-- Close to 100 children and adults with disabilities in southern Wisconsin are waiting for the opportunity to participate in one of Three Gaits’ life-changing programs. A transformational gift from a family with a decades-long connection to Three Gaits has brought the organization closer to serving them and has placed a 2026 groundbreaking within reach.
This gift is the largest in the organization’s 43-year history and brings Unbridled Potential — The Campaign to Build an Arena and Barn for all Abilities — to $2 million toward its $4.5 million goal. The campaign will replace an aging, unheated, undersized arena sited close to a busy road with a heated indoor riding arena, dedicated therapy and classroom spaces, a modern adaptive stable, and administrative program support areas, allowing Three Gaits to expand services, operate year-round, reduce waiting lists, and better meet the growing demand for programs that improve physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being. The project will also enhance the experience for participants, volunteers, horses, and families while positioning Three Gaits to serve the community for decades to come.
“This remarkable investment from a family with such a meaningful history at Three Gaits is much more than a financial contribution - it is a powerful vote of confidence in our mission and in the future of the children and adults who will benefit from this new facility,” said Jolie Hope, Executive Director of Three Gaits. “Their generosity brings us significantly closer to creating a place where people of all abilities can build strength, confidence, and connection through the life-changing partnership between horses and humans.”
The donors said they were inspired by the organization’s lasting impact on families throughout the region.
Our son was a participant some 40 years ago. We have watched the program grow and thrive and are excited about the future that lies ahead. It’s so important that people with disabilities have the opportunity to engage in activities that are fun and fulfilling. This is not a gift; it’s an investment based on past performance and what the new facility will add to the program. We have great confidence that this investment will yield significant dividends for the lives of people with disabilities and for the community at large.
— A longtime Three Gaits family
A foundation for year-round impact
Founded in 1983 by Gail Brown and Lorrie Renker with two horses and eight riders, Three Gaits today provides more than 2,000 lessons and therapy sessions each year at its 20-acre farm on Highway 138 between Stoughton and Oregon. Thirteen specially trained program horses, 17 staff members, and more than 100 volunteers help deliver therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, equine-assisted learning, and Riding in the Moment™ for people living with disabilities and other challenges.
Participants – of whom approximately 80 percent are children - build strength, balance, coordination, confidence and meaningful connections while working toward occupational, physical, communication and life-skill goals. However, the current unheated arena requires seasonal program closures and causes weather-related interruptions. Those gaps can disrupt progress for current participants and limit Three Gaits’ ability to welcome people from its waiting list. The new arena will provide consistency, accessibility, and the capacity to schedule programs around participants’ needs rather than the Wisconsin weather.
“This project has been thoughtfully planned to ensure that Three Gaits can serve more children and adults safely, consistently and sustainably for generations to come,” said Dan Henning, President of the Three Gaits Board of Directors. “Their lead gift has brought that vision within reach. The momentum is here, the vision is clear, the opportunity is in front of us, and we are confident our community will help us reach the next milestone toward breaking ground this year.”
The campaign from here
With their commitment, $2.5 million remains to be raised toward the full campaign goal. Building on this momentum, Three Gaits is working to secure the additional commitments needed to begin construction in October 2026, with the first riders anticipated in the new arena by July 2027. Individuals, foundations, businesses, and community partners are invited to help turn their leadership gift into the catalyst that moves the project from planning to construction.
Gifts may be made through a pledge paid over one, two, or three years. Naming opportunities are available throughout the new facility, and gifts may be made in honor or memory of a loved one or anonymously.
For campaign information or to discuss a gift, contact Jolie Hope at [email protected] or (608) 877-9086.
To everyone who has been part of the past 43 years: thank you for getting us here. Please join us in building what comes next.
About Three Gaits
Three Gaits exists to provide equine-assisted activities and therapy to enhance the lives of people with physical, emotional, or intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1983 and based on a 20-acre farm in Stoughton, Wisconsin, the organization delivers more than 2,000 lessons and therapy sessions each year to people of all ages living with a disability, partnering with families, community centers, social services, residential facilities, and senior centers throughout southern Wisconsin. Three Gaits is a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center. Learn more at three-gaits.org.
Contact Info:
Name: Jolie Hope
Email: Send Email
Organization: Three Gaits Inc
Website: https://three-gaits.org
Release ID: 89201278
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