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Staff Founders Ann and Larry Kulchin
Larry and Ann with granddaughter Tessa in 1996.
Memoirs from a daughter: Ann and Larry Kulchin Lawrence Kulchin caught the eye of Ann Elise Richter in 1957. Larry a handsome, New York born lad was attending University of Berkley after a stint in the Air Force as a surveyor, when he happened upon Ann, a red headed beauty from Little Rock Arkansas, who was working in the office at UC Berkeley. Hitting it off immediately, they "eloped" to Las Vegas with the family for their wedding. I was born in 1958 in Walnut Creek, California and Dede was born in 1959 in San Jose. Dad only worked a few years for someone else, then went into business for himself. Kulchin & Associates evolved into one of the biggest engineering firms in the United States. Mom held the fort down at home raising us and going with our every whim. Mom and Dad bought us a pony, Mighty Mouse, who was the beginning of the horsey adventure, that I am still on! My sister, Dede, while at Cal Poly pursuing her Child Development degree, chose to do her Sr. Project on The Animal Human Bond. This was a natural course, because we spent our childhood raising everything from baby quail in the bathtub to our horses! Mom and Dad were such gamers! When a conference by the Delta Society was in Texas on therapeutic horseback riding, this "new" field of study, off we went! We were hooked and things just rolled after that. My sister and I attended a two week training in Orange County with Fran Joswick and completed our PATH training! My parents bought a piece of property in San Luis Obispo where Dede ran BOK south for several years, until it was no longer feasible. Purchasing, two Fjords, PJ and Zeke, I started giving lessons at my parents house, in Redwood City. I even went to pick up my first student at her house! The idea of Therapeutic Horseback riding, was just starting.... And here we are today! |
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Program Director Tish Dipman
Her life was changed forever when, at the age of eighteen, Tish started taking care of a little girl with Autism whose mother had passed away from cancer. Within that year her focus changed from horses to working exclusively with the special needs community. Tish has worked as a 1:1 with many special needs children in both their school and home environments. She spent seven years working at the Recreation Center for the Handicapped, now known as the Janey Pomeroy Center, before moving on to the Bridge School and B.O.K. Ranch. Tish is a PATH certified instructor and a CHA certified riding instructor who owned and operated her own therapeutic riding center in the East Bay for several years before making the move to the Peninsula. Tish married her long time boyfriend Scott in Vegas on 08-08-08. Baby makes three, Scott and Tish were very excited to welcome their Baby Benjamin into the world 10 months later, and then baby Beau three years after that! Tish can be reached at tishcallos@yahoo.com. |
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Office Manager
Sharon Doubek
The horse Sharon and Ivana found was an Arab gelding, Cody that had been rescued from an abusive training situation. When Sharon first saw Cody running around the round pen with his neck arched and his nostrils flaring, she was reminded of the Godolphin Arab in the book, King of the Wind. Cody was smart, willing to please but because of his sensitivity and lack of training, he was not ready to become the hunter/jumper Ivana wanted. Ivana went on to lease other horses and compete in A Circuit Jumping and Equitation shows. Meanwhile, Sharon fell in love with Cody and discovered Parelli Natural Horsemanship. It was a perfect training method for both Sharon and Cody because it requires patience, understanding the way horses think, and concentration on becoming safe and confident on the ground before attempting to ride. It has been a slow process but now Cody is a more confident, well-behaved gentleman. Sharon’s love for horses continues to grow because of her personal experience with their gentle, healing nature. Sharon is eager to bring her project/business management skills, her commitment to children with special needs and her love of horses to B.O.K. Ranch as the Equine Administration Assistant. |
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Administration/Webmaster
Jamie Morris
After the move she continued maintaining the BOK website, and she adopted PJ when he retired in 2006 (pictured is PJ with Jamie in the volunteer class at a 1998 horse show). After nine years in Colorado, Jamie happily moved back to the Bay Area, and is currently living in the coast range with her two horses (one of them a Fjord), dog, and cats. She enjoys work as a web designer and 3D artist, and is excited to get more involved with BOK again. |
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PATH Instructor
Shannon Hill
In May 2010, Shannon received her Masters in Social Work from San José State University. Soon after, she began volunteering at BOK Ranch and has loved every moment with the wonderful horses, students, volunteers, and staff! The experience has inspired Shannon to pursue a career as a PATH Therapeutic Riding Instructor - combining her experience working with kids with special needs and her love of horses! Shannon is so thankful to have found BOK Ranch! |
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PATH Instructor
Marida Berlin
Marida took her first formal riding lessons through a P.E. class at CSU, Northridge where she eventually got a degree in Psychology. She returned to school, and attended Otis Art Institute where she studied graphic design. Marida worked as a graphic designer and art director in advertising and publishing. After having 2 daughters Marida and husband, Robert moved to Portola Valley. Marida took up riding again and got her first horse, Sadie. Marida and Sadie started out competing in dressage and then moved on to 3-day eventing where she no longer had to just pretend she was crossing the finish-line. The Berlins own 2 other horses; Letrista, an Azteca mare and Michaeleen, an Irish Sport Horse gelding. Marida served as Joint District Commissioner for Portola Valley Pony Club where she implemented their instructional program and organized riding clinics. Marida trains with Anja Pflanz for dressage and Gabrielle Goni of Excalibur Training for jumping. She is an active member of California Dressage Society, United States Eventing Association and United States Equestrian Federation.
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PATH Instructor
Hannah McDonald
Hannah grew up in San Carlos, CA and has been riding horses on the peninsula since she was 9. From a young age, she had a fascination of horses for their sensitivity and movement. She has worked as a stablehand and lesson helper for many years on the peninsula for work exchange, taking formal lessons and leasing horses. Her training has been in English riding, and focused on jumping. Hannah started volunteering at BOK Ranch in 2009 for therapeutic riding lessons, and became intrigued by how horses can help all of us with the struggles we face in life. She also spent two years working as a lead liner for Hippotherapy students, as well as volunteering with physical therapists at BOK Ranch. Hannah got certified as a PATH therapeutic riding instructor in 2011. She also leads the Parent Trail rides. When not working, Hannah is attending San Jose State University, studying Behavioral Science. She also leases a horse named Lilly. After riding at many different barns over the years, she has said she is grateful to have found BOK ranch and definitely feels at home here. |
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PATH Instructor
Bethany Layport
At the beginning of 2011, Bethany began volunteering at BOK where she fell in love with Animal Assisted Therapy, and especially enjoyed working with the BOK students, horses, volunteers, and staff. Bethany was deeply honored to witness the magic that can happen between a horse and a rider in need. Her experiences with BOK inspired her to become a PATH-certified Riding Instructor, and she is grateful every day to work with the BOK students and horses. When Bethany isn't at BOK, she works with dogs, and can often be found walking her own dog, Bailey, on the cross-country course after lessons are over.
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PATH Instructor
Francoise Vincent
As a young adult, Francoise had discovered her second life-long passion, and had become a yoga practitioner and soon after, a yoga instructor. Through the practice of yoga she developed a deep intuition and was astonished to discover how it enhanced her communication with the horse and consequently improved the equestrian experience for both. She knew that yoga helps develop a strong physical core, which is also essential to riding. As a result, Francoise now combines these two practices, yoga and horsemanship, and helps riders commune with their four-legged friend.
When she started volunteering at BOK Ranch several years ago,
Francoise was greatly moved when she witnessed that students
with special needs developed a rapport with the horse and began
to thrive in ways often inaccessible to them otherwise. This
realization inspired her to become a PATH- certified therapeutic
riding instructor and to transmit her passions for the art of
riding and the art of yoga to students of all ages and
capabilities. Francoise appreciates every opportunity to work
with students, horses, and with the dedicated volunteers and
staff at BOK ranch. |
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Stable Assistant
Megan Dinsmore
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Other Instructors and Therapists that facilitate people with special needs at the Horse Park at Woodside:
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Dr. Angela Sherman Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
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Julie Freschi Physical Therapist
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Horse Sensing Sally Broder
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Program Location: 3674 Sand Hill Road, Woodside, CA 94062
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Tish Dipman is a seventh generation Oakland native who was raised in Pleasant Hill.
The oldest of three girls, Tish started showing interest in horses at age four and by age nine she
was taking formal lessons and began showing in local shows throughout Northern California.
Throughout her life she has ridden, leased, and owned many horses.
By age seventeen, Tish was showing and training event horses professionally.
Sharon
Doubek grew up in farm country surrounded by horses in Western
New York State. She fantasized about having a horse of her own,
but it wasn’t until her daughter, Ivana, showed an interest in
horses did Sharon’s dream come true. Ivana had been taking
riding lessons for a few years and participated in Hunter/Jumper
shows when a teacher recommended that it was a good time for
Ivana to have a horse of her own.
Jamie 
Shannon is a Bay
Area native and life-long horse lover. She grew up vaulting in
Woodside with Sundance Vaulters and competed nationally and
internationally. In 2008, after 24 years of birthday and
Christmas wishes, Shannon finally adopted a horse of her own.
Flash, a gorgeous tri-color paint Tennessee Walker gelding, has
been all her dreams come true and more! Shannon also served two
years as the Volunteer and Adoption Coordinator, overseeing the
care of horses awaiting families of their own, at the coastal
ranch where she adopted Flash.
Marida
Berlin grew up in Los Angeles, California. Ever since she can
remember she loved horses. It started with begging her parents to
take her to the pony rides at Griffith Park where she would stand up
in the stirrups and pretend she was a jockey crossing the
finish-line. She drew horses on every piece of paper she could get
her hands on, pranced around the playground jumping over benches and
read every book in the library about horses.
Bethany
grew up in the Los Angeles area and spent her summers in the
southwest corner of Colorado, where she first began riding horses at
age seven. As her love of horses grew, Bethany began volunteering at
a local boarding stable, where she rode and exercised over
twenty-five horses throughout her teenage years. This love carried
into her college studies, where she worked with and learned about a
variety of agricultural animals. In June 2009, Bethany received her
Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science from California Polytechnic
State University, San Luis Obispo, where she did research in
reproductive physiology with horses and cattle. Bethany spent two of
her years at Cal Poly working at the Horse Unit, where she helped
manage, feed, and foal out the broodmares, and helped imprint the
foals. 
Francoise
Vincent describes her experience on a horse as one of spiritual
oneness with life and nature. Growing up on a farm in the French
Alps, her budding passion for horses was shared with her
cherished grandfather. A horse lover himself and avid rider, he
transmitted his equestrian knowledge to Francoise early on, and
mentored her through her formal horseback riding lessons which
she started at eight years old. As an adult she continued to
ride and eventually rescued a spirited Arabian horse with which
she developed a deep connection and a great friendship. The two
enjoyed many endurance and pleasure rides through the rolling
hills of Northern California.
Megan
is a native of the Bay Area. Her love of riding and horses began at the
age of 7 when her family would take their annual trip down to a guest
ranch near Santa Barbara. For the past several years she has worked
with the wranglers at a ranch in Bridgeport on the other side of the
Yosemite range with their annual Spring cattle work. She follows the PBR
(Professional Bull Riding) and rodeo circuits along with attending the
concerts of her favorite country performers. She enjoys both
volunteering and working at the BOK. It fulfills her dream of doing
what she loves the most which is to be with and care for horses.
Hippotherapy has
always been Moraga-native Julie Freschi’s dream occupation. To this
end she combines her passion for and knowledge of horses with her
career as a physical therapist. Julie gained her foundational horse
knowledge in Pony Club. She competed in Eventing during high school.
As a University of Oregon undergrad, Julie founded the
nationally-competitive Intercollegiate Equestrian Team. She later
attended Boston University, earning a Masters of Science in Physical
Therapy. Her initial decision to move East was heavily influenced by
her desire to ride there. During her time East Julie strengthened
her interest in dressage through her assignment as a working
student. She continues to enjoy dressage with her leased mare Fabbi.
Julie’s interest in working with children with special needs stems
from her service in her church’s Children’s Ministry Class,
specially designed for children with special needs. She has since
helped establish similar programs in Kenya, also serving as a
mentor. She currently works as a full-time physical therapist at the
Hope Technology School in Palo Alto, California.
Dr.
Broder began her professional equine career at the age of 15. She
went to work for a horse trainer in Rancho Sante Fe, California and
spent the next several years working with beautiful show horses.
Even back then, she felt the healing power in horses and was
developing ideas about how to pass this to others. 15 years later
she embarked on her career in the fields of, first, substance abuse
treatment then more broadly clinical psychology. She has focused her
career on treating individuals who have experienced trauma and felt
the effects of that in their life paths. With Horse Sensing, she
brings together her clinical expertise and equine expertise to
facilitate the healing process in her clients.