| Expanding Year-Round Equine-Assisted Services - 2026 |
Amount Funded: $10,000.00 |
| The purpose of this project is to remove the facility limitations that prevent Three Gaits from consistently and fully meeting the need for equine-assisted services in the greater Stoughton area. A $20,000 grant from the Stoughton Area Community Foundation will be applied to construction of the new heated indoor riding arena and adaptive stable.
Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2026 and take approximately eight months to complete. During this period, Three Gaits will work closely with its design and construction partners to complete site preparation, construction of the arena and stable, installation of mechanical and safety systems, development of accessible participant and therapy spaces, and final occupancy preparations. Staff and volunteers will also prepare for expanded program scheduling and the safe transition of horses, participants, and equipment into the new facility.
Once completed, the facility will make programming more reliable throughout Wisconsin’s changing seasons. Participants will experience fewer weather-related cancellations and greater continuity in therapeutic and skill-development goals. The heated arena and accessible stable will allow children and adults with disabilities to participate more safely and comfortably, while the larger arena will permit multiple activities to take place without compromising safety or program quality.
The project’s long-term impact will extend beyond the individuals enrolled in lessons and therapy. Families and caregivers will have a more welcoming and accessible environment; volunteers will have improved space for training and supporting programs; and Three Gaits will be able to expand community partnerships, educational opportunities, and equine-assisted learning experiences.
For the Stoughton community, this investment will preserve and strengthen a valued local resource that has served the area since 1983. The new facility will ensure that Three Gaits can welcome more people, reduce waiting periods, and continue changing lives through the healing and empowering connection between people and horses for generations to come. |
| Three Gaits requests $20,000 toward its $4.5 million capital campaign to construct a new heated indoor riding arena and fully accessible adaptive stable at our Stoughton farm. The grant will support construction costs associated with creating a safe, accessible, year-round environment for equine-assisted activities and therapy.
Three Gaits’ current indoor arena is unheated, relatively small, located close to a heavily traveled highway, and lacks dedicated therapy, classroom, family, and volunteer spaces. Wisconsin winters and unpredictable weather interrupt lessons and therapy, limit program growth, and make it difficult to consistently serve individuals who rely on these services. Demand already exceeds our capacity, resulting in extended waiting periods to join our programs.
The new facility will include a larger heated riding arena, an adaptive stable, accessible participant and family areas, therapy and classroom space, and improved areas for volunteers and program operations. It will allow Three Gaits to provide consistent programming throughout the year, improve accessibility and safety, reduce cancellations, shorten waiting lists, and develop additional services in response to community needs.
The project will directly benefit children and adults with disabilities who participate in more than 2,000 lessons and therapy sessions annually, including many residents of Stoughton and the surrounding area. It will also strengthen the experience of the hundreds of volunteers who contribute thousands of hours each year to lessons, horse care, facility maintenance, events, and administrative support.
Our goals are to increase year-round access to services, expand the number of people served, provide greater continuity of therapy and instruction, improve participant and volunteer safety, and create a facility capable of supporting Three Gaits and the greater Stoughton community for decades to come. |
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