With Halloween in a month weβre hosting a Seeβs Candies βYum-raiserβ so you can stock up on delicious chocolates for the season ββ all while supporting our center!
Starting October 6, place your sweet treat order through our online storefrontto be shipped directly to you! Proceeds will go toward helping us continue to provide equine-assisted therapies to children with diabilities and to veterans.
If youβre one for festive fall fun, weβll be a park vendor at this yearβs Walnut Creek Trunk or Treat on Friday, October 24 with craft supplies for guests to make their very own Xenophon-themed button pins. Weβre excited to meet some new faces in the community and spread the word about our center and programs!
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A Really Good Day at the Ranch
Friend of Xenophon Kim Merkin hosted βGallop for Goodβ on September 21Β ββΒ a special day of western-themed fun at the center for Bay Area marketing professionals to unwind and network, and all to benefit the center. Weβre so grateful for Kimβs thoughtfulness and for the generosity of all those who attended ββ $3,029 was raised!
We loved sharing the magic of Xenophon with a new group of people as they raced through obstacle courses, got their hair done into glittery ponytails, and said hi to our horses at horse kissing and painting booths. The day was recapped in an East Bay Times article to boot!
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Xenophon 2026 - The Calendar is Here
Thatβs right! A generous supporter of the organization, Meegan Robinette of Mackey Equine Accessories, has worked to create a 2026 calendar with the theme βThe Healing Herd: Men Who Support the Ride and the Horses Who Love Themβ to help us fundraise. 100% of donations will directly support our center.
To get your copy of the calendar:
Order on our website for direct shipping or for pickup at our center in Orinda
Purchase in store at Concord Feed in Pleasant Hill
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Meet TEAM XEN
Spotlighting our wonderful volunteers and instructors
Paul Bromley
Volunteer - Sidewalker, groom, horse handler
Paul has been volunteering with us for just over a year as a sidewalker and has recently completed groom and horse handler training. Volunteering at Xenophon has taught him that a person's true abilities aren't always visible at first glance and has strengthened his confidence. His βthis is why Iβm hereβ moment happened when a non-verbal client selected a sticker of a handlebar mustache as a prize during a riding lesson, held it up to his lips, and then pointed at Paulβs mustache, providing smiles all around!
βI believe Xenophon has been the single greatest thing for me, my character, and my level of experienceβ¦I canβt begin to express my gratitude to everyone who's played a part in my experience with Xenophon.β
Mari has a long history with Xenophon, beginning teaching with us in 2000 and going on to serve as Head Instructor, Program Director, then Executive Director. Sheβs now President of our board.
Her life-long background as an equestrienne and her experience teaching children in middle school science came together when she began instructing for Riding for the Disabled while living in Singapore. And sheβs been hooked on therapeutic riding instruction ever since! Mari strives to continually improve her teaching style by finding creative ways to present concepts in order to meet the needs and learning abilities of her riders.
βMy riders have taught me what perseverance, spirit, and grace look likeβ¦qualities which I have tried to model after them.β
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In the Barn
Happy birthday, Fosters!
Fosters celebrated his 24th birthday on September 25. He is quite the gem in our programs with a gentle temperament and smooth gaits. Before he came to us to be a therapy horse, he was a tie back horse in roping competitions. This good boy got some extra treats for his special day (and for wearing the hat)!
Copyright (C) 2025 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
Neighborhood Day is a little under two weeks away and we canβt wait to welcome everyone to the center for the afternoon.
In the meantime, check out a sneak peek of what our raffle prizes will include over on Instagram and Facebook and our feature in theBay Area Telegraph!
Along with raffles, get ready for games and prizes, line dancing, client riding demos, food trucks, and more! Have a good time, learn more about what we do, and enjoy some refreshments from local businesses. All ages welcome.
We had an incredibly successful work day on July 11 with Compass East Bay and the National Charity League Lamorinda Chapter.
These hardworking volunteers weeded planters, cleaned up the stables, prepped Summer Camp art activities, and made decorations for our Neighborhood Day event. We appreciate the time and effort they put into helping us out!
We have another work day planned for August 2 ahead of Neighborhood Day to ready the center for the event. If youβd like to join this work day, email Volunteer Coordinator Rebecca!
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Summer Camp Highlights
Summer Camp last week was an absolute blast! It was a week full of horse riding, art, games, and learning about horse communication that culminated in the campers earning their βhorse whispererβ badges. The campers, as well as our horses, also got to enjoy some song and dance in a session with Bee You Music Therapy.
Our camp volunteers were an amazing crew stewarding activities ββ big thank you to them!
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Family Fun Day for Gala Auction Winners
This month we hosted donors Joni and John for their Gala 2025 auction prize of a day at the center! Their five grandkids came along to participate in riding and leading lessons and make pony pop art. The day ended with a lovely group lunch with the horses.
Thank you to Joni and John for their generous support and contribution!
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A Day for Veterans
We also hosted a family and friends BBQ for our Operation Hooves on the Groundgroup this month. This veteransβ program offers a space to learn communication skills and horsemanship techniques in a supportive and peaceful setting.
To see what a session looks like from the perspective of a participating veteran, watch Javierβs video.
βFind peace in the chaosβ¦horses offer a safe and nonjudgmental space for veterans to explore their emotions and experiences, often leading to the ability to share feelings they may not be comfortable expressing with others.β
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Meet TEAM XEN
Spotlighting our wonderful volunteers and instructors
Barbara is in her ninth year volunteering with us and sheβs been in many roles, from a groom in the barn to an office admin keeping our databases updated. Her favorite Xenophon memory includes a fellow sidewalker going the extra mile to brighten a riding studentβs day by conceding to wear a unicorn headband during a lesson for Halloween!
After her volunteer shifts, Barbara enjoys ordering take out and having a relaxing night in with her husband.
βI canβt imagine my life without the work and family at Xenophon. Itβs special!β
Lindsay joined us as a volunteer 14 years ago and has been teaching as a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor for the last eight. Xenophonβs equine-assisted approach to therapy for children with disabilities drew her into becoming a part of Team Xen.
Lindsay is also the lead instructor for our Camp Alumniprogram and was on the staff team for this yearβs Summer Camp, teaching horse leading lessons and running barrels on stick ponies with the campers!
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In the Barn
Summer vacation for the herd
Ever wonder what our horses get up to on their days off? β¬οΈ
Copyright (C) 2025 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
The planning for our βopen houseβ event is underway! This afternoon of fun at the barn is the perfect opportunity to see our facility and learn more about what we do. If youβre already a regular part of our community, bring your family and friends to share the Xen magic.
Weβll have a full lineup of entertainment: games, prizes, raffles, line dancing, client riding demos, food trucks, and more!
Summer has officially started (as of June 20!) and our center has been bustling with lessons, barn chores, and work days.
We love when groups come out for work days to spruce up the place by weeding the trail, trimming bushes, painting structures ββ anything to make the place look refreshed!
Our next work day is scheduled for July 11 and weβre planning another on August 2 ahead of Neighborhood Day to ready the center for the event. If youβd like to help out on one of our work days, email Volunteer Coordinator Rebecca!
Meet TEAM XEN
Spotlighting our wonderful volunteers and instructors
Chiara Zunino
Volunteer - Sidewalker & groom
Chiara joined our volunteer team two years ago after she was looking to earn volunteer hours for school. Her mom encouraged her to do something related to her passion for horses and found Xenophon. Thanks Chiaraβs mom! Chiara has been a hard-working team member, ready to jump in wherever help is needed. When sheβs not on a volunteer shift, she enjoys hanging out with friends and playing lacrosse.
βMy favorite thing about volunteering at Xenophon is being around the horses and seeing the joy kids get from being at the center too. Itβs therapeutic for all.β
Laura started with us as a volunteer sidewalker and horse handler. Wanting to interact more with riding students during lessons, she decided to become an instructor and has been teaching at Xenophon for 22 years! She loves how amazing, fun and genuine her clients are and is always in awe of their resilience and joy.
βI feel so lucky to be a part of the incredible Xenophon family. Where else can you work with fun and loving staff, awesome horses, darling children and appreciative families? Itβs the best!!β
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In the Barn
New fly fashions for the herd
Mackey USA generously donated new fly masks for our horses so they can stay comfy during fly season. Check out the herd modeling each design!
Copyright (C) 2025 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
