Adaptive Riding Lessons

All of B.O.K. Ranch’s Adaptive Riding Lessons are group lessons. The maximum amount of riders in a class is four. During each lesson, riders are taught how to work together as a team with their horse and with their classmates.

Maximum Support Lessons

A maximum support rider is a rider who requires two side walkers (a person on both the right and left side of the horse) and a horse handler (a person walking at the head of the horse). Riders may need additional help with balance, fine motor skills (holding the reins), and following directions.

Minimum Support Lessons

A minimum support rider can control their horse independently under “normal” circumstances. They are assisted in lessons by a spotter or potentially a horse handler who is in place in case of an emergency. Minimum support riders are usually beginning to trot their horses with assistance.

Transition Lessons

Transition riders are able to groom, saddle, and ride their horses independently. Some transition riders are beginning to learn how to canter their horses. These riders could potentially begin riding at a main stream riding center, however, for the time being may need to take instruction in a more structured and individualized environment.

Rider Criteria

• All B.O.K. Ranch riders must be able to sit up independently on a horse without any type of head, neck, or back support.

• Riders can not exhibit any behaviors that would make riding dangerous (i.e. hitting, kicking, biting, screaming).

• All riders must be able to wear an approved riding helmet, during all lessons.

• Riders must weigh under 180 lbs.

• An intake packet including a physicians release form must be completed before lessons can be scheduled.

Enrollment Process

First Step:

Fill out the intake packet, including having the physicians form filled out and send it all back to the B.O.K. Ranch main office.

Second Step:

A 30 minute intake assessment; consisting of a brief evaluation to help determine the most appropriate riding lesson group (Maximum Support, Minimum Support, or Transition).

Third Step:

Start attending once a week, one hour riding lessons. The B.O.K. Ranch is currently conducting 7 week sessions. Riders attend once a week for one hour.

Enrollment process and associated costs are subject to change. 

Please call the office about current lesson rates.

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Volunteer Lesson Program

The B.O.K. Ranch offers riding lessons to its volunteers!

After a lot of feedback from both past and present volunteers, the B.O.K. Ranch began offering 1 hour group lessons at a reduced rate as a THANK YOU to all qualifying volunteers.

Riders are grouped and taught at all riding levels’ novice through advanced. The techniques taught can be applied to any discipline of horsemanship from reining to jumpers.

Volunteer lessons are currently being offered weekday evenings, scheduled immediately after the therapeutic riding program.

These lessons are offered to volunteers who are actively contributing a minimum of one full volunteer shift each week.

Riders must weigh less than 180 lbs.

Although volunteer lessons are taught to a wide variety of different skill sets, these lessons are not therapeutic riding lessons.

Riders must be able to follow and respond to multi-step instructions, and be able to safely control their horse in an enclosed arena with other riders. All volunteer lesson participants must be able to ride completely independently (horse handlers and/or side walkers are not provided during these lessons).

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Working Student Program

The B.O.K. Ranch offers work exchange programs for dedicated and hard working equestrians. Working students must be at minimum of 15 years old with a strong knowledge base in general horse care, stable management, and equine first aid.

Scheduling is flexible; working students commit to helping the equine director for a mutually decided upon number of days per week in exchange for no cost riding lessons with a B.O.K. instructor.

Job responsibilities may include such tasks as: feeding, grooming, applying standing wraps, bathing, clipping, mucking, assist in running errands, and schooling horses.

To become a working student please contact Tish Dipman, Program Director at

(650) 366-2265 or at tishcallos@yahoo.com.

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Trail Riding Group for Parents

The B.O.K. Ranch offers a fun and therapeutic activity for parents of children with special needs.

Parents can finally take a mental health day for themselves and spend time gaining knowledge and participating in their child's favorite sport.

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Equine Discovery Learning

Class Field Trips & Extended Programming For Schools

Adult Day Programs

Groups enjoy visiting the B.O.K. Ranch for both one-time visits as well as on-going weekly and monthly visits. Students learn about grooming, tacking, riding, feeding, and horsemanship.

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Social Skills Class

Learning appropriate socialization skills isn’t always black and white.  The B.O.K. Ranch is now offering classes geared towards effective socializing for young equestrians.

Working in conjunction with CONNECTIONS, Social Solutions for Kids; the B.O.K. Ranch Social Skills Program works with the horses to focus on  socialization, communication, real life interactions, acceptance, self-esteem, and building confidence.

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Horses for Heroes

The B.O.K. Ranch has teamed up with the Poly Trauma Unit of the Palo Alto VA Hospital to bring a one of a kind program to our United States Veterans and their families.

This program is very unique and the first of its kind in the country to be providing such a wide array of services.

For more information please contact the B.O.K. Ranch office at (650) 366-2265.

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Stable Life

Mission Statement: To provide horseback riding lessons and healing arts to individuals at a turning point in their lives.

Stable Life at BOK Ranch - a wellness program that uses horses to live well!

For more information, please contact Joanna Shell directly at JoannaShell@sbcglobal.net or (415) 722-4778.

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Debra Alvarado, PT

Physical therapist Deb Alvarado is conducting therapeutic horseback riding lessons and hippotherapy sessions to provide a very unique and highly individualized program.

Contact: Debra Alvarado (808) 294-3067

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Julie Freschi, PT

Coming soon.

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Kristen Petersen, SLP

Coming soon.

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Horse Sensing

Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy

Horse Sensing is experiential work with horses in the moment. Horse Sensing allows one to get in touch with otherwise inaccessible parts of themselves utilizing the highly intuitive help of horses.

Participants will work with a licensed clinical psychologist and horsewoman, Dr. Sally Broder, Psy.D. She treats individuals with a range of mental health and life issues including depression, anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma related effects, substance abuse disorders and eating disorders.

Also addressed are life transitions such as grieving the loss of a loved one, moving out of a long-term relationship and changing careers or life paths.

Dr. Broder specializes in helping individuals get in touch with what is making them feel stuck in life, sapping them of precious energy. Dr. Broder integrates the equine theoretical principles and style of Chris Irwin with her own background in Jungian Depth Psychology.

Sessions are for individuals, groups, and staff teams. Ages begin at 12 with the permission of parents.

www.HorseSensing.com

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Inner Equine Concepts

Jennifer Arends, R.V.T.

Inner Equine Concepts uses Chris Irwin's method of personal development utilizing horses as our teachers.  By addressing our predator-based and the equine prey-based behaviors we can learn about balance, boundaries, trust, awareness, consistency, fear and much more.  Learning to be a "better horse" translates directly to being a better person, parent, team mate, teacher and/or student.  Horses aren't magic they just don't have the ability to lie.  When we see the truth in ourselves we become happier, healthier human beings.

Inner Equine Concepts offers individual and/or group sessions.  We also offer corporate management training.  We promise no dark rooms with projected presentations.  Come join us for the most insightful and least boring leadership training you will ever attend.

www.InnerEquineConcepts.com

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Equine Assisted Psychotherapy & Equine Assisted Learning

Angela Sherman, Ph.D.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is “hands on” in nature and involves clients interacting with horses and completing activities that are aimed at treatment goals. EAP involves a team consisting of a licensed psychologist, an equine specialist, and equine staff. Staff are certified for this work through the Equine Growth and Leaning Association (EAGALA, www.eagala.org).

Clients are encouraged to find solutions to their current difficulties through exercises aimed at helping them understand how they interact with others and the world around them. Horses are an integral part of this process as they provide neutral, immediate, and nonverbal feedback, enhancing the learning experience. However, horse experience is not necessary! EAP can be used on its own or as an adjunct to traditional office therapy.

Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) involves equine based activities that are not therapy, per se, but are certainly therapeutic in nature. An example of this is skill building through a social skills learning group. Please contact Dr. Sherman for a free initial phone consultation at (650) 248-4072 to see if EAP or EAL activities are right for you. We’ll see you outside!

www.changeyourlead.com

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