Since 1981, Ivey Ranch has been bringing people with and without disabilities together on a 12-acre ranch in Oceanside, California — the only facility in the state with dual PATH International and CHA accreditation.
A Place Rooted in Community
Ivey Ranch Park Association was founded on the belief that people with and without disabilities belong together, not separated by their differences. What started as a grassroots proposal by a group of parents has grown into one of North County San Diego’s most trusted inclusive care and equine-assisted services organizations.
The ranch sits on 12 acres of land the City of Oceanside owns and the Association manages, funds, and operates — a partnership that has lasted more than four decades and continues to shape what’s possible here.
Our History
The land Ivey Ranch sits on has a story that goes back long before the organization did.
The Ivey Ranch House was built in 1889, situated within what is now Oceanside’s Historic Preservation Area No. 1 — the Mission San Luis Rey district. The property passed through several hands before 1937, when L.O. “Otis” Ivey purchased it. Otis was, by all accounts, a self-made man — a poor boy from Texas who built a career with Citizens Bank in Los Angeles starting in the early 1900s. He loved horses and spent time at the ranch riding and driving around the property in his metallic green Jeep. He reportedly stopped coming out by around 1970 when his health slowed him down, and he passed away in 1978.
The City of Oceanside acquired the land through the L.O. Ivey Trust in 1981 — and the timing couldn’t have been more meaningful. That same year was designated the International Year of the Disabled by the United Nations. A steering committee of parents and community members proposed a park that would be fully accessible to people of all abilities — not a program designed around disability, but a place designed around community. On December 5, 1981, Mayor Larry M. Bagley dedicated a portion of the Ivey Ranch as parkland for the City, and the Ivey Ranch Park Association was born.
1889
The Ivey Ranch House is built within the Mission San Luis Rey Historic District
1937
L.O. “Otis” Ivey purchases the estate, establishing the ranching legacy that would define the property for decades
1981
The International Year of the Disabled; the Ivey Ranch Park Association is founded and the land is dedicated by Mayor Larry Bagley for community use
2003
Equestrian Center modernization begins, transitioning the facility from temporary structures to a permanent, fully accessible campus
2025
Named California Nonprofit of the Year
The Equestrian Center
What makes Ivey Ranch’s equestrian facility remarkable isn’t just its size — it’s what it was built for.
Ivey Ranch is the only equestrian facility in California to hold dual accreditation from both PATH International and the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA). That combination means our instructors meet the highest professional standards in both therapeutic riding and general horsemanship — and it means every aspect of the facility has been designed with accessibility at its center.
The modernization of the equestrian center began in 2003, when two donated containers from Waste Management were pressed into service as a tack room and feed room. They worked for years — but the goal was always something better. Through the generosity of donors, corporate partners, and the community, those temporary structures have been replaced with permanent facilities designed so that every participant, regardless of how they move through the world, can participate fully and independently.
The Facility
Tack Room
The permanent Tack Room was designed specifically for accessibility. Participants using wheelchairs, canes, walkers, or crutches can independently access their own grooming boxes, helmets, and tack — the same independence that is at the heart of every program here.
Arena 1
A 100′ x 200′ rectangular, sand-filled arena sponsored by Asymtek, a Nordson Company. Built using eco-friendly Life Time Lumber, it expanded Ivey Ranch’s capacity to serve 150+ additional riders each year. Asymtek employees came out on October 4, 2008 to help put the finishing touches on and celebrate the ribbon cutting alongside our staff, volunteers, and riders.
Arena 2
An 80′ x 140′ oval, sand-filled arena sponsored by the LA84 Foundation and Las Patronas — also built with Life Time Lumber. Like Arena 1, it expanded the ranch’s ability to serve 150+ additional riders annually and was made possible entirely through community partnership.
The Hay Barn
Funded in part by the Alvin Rhynard Trust and County Supervisor Bill Horn, the Hay Barn allows Ivey Ranch to purchase and store hay in bulk. That might sound like a logistical detail — but it directly reduces feed costs and redirects more dollars to the programs themselves. The community that built this barn knew exactly what they were doing.
Who Owns and Manages Ivey Ranch?
Ivey Ranch sits within the City of Oceanside’s 207-acre Ivey Ranch Park. The City owns the land. The Ivey Ranch Park Association — an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit — manages, funds, and operates all programs and facilities. The Association is responsible for the day-to-day operations, financial stewardship, and the ongoing development of the campus.
This structure has worked since 1981 because both the City and the Association share the same belief: this land should serve everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ivey Ranch is the only equestrian facility in California to hold dual accreditation from both PATH International — the leading body for therapeutic riding — and the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA). No other facility in the state holds both credentials.
Yes. The ranch house was built in 1889 and is located within Oceanside’s Historic Preservation Area No. 1 — the Mission San Luis Rey district — one of the city’s most significant historic preservation zones.
The 12-acre campus is fully accessible throughout — including paved pathways, specialized mounting ramps, and a tack room designed specifically for participants using wheelchairs, walkers, canes, or crutches, so they can independently access their own equipment.
The Association is funded through a combination of program fees, community donations, grants, and corporate partnerships. 92% of every dollar goes directly to programs. Volunteers contribute more than $250,000 worth of services each year.
Come Visit
The best way to understand Ivey Ranch is to see it. We’re located at 110 Rancho del Oro Dr. in Oceanside — 12 accessible acres within the larger 207-acre Ivey Ranch Park.
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