Newsletter, Spring 2010 - Three Gaits, Inc.

Plans are well underway for Three Gaits 9th annual Chair Affair & Art Auction. This year's auction, with the help of emcee Christine Bellport and auctioneer Virgil Westphal, is sure to be the best yet. Artists, both new and returning from past years, have donated an amazing mix of paintings, sculptures, quilts, pottery and other original pieces of artwork.

From May 3rd through May 19th the artwork will all be displayed at Hilldale Mall and then from 5-7:30 pm on Thursday, May 20th the artwork will be auctioned, with all proceeds benefiting Three Gaits. The evening event will be held at Promega BTC, located at 5445 East Cheryl Parkway in Fitchburg.

New this year, the committee has decided to forgo selling tickets. Instead people are encouraged to pre-register for the event online through Three Gaits website at www.3gaits.org or by contacting the Three Gaits office at 3gaits@3gaits.org or (608) 877-9086.

Special thanks to the sponsors, artists and organizers of this event-please show your support for Three Gaits by joining us on Thursday, May 20th at Promega!

Welcome new program horse, Shytan. Shytan is an 9 year old Friesian/Paint Cross who has already won the staff and volunteers over with her lovely personality and willingness to try anything.

While she's one of Three Gaits tallest horses (she's about the same height as Snowcap), she's also one of the calmest! Thanks to Rachel Olson for sharing Shytan with Three Gaits!

Recently I had an opportunity to participate in a focus group with a handful of Three Gaits' volunteers. It was fascinating to hear their experiences and perspectives. During the course of the discussion, one of the volunteers said that he felt one of the neatest things about Three Gaits was the partnerships that were created. Later, in thinking back on this discussion, it struck me just how vital these partnerships are to Three Gaits' overall ability to fulfill the organization's mission.

No one partner involved in Three Gaits is more or less important. Each plays such a significant role to the overall balance of the organization. From the volunteers to the staff, to the horses and riders - where would each be without the other? As Three Gaits continues to look to the future, we need to hear each of these voices equally to be sure that all parties are represented and their needs met.

It's also important that we celebrate the accomplishments of each of these groups that come together to fulfill Three Gaits' mission, and we plan to do so throughout the year. This year, National Volunteer Week will be celebrated from April 18-24, 2010. So, what better time for us to say thank you to the many, many people who call themselves a Three Gaits' volunteer than in this newsletter!

Three Gaits' volunteers are such an amazing mix of people, and with such varied backgrounds. Our volunteers range in age from 10 years old if they're participating in the volunteer day camps to adults in their 70s. Some live on campus and would have no contact with horses if not for Three Gaits, and others who daily ride and care for their own horses. Men and women-some outdoorsy and others who prefer being in the office. Professionals who serve on our board of directors, and lots and lots of good friends who feed horses, mow and shovel, repair the endless list of broken items around the barn-somehow coming together to form the partnerships that allow Three Gaits to help others.

Often I hear from the volunteers, "I receive so much more than I give when I volunteer at Three Gaits." I would like to send my heartfelt thank you to each of one of you who has shared some of your precious 'spare' time with Three Gaits. I hope that in this partnership, we're able to give something as precious back to each of you.

If so, now is your opportunity. From Thursday, June 3 through Saturday, June 5, 2010, Three Gaits will host a NARHA On-Site Workshop. This two and a half day course is designed to review the basic information and skills to help prepare prospective instructors for successful completion of the NARHA Instructor Certification at the Registered level.

The cost of this workshop is $400 and it includes breakfast and lunch all three days.

For further information please contact Dena Duncan, by phone (608) 877-9086 or email dena@3gaits.org or visit Three Gaits website at www.3gaits.org. You can also visit the NARHA website at www.narha.org.

Attention Riders and Volunteers:
We need your help! Again this year, Three Gaits is hosting a NARHA On-Site Workshop & Certification. The workshop running from the morning of Thursday, June 3 through mid-day on Saturday, June 5, requires a tremendous amount of volunteer support. The certification, held on the afternoon of Saturday, June 5 and during the day on Sunday, June 6, requires both volunteers and riders to participate in scheduled lessons. (There is no cost for riders to participate!) Please watch for sign-up forms in the barn, office and arena, or send an email to the Three Gaits office at 3gaits@3gaits.org and help Three Gaits again put on a fantastic workshop and certification.

Thank you to Dave Matthews for developing the calendar and to all of you who sold and bought them!!

It may not be glamorous, but a manure spreader is essential to the daily care of the Three Gaits hard-working horses. When the very old manure spreader could not be patched-up any longer, H & S Manufacturing Co., Inc. in Marshfield generously discounted a new manure spreader-and delivered it all the way from Marshfield in February! When you see H & S Manufacturing at the Midwest Horse Fair and around the Midwest-please tell them, "Thanks from Three Gaits!"

Three Gaits board of directors welcomes two new members: Diane King and Robin Matthews!

We gratefully want to thank outgoing board members Rob Gooze, Jay Gunderson, Deb Gunderson and Steve Link. Thank you for your service to Three Gaits.

Three Gaits' board of directors is a small, hardworking group of people who share their time and talents with Three Gaits to help ensure the long-term success of our program. Thanks to all these special people for their support of Three Gaits' riders!

Three Gaits is currently looking for a few people who may be interested in serving on several committees - specifically finance, fundraising or facility. Please contact Dena Duncan if you, or someone you know, is interested in stepping into one of those roles.

Giving back to the community is very important to Beth Junge, a local realtor and Broker/Owner of The Kruse Company Realtors. So, in 2008 she came up with a Client Appreciation Charitable Donation Program. When clients close on a property, The Kruse Company Realtors makes a $100 donation in their honor to a charity of their choosing. Additionally, people who refer clients to the company have a $50 donation made in their honor to a charity of their choice. It's important to Beth to show appreciation to past client, friends, and family who make referrals because they are her main source of new business. "These donations are not just a thank-you for a client's business," says Beth, "but they also make an impact in our community and have much more meaning than any small token of appreciation we may have sent clients in the past before developing this program." The program has been very well received.

Beth was looking for local charities that she felt were a good match and that gave her a meaningful connection. Her own six-year-old daughter, Audrey, loves horses and rides, so the idea of adding Three Gaits to her list of preferred charities made sense. "We are just animal people," says Beth. "It's a great feeling to support a program that gives kids opportunities to ride and benefit from what Three Gaits can offer. I know it gives them a lot of freedom." Beth's sister, who has volunteered for a program in the New Berlin area, also vouches for the value of therapeutic horsemanship. Beth is also trying to instill in Audrey the importance of contributing to good causes, and so Audrey splits her piggy bank "charity money" between Three Gaits and the Dane County Humane Society. The list Beth's firm presents to clients has eight local charities serving a range of needs from causes related to disabilities and the health needs of children, providing food and shelter to people and animals in need, providing support for cancer research, and providing home ownership opportunities to low-income families. If clients prefer, they are welcome to choose their own favorite charity to receive the donation.

Beth started working for The Kruse Company Realtors in 1995 and bought the company in 1998. The company serves buyers and sellers of residential real estate in the Madison and Dane County areas and parts of Columbia, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Rock, and Sauk County as well. The Kruse Company Realtors is a smaller firm; Beth feels fortunate that despite the economic downturn and the tough conditions in the housing market her business has been doing well, which she attributes to her strong referral source. Referrals are very critical; in fact, the company estimates about 90 percent of its business is either returning clients or referrals from satisfied past clients.
"With my job I find it hard to find consistent, regular time to commit to volunteer work. It seems I could be showing a home at almost any hour of the day or night, any day of the week. Sometimes I feel I'm not doing enough for my community, but this charitable donation program makes me feel that I'm giving something back. It also teaches our daughter some valuable lessons." Three Gaits is grateful to have donors like Beth who not only give back but also spread the word of our work through their networks of clients and friends.

Each of us contributes to advancing our mission, and when we do so together, we make the never dreamed possible a reality, and we change history."
Dean William S. Middleton

This year we're offering two separate weeks of Youngin's Riding Camp (for children ages 6-9)

The Day Camp program is open to kids with and without special needs. If children require an aide at school, we ask that they bring someone with them to camp for the week.

The opportunity to ride and interact with horses, volunteers, and the professional staff in the fresh air of the Three Gaits farm-is a therapy like no other.

Building inner and outer strength on the back of a horse-helping children and adults to be the most they can be-in a challenging yet caring atmosphere-is therapy like no other.

In order for Three Gaits to provide the therapy it does, each year 62% ($176,000 in 2010) of the costs have to be paid for by charitable contributions and fundraisers. Please consider attending and asking others to attend events such as Chair Affair, asking the businesses you work for and associate with to consider sponsoring an event, a horse or the program itself. Spreading the word and working together as a community of believers in Three Gaits will advance our mission and make the never dreamed possible a reality.

I've worked with Three Gaits for several years volunteering for the Annual Chair Affair & Art Auction. This past summer I worked at the Three Gaits Student Show setting up and conducting work on a commemorative quilt for the show. My grand-daughter & I both helped and we were both amazed at the number of squares we ended up with!

I started with 7 inch squares of Muslin-Crayola Fabric Plus and made sure everyone knew we wanted all to participate. Students, family, friends, staff and volunteers were invited to do a square and it turned out great!

Putting it together was a dilemma; put part on back...do two quilts....nothing would satisfy me! So I did one whole (large) quilt representing all who care for Three Gaits. I hope you get to see it!

Would I volunteer for another event? You bet! I encourage all who have time to join the whole group. There are many areas where more help is needed. Do you have the patience and time?

Ruth's quilt will be on display at Hilldale Mall, and will be auctioned at the Chair Affair on Thursday, May 20th.

Once a month, Three Gaits is featured at Mounds Pet Food Warehouse, Fitchburg. With a tabletop display, volunteers Brian and Andrea Strayer meet many old and new friends. Andrea explains, "It is amazing the number of people who shop at Mounds, who already have a connection with Three Gaits, have heard of Three Gaits, or drive by all the time and wonder about Three Gaits. I have met so many wonderful people who have such positive things to say-and many who want to get involved as a volunteer, or know a child who might enjoy day camp, or have used tack to donate..." Brian (age 15 and Three Gaits rider) says, "The time I volunteer for Three Gaits at Mounds goes toward my high school volunteer points-and the Humane Society cats are awesome!"

Mounds is dedicated to promoting the efforts of groups and people within our communities who make a positive difference in the lives of animals. We are thrilled to have Mounds Pet Food Warehouse as a sponsor of the 2010 Chair Affair and Art Auction and appreciate their continued support of Three Gaits! Thank you, Mounds Pet Food Warehouse!

Help Three Gaits by detaching this donation slip and sending it with your donation in an envelope.

NARHA Three Gaits is a Premiere Accredited Center of the
North American Riding for the
Handicapped Association, Inc.
(NARHA)

Three Gaits is a donor designated agency with United Way

Three Gaits, Inc., is a nonprofit, tax exempt organization whose mission is to provide a safe and 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 opportunities 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.

Newsletter: Spring 2010