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For more than 15 years, the nonprofit Ocean Riders of Marin has provided opportunities for disadvantaged children to connect with horses and nature, empowering them through their interactions with a 1,000-pound animal.

That consequential work doesn’t mean the women who run the organization don’t know to throw a heck of a party, however.

In an effort to build an arena to host children year-round, Ocean Riders hosts its annual fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 14 (1-5pm) at its home, the Golden Gate Dairy Stables within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) in Muir Beach. The theme for the event is “Blues in the Barn,” as Bruce Barlow leads a live performance from a band of all-star musicians that includes Austin de Lone, Steve Freund and Norm DiCarlo. There will also be barbecue from BIg Jim and a silent auction, but unsurprisingly, the stars of the evening are the horses themselves.

The staff and board of directors own the 15 horses living in the stable, and they’re putting those horses – Apache, Rooster, Bo, Pico and Lucky Little Bear among them – on the runway as the centerpiece of the event.

“We;re looking for people to become a champion for one of our fabulous program horses,” says Jessica Pinto, a marriage and family therapist who is the equine program director for Ocean Riders. “When you champion a horse, your donation goes directly toward supporting our outreach programs for under-resourced communities.”

The 411: Ocean Riders of Marin hosts its “Blues in the Barn” fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 14 (1-5pm) at its home, the Golden Gate Dairy Stables within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) at 1760 Shoreline Hwy. in Muir Beach. MORE INFO & BUY TIX.