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Sugar is an inquisitive mare who joined the BOK Ranch herd in September of 1998. She was purchased with grant money from the Bothin
Foundation after she showed that rather than spook at
something unfamiliar, she would move towards it to check
it out. This quality, along with her friendly nature and
ideal size, made her an excellent candidate for our program.
Born in 1988, Sugar was bred to be a cutting horse in Oregon. She has a brand "C2" from her first home on her left hind quarter. She has four white socks with unusual black ermine marks on each sock. She has a tiny white snip and a very kind face.
Sugar is now ridden by a variety of students, with some that ride her independently. She is especially good at giving a stimulating forward walk as well as a slow western jog, which has earned her several fans.
Sugar
is generously sponsored in honor of Maddy Pearce.
To learn more about Quarter
Horses, visit the
AQHA website. |
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Louie is a very special horse,
with a very special story. Louie is a
20 Year old Polish Arabian.
He spent the majority of his life as a dressage and
trail horse with his owner, Martha. A few years ago,
Martha began leasing Louie to an 11 year old girl, named
Riley. Riley spent all of her time away from school with
Louie, they were an inseparable duo. When Riley was 14
years old she passed away from an unexpected battle with
cancer. It was important to both Martha and Riley’s
family that Louie continues his life around children.
Louie is a wonderful addition to the B.O.K. Ranch equine
herd. His trustworthy personality has begun to teach
many B.O.K. riders how to canter for the first time. In
May of 2007, Louie lead “A Walk To Remember”, a group of
approximately 100 friends and family who met at Webb
Ranch to remember and celebrate Riley’s life.
Louie is generously sponsored by Linda and Kaitlin
Chicca. |
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Sadie is a 22 year old ¾ Thoroughbred and ¼ Quarter
horse mare. Sadie is owned by a B.O.K. Ranch volunteer,
Marida. Marida has owned Sadie for many years and has
shown her extensively as an eventer. Sadie serves many
roles within the B.O.K. Ranch. She is an excellent
therapeutic riding horse, who proves to be a perfect match
for both our transition riders as well as our volunteer
lesson riders. Sadie has very fluid three dimensional
movements. Sadie is just as comfortable
being lead in a halter as she is being ground driven in
a bit. Sadie is an energizer bunny, who never reveals
her true age.
Sadie
is generously sponsored in honor of Maddy Pearce. |
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Mighty is
an 8 year old Haflinger gelding. He was originally bred
by an Amish family that initially trained him to pull
their carriage. Mighty eventually ended up as a Woodside
Junior Riders Summer Camp horse and then came to the
B.O.K. Ranch. He was purchased for B.O.K. by Mike and
Theresa Mansfield; Mike has been a dedicated lesson
volunteer side walking for the program 4 hours a week.
Mighty is a ‘BIG’ mover with a ‘BIG’ heart to go along
with his extended stride. Mighty is also a talented and
motivated jumper who loves to spend his afternoons
schooling on the cross country course.
Mighty
is still in need of a sponsor. |
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After
traveling down a very long and windy road (almost 2
years of constant searching for a horse to buy), B.O.K.
volunteer Vickie met Jackson. Vickie and Jackson as well
as Jackson and the B.O.K. riders couldn’t be a better
match. It is true that good things come to those who
wait. Jackson is a 9 year old American Paint Horse
Gelding. His previous careers included
Halter/Showmanship horse, Western Pleasure, and Trail
horse. Jackson has a truly quiet and respectful nature,
who, relishes in warm hugs and kisses from all of the
riders who visit him each day. Jackson has become the
official equine welcoming committee as well as the class
clown. Jackson has been known to unzip people’s jackets,
dunk all of his hay into his water trough one bite at a
time, and eat giant cucumbers in 2 seconds flat.
Jackson
is still in need of a sponsor. |
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Idgie Threadgoode,
"Idgie", is by far one of the most trust-worthy horses
that has crossed B.O.K. Ranch’s path. Her resume in the
therapeutic riding world is very impressive. Idgie is a
16 year old Quarter Horse Mare who has a unique blue
eye. Although Idgie protests being put away in her
paddock she couldn’t possibly enjoy going out for rides
any more than she already does. If given the choice Miss
Idgie would be walking around the horse park day and
night. Idgie spent many years as a therapeutic riding
horse for an East Bay riding center before becoming the
carriage driving horse for the Fremont school for the
blind. Since Idgie’s drivers had visual impairments she
relied on the instructors voice commands to navigate her
way. Idgie will be the center of the B.O.K. Ranch
therapeutic driving program as well as a riding horse. |
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Sheba
is a 22 year old Hanoverian Mare. She has spent her life
as a pleasure horse and as a hunter/jumper horse. Sheba
is a very kind and trusting soul who takes great
responsibility in keeping her riders safe in the arena.
Sheba came to B.O.K. Ranch from Excalibur, which is a
barn at Portola Valley Training Center. One of the most
remarkable features about Sheba is that unless someone
told you her age, you would never know. She has been so
fortunate throughout her life to receive to best care
possible. She definitely has the body, mind, and spirit
of a horse half her age.
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Romeo
is one of the newest additions to the B.O.K. line up. He
is also now officially the largest B.O.K. lesson horse,
standing at almost 16.3 hands tall. Romeo is a ten year
old stout Dutch Warmblood gelding with a pretty
extensive background in dressage. Romeo has been adopted
by Mike and Theresa Mansfield, two long time B.O.K.
volunteers. Romeo was brought to B.O.K. with the purpose
of working as the vaulting horse. He excels at carrying
his vaulters on his back, he can be trusted to stay
steady and true no matter what kind of position his
vaulter may be getting them-self into. Romeo is also
very distinctive as a registered Dutch Warmblood, born
with very bold “paint-like” markings. He has white legs,
a bald face, and one very bright blue eye.
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Honey
is a one of a kind. Owned by B.O.K.’s head instructor,
Heather, this 10 year old mare is thought to be some
type of a Quarter Horse and Paso Fino or Peruvian Paso
mix. Although, Honey is small, qualifying as a pony she
has the heart and will of a horse 10 times her size.
Honey would be considered a “rescue”. When Heather found
her she was going to be put down because she was
considered unfit to ride, basically uncontrollable. Not
to mention that if you look closely at Miss Honey’s neck
you can still find where she had been shot with a gun.
To make a long story short, Heather purchased the horse
for $300 and spent a short amount of time loving and
caring for the little horse with the big heart, who
turned out to be as quiet and safe as can be. Honey’s
main job with B.O.K. is to carry the smallest riders
during their lessons.
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Where are they
now?
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Shale is an Arabian/Peruvian Paso
cross, and joined B.O.K. in the early 90's. She came from Hidden Villa, and while her true birthday is unknown, by her teeth she was born around 1973.
For many years Shale provided B.O.K. with service as an awesome therapy horse.
She was even named "Therapy Horse of the Year" for NARHA's Region 11.
Because of her age Shale was put into semi-retirement in the fall of
2001, and fully retired in 2006 with Leslie Schoon. |
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Dan retired in 2007, and is currently living with Shale in Paso
Robles.
Dan is always available for the local children and the youth groups from
Leslie’s church to come and groom, pet, and feed. Dan is as patient and
understanding as always, allowing young children to climb all over him. |
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Eddie has
joined the Ringling Brothers circus! More details coming soon... |
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In memoriam...
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The
end of an era.

The Norwegian Fjords Zeke and P.J. were
the founding horses of the B.O.K. Ranch
"The Boys" arrived
at B.O.K. from the same farm in Illinois in 1984. P.J., born on
February 8, 1980, was then known as "Ryvar". Zeke, born on May 17,
1981, was "Vilar".
P.J., often considered the
more stubborn of the two,
was a good mount for "active" riders, as he had smooth gaits and ignored
unintentional leg and hand movements. Zeke, "the gentleman", was
more sensitive, with animated gaits ideal for riders needing more
stimulation.
P.J. and Zeke remained the backbone
of the program even as new horses joined the herd, slowing down only
slightly as they got older. Finally, after over twenty years of
loyal service with B.O.K., they retired.
P.J. traveled to
Jamie's farm in Colorado in July of 2006.
Zeke retired a year
later to sunny Paso Robles with Leslie, rejoining Shale.
After a year and a half of
happy retirement, P.J. was sadly
put
down on December 1st, 2007, after he was
unable to recover from a sudden, severe colic.
Zeke joined
him on January 31, 2008, when he was put down following a brave battle
with a rare cancer.
They are
missed. |
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