Keep up with all the Xen happenings, from fundraisers and programming updates to events and what our therapy horses get up to!
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Reserve Your Seat to Experience Rescued Hearts Part 1Tickets are still available to join us for this award-winning documentary that explores the horse human connection
In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, we’re hosting a screening of the first hour of Rescued Hearts, an award-winning documentary uncovering the miracles, mystery, and science of healing with horses –– and a limited number of tickets are still available!
Inspired by a life-changing moment when a 7-year-old child diagnosed with autism spoke his first words while interacting with a horse, filmmakers Dana Croschere and Krisanna Sexton set out to explore the profound and often miraculous connection between horses and humans.
This community gathering offers the chance to experience a film that is touching hearts across the world alongside our organization that lives and breathes the horse human connection through providing equine-assisted therapies for children with disabilities and for veterans. Invite your friends, get your tickets, and see the wider impact of equine-assisted services!
Event details
Rescued Hearts Part 1 Screening Hosted by Xenophon
Copyright (C) 2026 Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website or other contact with Xenophon.
Our mailing address is: Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center
PO Box 16
Orinda, CA 94563-0016
USA
It’s hard to believe Session Block 1 has already wrapped up –– we’re officially in our first break week of 2026 and the season of spring! What’s ahead for Session Block 2? We have an inspiring movie screening planned for Autism Acceptance Month in April and are continuing to gear up for our Annual Gala in May. Scroll down for details!
It is with a heavy heart that we say to goodbye to our Executive Director, Mikha Diaz. Mikha’s last day with us will be March 31st. We are grateful to Mikha for her two years of service with Xenophon. Mikha brought many talents to the Xenophon team, and over her tenure did much to strengthen our center. Empowering our amazing team of employees, she spearheaded new fundraising strategies, including our first-ever “Neigh”-borhood Day, improved system processes at the center, and worked closely with our Board of Directors to identify growth and fundraising strategies, as well as key performance improvement metrics. All her work has enhanced our programs and strengthened our community.
Please take a moment to thank Mikha for her service. We will still be seeing her face around the center, as Mikha has graciously offered to stay on to chair our annual gala fundraising event on Saturday, May 16th. Mikha’s smile and gentle way of being will be missed at the center. We wish her all the best in her new endeavors, knowing that she will continue to make a difference wherever she goes.
Change is always hard in a small, tight knit organization such as Xenophon. We are a strong organization with a solid foundation, and I know we will navigate the changes that come our way with courage and with no change to the exceptional services that we provide. We welcome a new Executive Director, knowing that every individual brings new ideas that will only serve to strengthen our center into the future.
Warm regards,
Mari Parino
President, Board of Directors
Hosted by Xenophon: Rescued Hearts Part 1 Screening
In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, we’re excited to host a screening of the first hour of Rescued Hearts, an award-winning documentary uncovering the miracles, mystery, and science of healing with horses. After members of our team saw the film at last year’s PATH Intl. Conference, we were inspired to share the featured stories about the healing power of the horse-human connection with the community.
Join us to experience this inspiring film and see the wider impact of equine-assisted services.
Our 2026 Annual Gala is about a month and half away –– not too early to pick out a pair of ranch-ready boots to go with your outfit! We’re excitedly planning the auctions, raffles, and cork pull game for the evening at JBL Home Ranch. We’re looking forward to the barn-to-table themed dinner and all the festivities to celebrate and support our center.
Tickets are still available if you haven’t gotten yours yet!
In the Barn
Welcome to the herd, Pepper!
There’s a new horse in the barn: Pepper, the Dutch Warmblood gelding! He has experience in dressage and eventing and is super easygoing. Being generously donated by his owner from Romona, CA, Pepper has fit right in at Xenophon and performed amazingly well during his training and his first lesson session block. He gets a star from us –– just like the one on his forehead!
Copyright (C) 2026 Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website or other contact with Xenophon.
Our mailing address is: Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center
PO Box 16
Orinda, CA 94563-0016
USA
We are excited to announce the appointment of Megan Sweet as our new Executive Director. With a strong passion for therapeutic riding and a commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities, Megan brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our center.
Dr. Megan Sweet is an author, speaker, and systems-thinker who has been in education and the nonprofit space for more than thirty years. She’s been a teacher, school administrator, school district leader, elected school board member, and nonprofit executive leader. Through her extensive experience leading personal and system-wide change, Megan has come to believe that when we approach our challenges from the inside out, by building a supportive and heart-centered connection with ourselves first, we have the confidence and resilience to tackle the important work of transforming our lives and communities.
As we welcome Megan to our team, we look forward to the fresh perspectives and innovative ideas she will bring to our programs and initiatives. Her leadership will guide our center as we continue to provide exceptional services and create a supportive environment for our participants, families, and volunteers.
Please join us in welcoming Megan to the Xenophon family! We are eager for you to meet her and share in the exciting journey ahead.
Copyright (C) 2026 Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website or other contact with Xenophon.
Our mailing address is: Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center
PO Box 16
Orinda, CA 94563-0016
USA
On Monday the center was reinvigorated with new energy as clients returned for 2026 programming! We kicked off the week with our Camp Alumni group who are focusing on learning fun facts about horses this session block. Our therapeutic riding students and therapy service clients will be joining us throughout the week and our veterans will be back on Thursday.
We’re excited to be seeing clients and volunteers regularly again and hope to see you at one of our events this year –– there’s a special addition to our event calendar at the end of this email!
Gala Tickets Now Available
Spend an evening with us at the rustically serene JBL Home Ranch in Martinez on May 16 for our annual gala –– tickets are now available!
You’ll enjoy barn-to-table themed dinner plus drinks while celebrating our center and supporting our equine-assisted therapy programs with auctions, raffles, and more.
Morrison’s Jewelers in downtown Orinda has been a long-time supporter of Xenophon, making contributions to many gala auctions. The current owners are retiring and after a history of 103 years in the East Bay, the Morrison’s storefront on Moraga Way is closing on April 18.
Please consider supporting Morrison’s as they’ve supported us and visit them during their final few months for a beautiful piece of jewelry.
Morrison’s Jewelers
35 Moraga Way
Orinda, CA 94563
Meet TEAM XEN
Spotlighting our wonderful volunteers and instructors
Jennifer Turner (JT)
Volunteer - Groom
JT has been volunteering with us since September 2024 and is currently a groom helping with horse management and care. She loves coming in for her volunteer shifts to leave “real life” behind and be in the moment of working around the barn with the rest of the team, giving the horses some TLC, and creating special experience for our clients.
She has a bit of a soft spot for the two Arabians in our herd, Go-Go and Emmy –– JT’s family had Arabians for many years.
“Volunteering at Xenophon has retaught me the sublime and magical impact horses have on the people around them. I feel so lucky to be in their presence again after a multi-decade break from horse-girl life.”
Rachel has held many roles at Xenophon, from volunteer to staff member, and has always loved interacting with the riding students. Becoming a riding instructor was a natural step for her to work closely with our clients and combine her lifelong riding experience with helping riders build skills and confidence.
Since becoming an instructor, Rachel has discovered how powerful small progress can be –– success can be a rider sitting taller, communicating clearly, or gaining confidence week by week. In lessons, she focuses on the therapy happening naturally through a rider’s partnership with the horse, creating space for growth and transformation for both riders and the people supporting them.
“Horses meet people exactly where they are, and being part of that process has really shaped how I think about patience, communication, and partnership.”
In the Community: Temple Grandin at Orinda Theatre
The opportunity to hear from animal science professor, inventor, and autism advocateDr. Temple Grandin is coming to downtown Orinda!
On March 27, she will be at the Orinda Theatre as part of the speaker series Elevate Every Voice by Las Trampas, a fellow East Bay nonprofit whose mission to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is adjacent to our own. Dr. Grandin’s work has transformed humane livestock practices and the public’s understanding of autism. Some members of the Xenophon staff attended her presentation at last year’s PATH International Conference and highly recommend experiencing Dr. Grandin share her own experiences with autism and her perspectives on creating a more inclusive and compassionate world.
We’re excited to be hosting a FREE horse yoga session at the center on Friday, March 13 at 1:00pm! This will be a unique experience combining the relaxation of yoga practice with the calming presence of horses. Led by Doctor of Physical Therapy Irina Fedulow Plante who is also a Registered Yoga Teacher, the session will focus on mindfulness, breath work, and gentle movement –– no prior yoga or horse experience required!
For more information and to reserve your spot, email our volunteer coordinator Rebecca at rebecca@xenophontrc.org –– space is limited!
Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toed shoes; pack essentials like a water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat
Bring a yoga mat or towel that you don’t mind getting dirty
All yoga will be performed on the ground (no mounted work)
Copyright (C) 2026 Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website or other contact with Xenophon.
Our mailing address is: Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center
PO Box 16
Orinda, CA 94563-0016
USA
plus access to all auction lots, raffles, & wine cork pull
Secure your spot at our exciting once-a-year event to celebrate 33 years of Xenophon and raise funds for our beloved center and equine-assisted therapy programs. It will be an evening of down-home fun that honors the East Bay’s farming past in the rustic and serene setting of JBL Home Ranch in Martinez.
Copyright (C) 2026 Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website or other contact with Xenophon.
Our mailing address is: Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center
PO Box 16
Orinda, CA 94563-0016
USA
We’re about a month away from the start of 2026 programming on February 23! The horses have been exercising to be in shape for riding sessions and staff have been planning away for this year’s events, like the annual gala (more on that below).
To plan ahead, take a look at our program calendar for the year!
Thought Leadership from Our Team
We’re proud to share that Xen instructor Jen Wineman has been published! Her article appears in the Fall 2025 issue of Strides Magazine, the equine-assisted services industry publication of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.). Titled “Puberty: A Roadmap for Instructors,” the piece gives practical insight to help therapeutic riding instructors better understand their adolescent students and support their success in lessons. She presented on this topic at the 2025 PATH Intl. Conference as well!
We’re thrilled to see Jen sharing her knowledge and experience with the broader industry!
After a combined 26 incredible years of service, beloved herd members Kiwi and Ruthven are officially retiring! Before they head off to their well-earned new homes, we threw them a tailgate-themed celebration to honor all they’ve given to our program and clients. With festive treats for both humans and horses, it was a send-off worthy of this unicorn and golden girl. Check out the festivities below!
Copyright (C) 2026 Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website or other contact with Xenophon.
Our mailing address is: Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center
PO Box 16
Orinda, CA 94563-0016
USA
Join us for our exciting once-a-year event to celebrate 33 years of Xenophon and raise funds for our beloved center and equine-assisted therapy programs.
With this year’s theme of Barn to Table, it will be an evening of down-home fun that honors the East Bay’s farming past.
Copyright (C) 2026 Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website or other contact with Xenophon.
Our mailing address is: Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center
PO Box 16
Orinda, CA 94563-0016
USA
Dear Families, Friends and Supporters of Xenophon,
We are writing to share an important leadership update with you. After thoughtful and careful consideration, Mikha Diaz has decided to step down from her role as Executive Director at Xenophon effective March 31, 2026.
Mikha has played a meaningful role in advancing the mission of Xenophon and shepherding us through some critical organizational transitions which include the departure of the prior Executive Director and the retirement of our longstanding Barn Manager. During her tenure, Mikha introduced new fundraising activities, such as the wildly successful Neighborhood Day, and made essential changes to our operational structure to enhance the effectiveness and quality of our program. Mikha also oversaw the successful renewal of our PATH Accreditation. We want to express our deep appreciation to Mikha and thank her for the positive impact she’s made on Xenophon and the legacy she leaves behind.
We want to reassure you that Xenophon remains strong and fully committed to our mission. Xenophon’s distinguished reputation and sound financial foundation are sure to attract proven talent for this critical leadership position. Mikha’s transition timeline allows us to begin the search for a new Executive Director promptly, ensuring continuity during this period. Our Board of Directors has a transition plan in place that begins with posting the Executive Director position immediately to initiate our search.
We thank you for your continued support and belief in our program. We will share additional updates as next steps become available. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me or Mikha directly.
Copyright (C) 2026 Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website or other contact with Xenophon.
Our mailing address is: Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center
PO Box 16
Orinda, CA 94563-0016
USA
