassador, Wimbledon, joined with SonRise Equestrian Center’s miniature horse, Blackie, in brightening the day of children at USCF Benioff’s Children’s Hospital in Oakland last Tuesday, August 9, 2016. The large black Friesian and the tiny black Mini presented a comical contrast as they allowed themselves to be hugged, stoked, and nuzzled by over a dozen children. True ambassadors they were as they stood stock still while surrounded by wheelchairs, IV stands and whizzing BART trains in the heart of downtown Oakland. While Wimbledon presented a bold picture with his long mane decked out in marigolds and gold ribbon, Blackie stole the show in his bumblebee costume, complete with yellow and black striped leggings, wings and antennae. Xenophon was privileged to join SonRise on their monthly visit to Children’s Hospital. For many of these children, especially those on extended hospital stays due to their illness, and for their parents, the monthly visit is a highlight. It certainly is a much needed distraction from the trials and tribulations facing these families.

Over the past few years, a tradition has begun of having our Xenophon instructors do some type of demonstration at our student horse show.  Our students rarely get to see their instructors ride, and it is a treat for them see us on horseback. It provides a great example to our riders and the opportunity to show some of the wonderful things that can be done with horses. It also is a chance to showcase the training and talent present in our Xenophon horses. This year, 4 instructors did a Quadrille, which is a pattern of precise, synchronized movements done to music. Melissa Maker, Christine Raddeck and Mari Parino, joined by Trini Gantner, a Xenophon volunteer, partnered with Ozzie, Dinero, Starlight and Ruby, for a wonderful Quadrille demonstration. Starlight and Ruby, who are both in their 20’s, showed that they still have what it takes and were not about to let 2 younger geldings show them up. Dinero demonstrated that even a horse trained in Western reining can transform into a dressage horse. And Ozzie, once again showed just how versatile he is, from lesson horse, to driving horse, to dressage horse. Our Quadrille team will be taking their show on the road, doing a demonstration at the Moraga Valley Horseman’s Association event, Pumpkins and Ponies, on Sunday, October 18, 2015.