After the 2024 Pennsylvania National Horse Show, the PNHS Foundation awarded grants to 41 therapeutic riding centers, equine rescues, and equine-assisted service programs. As we look ahead to the 2025 show, we’re excited to highlight the incredible work of these recipient organizations!

GAIT Equine Assisted Services is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded in 1995, by a board of directors with a common dream: “to improve the quality of life of children and adults with special needs through equine activities and therapies resulting in a more independent life in society.”

In 1997, the organization officially became a 501(c)(3) non-profit and the dream became a reality. 

How does GAIT serve your local community? 

GAIT is entering its 30th year of providing equine-assisted services (EAS) to individuals with special needs throughout Pike County and the surrounding areas. Our programs are responsive to the emotional, physical, cognitive and/or behavioral needs of participants, offering individualized support through the healing power of the horse-human connection. 

The organization collaborates with a wide range of community organizations, including the Pike County Library, Pike County 4-H, Scout Groups (boys and girls), Rehabilitation Centers, Senior Citizens Residential Centers, At-Risk Youth programs, and school districts across Pike, Wayne, Orange, and Sussex Counties. In addition to our regular programming, GAIT hosts free community events and offers no-cost services to our veteran community. 

GAIT also supports the local economy by partnering with area businesses for fundraising efforts and by sourcing goods and services from local vendors. Through these partnerships, GAIT remains an active, engaged presence in the community, working together to build a more inclusive and supportive environment for all. 

What are some of the biggest challenges GAIT currently faces? 

While GAIT is incredibly fortunate to have a strong and dedicated volunteer base that provides daily care for our horses and vital support to our participants, we rely on contracted professionals to fulfill specific program needs. This model has helped us grow, but it also limits our ability to build consistency and grow our capacity. 

To truly meet the increasing demand for our services, we need dedicated part-time and full-time staff who can help sustain and expand our programming. Additionally, funding for our current professionals to obtain the continuing education and credentialing required for this specialized work is an ongoing challenge. 

We remain committed to keeping participant costs low so that everyone who needs our services can access them, making continued funding support essential to advancing our mission. 

How has this grant impacted your ability to serve your community? 

GAIT is committed to making its services accessible to all by offering scholarships, flexible payment plans, group discounts, and prorated services. Despite these efforts, funding limitations and grant restrictions often leave gaps in support, preventing some individuals from accessing the help they need. GAIT actively seeks grant funding to ensure that no one is turned away due to financial hardship. 

The grant from the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation provided scholarships for five individuals to participate in six weeks of equine assisted psychotherapy sessions, making a meaningful difference in their lives. These individuals would not have been able to attend without this support. This funding directly contributed to improving mental health and emotional well-being for people who had few, if any, other resources available. 

Can you share a success story of a participant who benefited from your program? 

Since 2022, a blind U.S. Army Veteran that suffers from depression, anxiety, and PTSD has attended sessions at GAIT. His sessions integrate equine facilitated psychotherapy and therapeutic riding, addressing his emotional, psychological, and physical needs. This combined approach has led to increased self-awareness, improved mood, and enhanced balance, coordination, and muscle strength. 

Initially hesitant to interact with the horses, the stall gate was used as a barrier while working with our mental health professional. Over time, he found comfort in the sounds of the horses during sessions and progressed from grooming and tacking to leading, and eventually riding, independently.

With staff and volunteers providing verbal cues and guiding him around the arena. He describes the sensation of riding as a newfound freedom, likening it to flying, an experience he never expected to feel again. 

In his own words: 

“In my humble opinion, this program is a godsend. The staff and therapist are fantastic. They are kind, courteous, respectful and truly care for the wellbeing of their clients and the horses in their program. I don’t know where I would be mentally, had I not been introduced to this program.” 

What future goals do you have for your program and how can additional support help?

GAIT is committed to expanding access to equine-assisted services while maintaining the high quality of care we provide to both participants and our horses who partner with us in this impactful work. 

In 2024, we launched the Veterans Fellowship Program, welcoming veterans to our facility every Friday (weather permitting) for equine-assisted learning activities followed by a shared meal. This program was made possible through initial funding from the Scranton Area Foundation’s Robert H. Spitz Fund and we hope to secure additional support to sustain and grow the program. 

We are also deepening our partnerships with organizations in Pike and Wayne Counties to provide equine assisted psychotherapy and equine assisted learning services to at-risk youth. This population often has limited access to mental health support. 

GAIT was established so that individuals of any age with almost any cognitive, physical, or emotional disability could be addressed and aided through our equine-assisted programs. To keep our programs accessible, we strive to keep participant costs low. However, this requires ongoing support for both programming and operating expenses. 

A major component of that need is care for our herd of ten therapy horses. These horses are carefully selected for their sound temperaments and smooth gaits, qualities that make them ideal for therapeutic work. They require routine veterinary care, dental exams, farrier services, and, as older animals, specialized diets and supplements to remain healthy and comfortable. 

Any additional funding would directly support these essential care needs, covering costs such as hay, feed, supplements, vet visits, farrier and dental care. This vital support helps us keep programming costs low, ensuring our services remain accessible to all, while also allowing us to expand access to life-changing equine-assisted services for our community. 

Is there anything else you’d like donors/grant supporters to know about the impact of their support? 

Thanks to donor and grant support, GAIT is able to maintain the highest standards of safety and care as a Premier Accredited Center through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.), a distinction we’ve held for over 25 years. Your support sustains a team of highly trained professionals and certified staff, including mental health professionals, licensed counselors, addiction specialists, and occupational therapists, who ensure that each equine-assisted session is safe, effective, and tailored to the individual. 

As the only PATH Premier Accredited Center in Pike County, GAIT is uniquely positioned to meet the region’s growing demand for inclusive, high-quality equine-assisted services. Your contributions directly fuel our ability to offer impactful programming to individuals with special needs, at-risk youth, and veterans, many of whom would otherwise go without support. 

Donor funding doesn’t just keep the lights on, it enables life-changing therapeutic encounters that foster emotional growth, build resilience, and improve quality of life across our special needs community.