Become a Champion for one of our fabulous program horses!

The horses of Ocean Riders are the true champions of our outreach programs where they inspire joy, confidence and connection and teach skills to foster a future generation of compassionate leaders.  Your support allows them to continue providing the deeply valuable service of teaching, healing, and empowering humans to be their best selves.

How it Works:  When you Champion a horse your donation goes directly toward supporting our outreach programs for under-resourced communities.  All of our horses have independent owners who donate their time and their horse’s time to our programs and cover the costs of their horse’s daily life, but there are many operating expenses for our non-profit programs and we count on donations for everything from the art supplies to building the covered arena that we need to run programs year round.  

What you Get:  Your name will appear on our website next to the horse you’ve chosen to champion and you will receive a letter updating you on your horse’s work in our programs including pictures of them in action so you can see the smiles they bring to children’s faces.  And of course you are always welcome to visit your chosen Champion at the Golden Gate Dairy Stables!

Lucky Little Bear

Nickname: Bear

Horsenality: You can’t miss Bear’s flashy good looks with his golden Buckskin coat and he knows it!  Bold, playful, and highly intelligent, Bear loves to be the center of attention.  In a herd of other horses Bear is dominant so he can be bossy at times, but he will respect another horse if they set a firm boundary with him and he is also very playful so loves social time.  Even with people, Bear prefers to be in the leadership role so he holds his human partners accountable for communicating clearly with him and being assertive when necessary, but he is also extremely sensitive and responsive to gentle energy, making him an excellent partner to practice balancing kindness and firmness to achieve both trust and respect. 

Work and Education: Bear was trained as a Working Cow Horse, a highly competitive and athletic sport requiring focus, intense bursts of speed, and turning on a dime.  While Bear loved chasing cows and thrived at it (even winning big money) the sport was hard on his body and his owners used him like a tool rather than a partner so he is relieved and grateful to have found his “forever home” at the Golden Gate Dairy Stables where he enjoys his new career as a therapist and has a strong bond with his “mom” Jess.

Family and Relationships: Bear’s best friend is Pico and their favorite game is tug-o-war.  These two will use anything they can get theirs mouths on to play with and they are well-matched in terms of dominance so its difficult to tell if either of them ever win the game.  Bear’s brother is an English Bulldog named Chunk (whom he tolerates) and sometimes they play tug-o-war together too! 

Interests: Chasing cows (and coyotes when they try to enter his pasture!), playing with toys like balls & cones, tug-o-war with Pico, playing “at liberty” with his mom (a dance between human and horse without any ropes or other tack so the horse is completely free and responding the human’s body language and energy), being groomed while he naps, TREATS! 

Program participation: Bear is an excellent teacher for young children and new riders because he is so sensitive and smart and he loves showing off his tricks to an audience.

Championed by:

Mr. Levi Valentine, Diamond Horseshoe
Mr. Frank Shippey, Gold Horseshoe
Ms. Nancy Raulston, Gold Horseshoe

Championed by:

Ms. Nancy Moyle, Diamond Horseshoe

Championed by:

Ms. Hannelore Barnes, Diamond Horseshoe
Ms. Joanne Swift, Platinum Horseshoe
Ms. Anita Peterson, Gold Horseshoe
Ms. Cecily Cassel, Silver Horseshoe

Pico

Nicknames: Pico Perfect

Horsenality: Pico is a Pinto gelding of unknown heritage as he was rescued from an auction on his way to slaughter. His body scars are proof of an unhappy beginning in life, but despite his traumatic past Pico is extremely friendly, animated, and playful often nodding his head at anyone walking by hoping to get a treat.  Although we don’t know the details of his past, it is clear that Pico’s story is one of true resilience, forgiveness and repair.  While he remains highly sensitive with humans, it is obvious that he has a deep desire to connect with people and he has had to overcome much in order to still be able to access this trust.  A very special horse, he has incredible wisdom in his eyes.   

Family and relationships: Pico has a deep bond with his “mom” and has taught her more than any other horse.  He can be dominant and a little bossy with other horses but also very affectionate.  He loves to be with his herdmates and is very uncomfortable being without them, forming intense bonds with them.  His best friends are Apache and Lucky Little Bear and Pico is so attached to them both that he gets upset and whinnies repeatedly when they leave the stables for a ride.  He also loves Chunk, the English Bulldog who will exchange kisses with Pico whenever he can.

Interests: Playing tug-o-war with Bear, snuggling with Chunk, and exploring the land on a trail ride (on or off the trail!)  Pico’s biggest challenge is overcoming his fear of getting saddled due to his history of abuse, but once saddled (a process that is done very slowly and gently with full focus and intention) he is a confident and amazingly surefooted trail horse who shows his love of exploration by bopping his head on the ride with true enthusiasm.

Program Participation: Since his adoption Pico has learned to overcome his distrust of humans and has proven to be an amazing program horse because he requires his human partner to be fully present, focused and calm to earn his trust.  Although he can’t be ridden by program participants because he requires an extremely experienced and subtle rider, Pico loves to connect with human partners on the ground where we always want to begin our relationship with a horse.  Pico responds to pure focus, clear communication and gentle boundary-setting with expressive gratitude and a rewarding connection.

Championed by:

Ms. Jenna Young, Diamond Horseshoe
Mr. John Welisch, Diamond Horseshoe
Ms. Kristin MacDoougall, Gold Horseshoe

Flame

Horsenality: Flame is a bright and sweet (and handsome!) 27 year old Arabian who, like many Arabians sometimes “sees dragons.” Wanting to take excellent care of himself and his rider he has always been alert to everything around him.  By age 18, he’d seen enough of the world and relaxed some, becoming a wise trail horse who could show younger horses that it is ok to cross a bridge or pass through the sprinkler at Green Gulch farms.  He is a highly sensitive horse who can read human intentions closely.  He makes it really clear that if you treat him with respect for his natural dignity and emotional needs, all will be well, but he does not respond to force.  He’s very good at showing a person exactly how he feels about life at any given moment, from ears to tail tip he speaks clearly about what he’s feeling. And like all horses, Flame always lives in this moment. He is a very good teacher of the skill of being present.

Work and Education: Flame is an excellent student of Natural Horsemanship and was very grateful when his person finally learned some of those techniques. “At last,” you could see him thinking, “she’s learned how to talk to me in my language.”  He especially likes working “at liberty” (without a halter or rope).  Flame has been doing Volunteer Mounted Patrol for Tamalpais State Park for many years, helping to keep the trails safe and accessible. 

Family and Relationships: Flame has had his main person Jane since coming to Muir Beach in 1996, and over the years a small team of other riders, including Patty (now Bo’s person), Judith, and Sara.  He is in the herd known as the “Redheads” because they are all chestnut and live together on the Side Hill. 

Interests: Food. Food. Food.  He loves having his face stroked when he’s relaxing by the tie bar.  Pausing to gaze into the distance when coming down a high trail and thinking philosophical thoughts (and reminding his person to stop and admire the landscape). 

Program Participation: In recent years, as he’s become more calm about life Flame has participated in children’s programs at the barn. He has also been working with his long-time second person, Judith in leadership training programs where he demonstrates just how sensitive a horse can be to human body language and intentions. 

Championed by:
Ms. Patti Painter, Platinum Horseshoe
Ms. Judith Forrest, Platinum Horseshoe
Ms. Nancy Raulston, Gold Horseshoe
Ms. Margaret Curran, Gold Horseshoe
Ms. Lauren Steele, Gold Horseshoe
Ms. Melissa Mooney, Gold Horseshoe

Ace

After a very long and well-loved life Ace passed away in 2019, his soul now rests in greener pastures.  Thank you Ace for all you shared with us, the gifts you gave from your heart and soul we will carry with us always.

Nickname: Piglet (because of his love for taking mud baths!) 

Horsenality:  Ace is an Appaloosa Gelding who lived at the Golden Gate Dairy Stables for almost 20 years and although we didn’t know his exact age we believe he lived until the human equivalent of almost 100 years old!  Ace was a wise, stoic, loving, affectionate, animated, kind-hearted gentleman.  He lost most of his teeth in his elderly years so we fed him ‘baby food’ – mashed up pellet soup which he loved.  Ace was one of the kindest horses ever and selflessly offered the gift of himself to countless children.  Ace loved napping in the arena with his buddies, going to pasture (but only after a big meal of mash since he couldn’t graze out there like the other horses) and taking mud baths when our arena forms a pond in the winter. 

Relationships: Ace got along with EVERYONE, but his best friends were a group known affectionately as the “Gerrys” (or the geriatric herd due to their elderly age) which includes Rascal, Jalapeno, Freedom, and the “young-un” of the group at 17 years old, Mojito. 

Program Participation: Ace was involved in every camp or program Ocean Riders has provided.  He was a steady go-to reliable champion we could always depend on for all children’s programs.  He will always be loved by all the local Muir Beach children in our Barn Owl program.  His favorite activity was getting groomed and having his thick tail braided. 

Championed by:

Dr. Mary Schaeffer, Gold Horseshoe

Bo

Nicknames: BoBo, Bolicious 

Horsenality: Not only is he devastatingly handsome, Bo is also a true sweetheart.  He was born in the mountains of Kentucky but rescued at the age of 8 because he wasn’t being fed enough to eat.  He was brought to California and to a better life where he would never go hungry again.  Bo is a gaited horse so he is a true “Cadillac ride”!  Bo loves music, especially Hawaiian ukulele played by Bruce Barlow!  He enjoys being groomed and having coconut oil combed into his mane and tail until it shines.  Bo also loves long trail rides, especially with his buddy and neighbor Rascal, the ex-racehorse because they are well-matched in terms of pace and endurance.  Bo is a skilled soccer player, kicking the rubber ball all over the arena and thinking of himself as the Spanish CR siete of the equine world!

Work and Education: Bo has some dressage training and understands basic dressage commands, collection, bending, moving off the leg, and side passing.  He is also well trained in natural horsemanship working at liberty (completely free with no ropes or tack). 

Family and Relationships: Bo plays hard!  Due to his over-enthusiasm during play time he needs a fence between himself and others for their safety.  However, he is a lover and he plays kissy face through the windows of his friends’ stalls when he is in turn out.  He will take any opportunity to cuddle with any willing participant, horse or human.  He adores people (especially if they have a treat for him) and he has many human fans at our barn. 

Program participation: Bo is involved with the natural horsemanship portion of the programs, helping participants learn to establish partnerships based on trust, respect and authenticity.   Friends: Bo is especially fond of Rascal and they will often visit through their stall windows.  Sometimes Bo will sneak bites of alfalfa right out of Rascal’s mouth when he puts his head through his window to chew!  

Championed by:

Mr. William Farmer, Diamond Horseshoe
Mr. David Williams, Bronze Horseshoe

Ziggy

After a long battle with Lyme Disease that Ziggy fought with heroic stoicism knowing how important he is to so many, he now gallops in greener pastures in comfort and peace.  A truly magical being who touched countless lives with his love and affection, Ziggy is always and forever in our hearts

Nicknames: Zigster, Pink Pony, Little Monster

Horsenality:   Ziggy is small but mighty!  He is ridiculously adorable and in the winter his fluffy coat makes him look like a horse crossed with a chinchilla.  He is very confident with humans and herd-mates alike.  He loves attention from visitors to the barn who are drawn to his cuteness. Because of his big, ground-covering trot, he was tried out as a Ride and Tie horse (a long distance endurance sport that involves two humans and a horse running and riding over back country terrain) but Ziggy’s opinion was that it took way too much effort and that was the end of his Ride and Tie career!  He is sweet, talented, intelligent and well trained, but he likes to make his own decisions and that decision often involves eating.

Family and Relationships:  Ziggy is both social and independent, and can handle himself in any herd without getting overly attached to a specific horse.  He loves people but he is dominant in most horse herds and takes control of all the feeding tires until finally choosing which one he’s going to focus on, putting both front feet in the tires to let others know this is what he’s chosen.  His best playmates have been Bear and Pico who round out a fairly balanced cycle of dominance.   Along with Apache, they’ve been known as the “Bennington” herd due to the variety of coat colors and patterns.

Interests:  Food, naps, and cuddles!  Ziggy can be very playful with the ball or cone when the mood strikes him.  Pico can be seen offering him the ball for a play date and Ziggy refusing the gesture.  Once Pico gives up, and if Ziggy has the energy, he will choose the ball and initiate the game.  It’s all on Ziggy’s terms earning his nickname Little Monster.

Program Participation: Ziggy has been one of our ‘go-to’ program horses for many years.  He is patient and quiet with the children, and wonderful for leading, riding  and grooming.  His soft roan coat feels like angora which makes him a favorite for grooming.  And he grows a ‘beard’ in the winter which makes him look like a gremlin pink pony.  Children love to braid his thick tail, or his mane, and sometimes, even his beard! 

Championed by:

Sylvia Bingham Foundation, Diamond Horseshoe
Ms. Ann Raab, Bronze Horseshoe