Our Riders

Made possible through the generous support of donors, GallopNYC offers riding lessons to over 500 people each week. These donations ensure that we can offer life-changing opportunities to New Yorkers with disabilities regardless of their ability to pay.  

Meet our riders Grace, Jariel, Eve and Veterans Program rider Noel! These are just some of the talented riders in our therapeutic riding program. We offer a range of programming tailored to students of all abilities. You can learn more about our programming here.

Grace brings joy and positivity to every lesson. Her charisma is contagious, and she easily connects with fellow riders, volunteers, and horses.

She has recently been riding Champ and enjoys giving him a grade after each session. Their bond keeps growing, and Champ is now an A-plus student in her book.

Grace is learning to recognize each horse’s personality and how to communicate with them under saddle. She continues to make steady progress steering independently, a milestone that reflects her growing confidence.

Jariel is a bright teenager with exceptional academic strengths, consistently earning top grades in school. He began therapeutic riding at GallopNYC at age 5 to support his socialization, motor control, sensory processing and speech. His weekly lessons have become a meaningful part of his growth, offering steady progress and a place where his confidence continues to deepen.

Eve has been riding at GallopNYC since 2023. Each week, she arrives ready to greet every cat and dog at the barn, bringing a warmth that lifts the spirits of everyone around her. In her lessons, she is steadily building the strength and balance that help her feel more secure in the saddle. Her growing confidence and her willingness to keep trying, even when a skill is challenging, have been remarkable to watch.

Noel, a veteran living in New York City, came to GallopNYC with no horse experience and found steady support through our Veterans Program. Working with our instructors and the horses has helped him manage anxiety, depression, and trauma-related challenges, while riding alongside fellow veterans has brought back a sense of camaraderie he missed in civilian life.