B.O.K. Ranch
Woodside, California
B.O.K. Ranch is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation and 501(c)(3) charity that describes itself as a full inclusion, neurodiverse riding, horsemanship and vocational program. It offers lessons year-round at The Horse Park at Woodside, and its mission names children, teens and adults. Its website says it has offered equine-assisted learning for the past 40 years.
- Full inclusion group riding lessons
- Stable Eq unmounted horsemanship classes
- Vocational program for neurodivergent young adults
- Home schooling and distance learning
- Girl Scout troop visits
- Silicon Valley IEA riding team
- Children
- Teens
- Adults
- Neurodivergent and neurotypical riders together
- Neurodivergent young adults moving from school to work
More about this center
About the Program
The ranch says its name first came from the initials of its founders and now simply means "be okay." It holds a membership with PATH Intl. According to its website, lessons are customized to each rider's goals and capped at four riders per class. See our guide to therapeutic riding for how this kind of program works.
Riders attend one-hour group lessons once a week. The website groups riders by level of support: maximum support (two side walkers and a horse handler), minimum support (riders who can control their horse independently under normal circumstances) and transition riders who groom, saddle and ride on their own.
Getting Started
All participants interested in riding start in Stable Eq, an unmounted class covering haltering, leading, grooming, tacking and safety checks. It runs Monday through Thursday, 3 to 5 pm, year-round, and the ranch says children who master the Stable Eq tasks may be eligible to move up to riding. The adult vocational program, which teaches horse care, time management, communication and workplace social skills, does not require Stable Eq first.
For riding, the ranch lists requirements including sitting up without head, neck or back support, weighing under 180 lbs, being seizure-free for at least 12 months and submitting an intake packet with a physician's release. A 30-minute intake assessment places each rider in a group.
Volunteering
Volunteers groom and tack horses and serve as horse handlers, side walkers or spotters. No horse experience is required, and volunteers commit to one weekly shift for at least eight consecutive weeks after an orientation training.
Location
Lessons take place at The Horse Park at Woodside, 3674 Sand Hill Road, Woodside, CA 94062, a 270-acre equestrian facility. The mailing address is PO Box 620702, Woodside, CA 94062.
From public records, not yet reviewed by the center · Last updated Oct 2026 Suggest an edit
Common Questions
Answered from the center’s own website and public records.
How do I enroll a rider at B.O.K. Ranch?
Complete the intake packet and physician's form and email them to director@bokranch.org, then schedule a 30-minute intake assessment. Riders start in the Stable Eq horsemanship class before moving to mounted lessons.
How much do lessons cost?
Call (650) 366-2265 or email director@bokranch.org to ask. The ranch says a limited number of full and partial scholarships are available, and families who need help with the cost can apply.
Location
Woodside, California 94062
Questions to Ask When You Call
The center is the best source for these answers.
- Are you running now, and taking new riders?Start here. We couldn’t confirm a current schedule.
- Which ages and needs do you work with?Ask about experience with your rider’s specific condition.
- Is a licensed PT, OT or speech therapist involved?Therapist-led hippotherapy is usually the only kind insurance may cover.
- What does a session cost, and are there scholarships?Many nonprofit programs offer sliding scales or sponsored spots.
- Do you have a mounting ramp or lift?Important for riders who use a wheelchair or need help mounting.