GALLOP and Stable Brooklyn join forces to offer therapeutic riding in Kensington Stables. About 30 GALLOP, Stable Brooklyn, and Kensington Stable volunteers gathered on Saturday, January 20, to clear an arena for Gallop's therapeutic riding program.
Kensington's arena had been pressed into use this past year as storage space after the Stables lost the "old gray barn" to luxury condo developers. Full of spare wood, equipment and riding tack, and even a temporary stalls for a horse, the space could not be used for riding lessons. It was a messy, dusty job, but the volunteers got it done. As a bonus, an office area was also cleared.
Now that the arena is clear, GALLOP will begin lessons for disabled riders, starting the first week of March. GALLOP's program will help maintain Kensington Stable in the neighborhood and will serve disabled children and adults it the neighborhood. The goal of GALLOP¹s program is to provide horse-centered therapies to a diverse group of adults and children facing physical, cognitive, psychological, and educational challenges.
Staffed by a riding instructor certified by the NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) and a licensed physical therapist, as well as a dedicated and experienced group of volunteers, the program offers a safe and supportive environment in which an individual can reap the many benefits of therapeutic riding.
GALLOP will initially operate its program on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with each of the three sessions providing 45 minutes of lesson time. GALLOP's first ten-week term will run from March 6 to June 5, 2007, including a one week break and one week for make-up lessons.
For more information contact info@gallopNYC.org
www.gallopNYC.org
646 413 0469
Images courtesy of Julie Maris/Semel ©2007