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(99 KB)Fourth Annual Chair Affair Set for April 29
Three Gaits fourth annual Chair Affair
will take place from 7 to 10 P.M. on Friday, April 29, at the Knights
of Columbus Hall, 5256 Verona Road in Madison (exit Williamsburg
Way). Functional or sculptural, recognizable themes or wild and
whimsical, decorated and painted any way the artist's heart
desires-all chairs in the Chair Affair are original works of art.
The event features the silent auction of artfully painted and decorated chairs, as well as hors d'oeuvres and cash bar.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Contact Three Gaits at 608-877-9086 for ticket information.
The chairs available for bidding will be on display at Hilldale Mall in Madison from April 18-29.
Support the Chair Affair! Successful events allow Three Gaits to continue serving our riders like Stephanie Matthews, shown here (at right) with Snuffy at last year's Student Horse Show.
You can also view photos of the chairs and make bids online at www.3gaits.org.
All proceeds from the Chair Affair will directly support Three Gaits. Please plan to attend and help make our silent auction of chairs a great event-successful fund raisers help us maintain our safe, effective, and affordable program!
Mark Your Calendar for Three Gaits Sessions and Special Events
THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP / RIDING / HIPPOTHERAPY
- Session 2: March 14-May 21
- Session 3: June 6-August 13 (10 weeks, registration deadline is May 21)
- Session 4: September 6-November 12 (9 weeks, registration deadline is August 20)
- Session 5: November 28-December 18 (3 weeks, registration deadline November 19)
HORSE SHOWS
- Dressage Show, Sunday, June 5
- Annual Independence Day Open Show, Monday, July 4
- Three Gaits Student Horse Show and Family Fun Day, Sunday, August 21
- Dressage Show, Sunday, October 2
OTHER YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES (SEE INSIDE PAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE NEW PROGRAMS)
- Summer Riding Day Camp, Session 1, June 13-17; Session 2, August 15-19
- Youth Volunteer Day Camp, Session 1, June 27-July 1; Session 2, August 15-19
Notes from Three Gaits Board President
In mid-February, Dena Duncan and I attended a very popular conference for administrators of therapeutic horsemanship centers lead by Dana Butler, executive director for the Shea Center, which is located between Los Angeles and San Diego. We hoped to escape our Wisconsin winter and enjoy southern California's warmer weather, but found ourselves caught in their rainy spell. Since the Shea Center currently does not have an indoor riding arena, the rain caused the cancellation of lessons and some conference activities. But it was still packed full of great information and Dana was most gracious in sharing the forms, procedures, and suggestions for success that the Shea Center has developed for its program.
Topics covered during the five-day conference included nonprofit concepts, board management, community involvement, donor pyramids, foundation for fund raising, personnel issues, grant writing, and organizational charting. We also participated in a ride-along while the therapist explained the benefits of the horse's movement. Needless to say, we came home with a lot of ideas and information to absorb.
One new idea we are implementing in June is the Adopt-a-Horse program, the opportunity to sponsor a horse. For $100 a month, prospective sponsors may choose a program horse from those not yet sponsored and the tax-deductible donation will be used for the horse's care. Sponsor names will be placed on the horse stall and a certificate of appreciation and picture of the horse will be provided. If interested, please let us know, as each horse will have only one exclusive donor!
Throughout the conference, a constant reminder kept surfacing: keep focusing on the needs of our riders. Together, with your support and assistance, we will continue to do this and accomplish Three Gaits mission and work toward our vision for the future!
Finally, I offer sincere thanks to our generous donors. There are far too many of you to mention in this brief newsletter. Please look for donor recognitions in our upcoming 2004 annual report.
-Cindy Frank, President, Three Gaits Board of Directors
Youth Volunteer Club Has Formed at Three Gaits
Currently, a person must be 14 years old or older to volunteer in Three Gaits therapeutic horsemanship lessons. We wanted to offer opportunities for younger people to get involved, so the Youth Volunteer Club was formed for kids ages 9 to 13. The group meets from 11:30 A.M. to 2 P.M. on scheduled Sundays, with the next meeting and activity day set for May 22.
The club will work on projects related to our program and facility, learn about and interact with our program horses, and learn about how Three Gaits helps our participants with special needs.
Many activities will take place
outdoors or in the barn, so club members should dress for the
weather.
Also, no open-toe or open-back shoes are allowed because of safety
issues (no sandals or slip-ons!).
A summer day camp has also been scheduled for youth volunteers. Two sessions will be offered: Session 1 is June 26 to July 1; Session 2 is August 15 to 19. The sessions run from 9:30 A.M. to 3 P.M. each day. Refreshments and treats will be provided during camp, but participants should bring lunch each day (except on Friday when lunch will be provided by Three Gaits).
Contact Angela Frank for more information or to register for the youth club or a day camp session, (608) 877-9086, or E-mail 3gaits@3gaits.org.
Summer Riding Day Camp Offered at Three Gaits
Riding Day Camp is designed to introduce horsemanship skills in a safe and fun environment. Campers must be between the ages of 8 and 13 and they will meet at Three Gaits from 9:30 A.M. to 3 P.M. each day during their weeklong session. Session 1 runs from June 13-17; Session 2 runs August 22-26.
Camp activities will include:
- Daily riding lessons
- Horsemanship skills involving grooming, leading, tacking, and more
- Hands-on horse care projects
- Special activities ranging from visits from a veterinarian to horse games!
Campers need to bring a lunch each
day. Some refreshments and treats will be provided.
Campers should dress for the weather (bug spray, sunscreen, and
"outside" clothes are all a good idea). Open-toe or
open-back shoes (including sandals, flip-flops, and clogs) are NOT
permitted because of safety issues. ATSM-HEI certified helmets are
required for horse activities and will be provided.
The cost is $250 per week and space is
limited. No previous horse experience or knowledge is required. All
campers must complete Three Gaits liability release forms in order to
participate. For information or to register, contact Angela Frank by
E-mail at 3gaits@3gaits.org or
phone at 608-877-9086.
Notes from the Program Coordinator
Spring means new beginnings and for me a time to reflect on the year ahead and the people and animals that have a meaningful impact on my life, as well as that of Three Gaits. There are far too many to name, but I do want to mention some special individuals.
Cindy Frank has a made a huge commitment to Three Gaits, and yet each time we ask her for one more thing she willingly provides it…whether it be to answer questions, sign a check, volunteer in lessons when we are shorthanded, speak to a group about Three Gaits, or organize a special event. Cindy tirelessly served as president of Three Gaits the past three years, and, thankfully, has agreed to continue. In that time our program has grown and better serves more riders than ever.
Macaloosa was a beloved horse who came
to us in April 1998 at age 22, thanks to the generous Raffetto
family. Last winter we found ourselves in the extremely difficult
position of having to humanely euthanize Mack. During his life he
taught so many lessons-and was truly a jack-of-all-trades. Mack had
experience vaulting and driving and was a pony club mount in
dressage, cross country, and jumping, where he competed nationally.
At Three Gaits he shared his personality and life lessons with riders
of all sizes and abilities. Mack was wonderful with our youngest and
smallest riders-I can't count the times he stood patiently at the
ramp waiting for a timid or fearful child to muster the courage to
take that final step and mount. In his early years with us, Mack
helped teach adult riders to trot and canter, allowing them to
challenge themselves to new heights. Unfortunately, winter wasn't
kind to Mack and his arthritis and declining condition forced a
troubling decision, but one we had to make in the face of this
wonderful friend's suffering.
We have many fond memories of Mack and will miss him. (Photo courtesy of ShortHorse Studios)
On a lighter note, we are very proud to announce that Three Gaits volunteer Scott McCowan was honored last fall as volunteer of the year for Region 6 of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. Scott demonstrates a vested interest in this industry, perhaps because it runs in the family. You see, his mother was Linda McCowan, founder of NARHA. Scott is an easy-going, patient person who puts riders at ease. He has been a faithful Saturday volunteer (known for bringing fresh bagels) as well as a longtime board member. Scott serves as president of Artesyn Communication Products in Madison. Besides all this, he provides regular financial support to Three Gaits for various fund raisers, special events, and memorials. We are truly grateful to Scott and to the many, many volunteers who contribute so much to the success of our program.
-Dena Duncan, Program Coordinator
Horses that heal are at the heart of the program at Three Gaits. Now you can get to know our school horses by visiting http://3gaits.org/horses. In addition to viewing photos, you can learn about each horse's background and breed, how and when they came to Three Gaits, and what makes them special. For you cat lovers, our barn cats are also featured on the Web! (And many thanks to Diane King, our volunteer Webmaster.)
Please Make Your Contribution Today
Please support Three Gaits mission to provide safe and effective therapeutic horsemanship to children, youth, and adults with disabilities and special needs! Three Gaits, Inc., is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.
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Three Gaits Mission, Board Members, and Staff
Three Gaits, Inc., is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization whose mission is to provide an effective therapeutic horsemanship program for children, youth, and adults with disabilities and special needs. Therapeutic horsemanship uses equine-oriented activities to promote and enhance the development of each participant's cognitive, physical, and communicative abilities, and positive self-esteem. Three Gaits strives to serve interested individuals within Dane County and the surrounding area. It is the policy of Three Gaits, Inc., to promote equal service and employment opportunities for employees, clients, board members, and applicants to the agency. Equal service and employment opportunity means the treatment of those categories of people mentioned above without regard to their age, race, sex, creed or religion, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, color, disability, ancestry, or political affiliation.
- President: Cindy Frank
- Treasurer: Mike Scholz
- Secretary: Lynn Hanus
- Directors: Jay Gunderson, Steve Link, Michelle Lonergan, Scott McCowan, Dan Oakland, Holly Wells, Linda Wells
- Program Coordinator: Dena Duncan
- Farm Manager: Missy Landphier
- Office Assistant: LaDelta Noyce
- Instructors: Sandra Faust, Angela Frank, Betsy Kelley, Patti DeMuri, Angie Cornell
- Occupational Therapist: Stephanie Bruschi
- Stall Cleaner: José Anguiano
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