ORINDA — More than 100 people donned their finest Western wear for last Sunday’s “Gallop for Good” fundraiser at the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center.
The nonprofit aims to enrich the lives of adults and children with disabilities through equine-assisted activities and therapies, including therapeutic horseback riding, physical and occupational therapy, and horsemanship.
Judy Lazarus, of Orinda, who died in 2021, founded Xenophon at Carol Dwinell’s Black Point Farm in Martinez in August 1993 with one horse and two students. In 1996, the nonprofit moved to its 3-acre location in Orinda which is leased from PG&E. The nonprofit now has eight horses and serves over 50 children per week, giving individual lessons suited to their abilities.
“After witnessing Xenophon’s life-changing programs for children with disabilities and veterans battling PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, I wanted to do something to help,” said Kim Merkin, Gallop for Good event chair and vice president of Strategic Accounts for 3D Exhibits. “I’m touched, moved and inspired by what they do. It’s transformative.”
In addition to a lunch of grilled burgers and sides, activities on Sunday included a horse-kissing booth, inflatable horse costume agility contest, an interpretive horse dance demo, a horse painting station and a special horse-themed cheer performance by the cheerleading squad of California High School in San Ramon.
Mikha Diaz has been the Xenophon’s executive director since April 2024, rode horses a bit as a child, but got back into it more seriously when her daughter began riding seven years ago at age four. She now has two purebred Arabian horses — Serafina and Billy.
“There’s been such great energy today, it’s a unique opportunity and very meaningful for us to get our work out in front of people,” said Diaz.
For more information about Xenophon or to donate to the organization, visit www.xenophontrc.org.
A horse named Scooter nuzzles Alexis Gottschalk, of Orinda, during the “Gallop for Good” fundraiser at the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Event chair and Strategic Accounts for 3D Exhibits Vice President Kim Merkin, of Lafayette, speaks during the “Gallop for Good” fundraiser at the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Melissa Levin, of Houston, paints a horse named Windsong during the “Gallop for Good” fundraiser at the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Zenophon Executive Director Mikha Diaz and Joan Saunders, from left, walk to the arena during the “Gallop for Good” fundraiser at the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Cal Espinoza, of Castro Valley, rides an inflatable horse during the “Gallop for Good” fundraiser at the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Jeremy Hunter, of Santa Barbara, center, paints a horse named Winding during the “Gallop for Good” fundraiser at the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. To the right is Zenophon Executive Director Mikha Diaz.(Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Attendees great a horse named Scooter during the “Gallop for Good” fundraiser at the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Attendees have lunch during the “Gallop for Good” fundraiser at the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Shazia Malik and Susan Piel, both of San Francisco, chat during the “Gallop for Good” fundraiser at the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Christina Merlson, of Oakland, and Karen Cooper, of Santa Cruz, from left, ride inflatable horses during the “Gallop for Good” fundraiser at the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
The Cal High School cheerleaders from San Ramon perform during the “Gallop for Good” fundraiser at the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Melissa Yamamoto takes a photo of a horse named Go Go during the “Gallop for Good” fundraiser at the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Attendees have a lunch of grilled burgers during the “Gallop for Good” fundraiser at the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)