The Center
Blue Oaks Center provides a State of the Art Equine Center for Equine Education and Therapy. The Center's 64 acres consists of a covered riding arena with community activities and educational opportunities displaying the history of the Baca Barb Horse. The Blue Oaks Center supports many community organizations and equestrian partnerships through therapeutic relationships and arts in collaboration with local schools, universities, military and senior/youth groups. including YMCA camps, scouts’ equine experiences, children, veterans and families’ equine therapy, training workshops, senior citizens horse activities, and school field trips.
Since the founding of Blue Oaks Center (BOC) in 2015, BOC has worked diligently to bring the Baca Barb Horse out of Extinction and into the Endangered Equine category. BOC has identified and gathered all known Baca Barb horses. Their preservation is critical as their descendants arrived with Cortez in 1517 making them part of American history. They have outstanding performance ability, beautiful conformation and the desire through natural horsemanship to bond with humans. With the support of several Universities’ geneticists and researchers, we have created an extensive DNA database on all Bacas. Blue Oaks Center’s preservation program has proven successful with the first foals, now 6 years old, competing in Working Equitation, Cowboy Dressage, Trail Riding, Equine Assisted Learning and other disciplines. The Baca Herd continues to strive for their survival for the future generations without falling back into Extinction.
Our Founder:
With 35 years of working in the field of Education and Mental Health, I recognized the value of equine therapy when working with children, youth and adults with emotional trauma. I experienced that with highly trained professional and natural horsemanship based practices; the outcomes for healing and growth were truly remarkable.
My search for the perfect horse with the exact temperament, character and willingness to engage in relationship building began. This is how I found the Baca Herd which had been dispersed from the Baca Chica Farm in New Mexico. When I realized they were on the Endangered Equine List, I continued my search across the United States for remaining breedable Bacas and transported them to my ranch, Blue Oaks Farm, CA. In 2015, I founded Blue Oaks Center to pursue my passion and developed an Equine Assisted Learning program utilizing the Bacas. I liked the combination of the rare Baca Barb Horse’s gentle spirit and character combined with knowledge and skill-based training as it does result in growth for the horse, client and instructor. At Blue Oaks Center, it is the cycle of communication and learning that creates the strong bond of healing and sense of belonging for our community’s youth, families and seniors.
In addition to Equine Therapy, the Baca Barbs have the ability to achieve in other performing disciplines such as Trail Riding, Working Equitation, Dressage, Endurance and Camping. In 2023, the first foal born at BOC has achieved national recognition in Working Equitation. Today with the help of our University partners using DNA Testing and Analysis, the Bacas’ ancestry was found to be one of the first herds brought to the colonial Americas. Because of their ancestry and versatility, I knew I had to do everything possible to prevent their extinction. I developed an extensive Preservation Program to maintain a pure bloodline which has proven successful.
My search for the perfect horse with the exact temperament, character and willingness to engage in relationship building began. This is how I found the Baca Herd which had been dispersed from the Baca Chica Farm in New Mexico. When I realized they were on the Endangered Equine List, I continued my search across the United States for remaining breedable Bacas and transported them to my ranch, Blue Oaks Farm, CA. In 2015, I founded Blue Oaks Center to pursue my passion and developed an Equine Assisted Learning program utilizing the Bacas. I liked the combination of the rare Baca Barb Horse’s gentle spirit and character combined with knowledge and skill-based training as it does result in growth for the horse, client and instructor. At Blue Oaks Center, it is the cycle of communication and learning that creates the strong bond of healing and sense of belonging for our community’s youth, families and seniors.
In addition to Equine Therapy, the Baca Barbs have the ability to achieve in other performing disciplines such as Trail Riding, Working Equitation, Dressage, Endurance and Camping. In 2023, the first foal born at BOC has achieved national recognition in Working Equitation. Today with the help of our University partners using DNA Testing and Analysis, the Bacas’ ancestry was found to be one of the first herds brought to the colonial Americas. Because of their ancestry and versatility, I knew I had to do everything possible to prevent their extinction. I developed an extensive Preservation Program to maintain a pure bloodline which has proven successful.
Our Vision
Blue Oaks Center provides a State of the Art Equine Center to be used by the community for Equine Education and Therapy. The Center consists of a covered riding arena with community activities, arts and educational opportunities. The Blue Oaks Center supports many community organizations including YMCA camps, scouts' equine experiences, children, veterans and families’ equine therapy, training workshops, senior citizens horse activities, and school field trips.
Our Mission:
- Establish professional preservationists through education, training and coaching. To sustain an endangered species requires sound breeding practices and good stewardship, sheer increase in numbers will not save our Baca Barbs. It requires long term goals beyond our own stock, to the national or global benefit of the “herd”. This includes developing Micro Preservation Sites with certification of best practices to support and sustain the genetics for the future.
- Event Center that provides educational opportunities to the community to learn about Equestrian partnerships through therapeutic relationships and arts through collaboration with local schools, universities, military and senior/youth groups.
- Provide public education and awareness, preservation and sanctuary for the Baca strain of Barb Horse ensuring its genetic diversity for future generations.
Equine Assisted Learning Program
Equine Assisted Learning is established through participants engaging in hands-on learning activities with the use of the horse as a partner to explore positive development of communications, self-respect, confidence, trust, accountability and conflict resolution. Sessions incorporate a variety of ground work and general horsemanship activities such as grooming, leading and herd observations. All activities are taught with outcomes focused on social, emotional and vocational skills used for healthy, healing and personal growth.
|
Children and adults, including veterans and active-duty military personnel, with physical, cognitive and emotional challenges find strength and independence through the power of the horse. |
All classes are overseen by a PATH Intl. Certified Equine Specialist who collaborate with mental health and learning specialists and community volunteers. All curriculum is developed with Learning Outcomes evidence through demonstration of the skill through strategy questions and practicums. Mental Health workers assist in processing specific issues that each participant may encounter while engaged in learning activities. |
View this profile on InstagramBlue Oaks Center (@blueoakscenter) • Instagram photos and videos
Thank you for visiting our website. In order for Blue Oaks Center to sustain its programs and grow to meet more community needs, we depend on people just like you to support in any way you might see fit. Healing hearts can transform not only communities but our world to be a better place for all.
or Make Checks payable to:
BLUE OAKS CENTER
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
BLUE OAKS CENTER
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Your donations are tax deductible.
100% of your donation goes to program development,
research and preservation.
All of Blue Oaks Center's organizational/ administrative work is done purely by
volunteers. We do not use any donation money for administrative costs or salaries.