LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending GallopNYC upon the occasion of hosting
its 8th Annual Ride With Pride Horse Show on June 21, 2015

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
GallopNYC upon the occasion of hosting its 8th Annual Ride With Pride
Horse Show in Central Park on Sunday, June 21, 2015; and
WHEREAS, GallopNYC is a non-profit organization based in New York City
which offers therapeutic horsemanship programs to children and adults
with disabilities; it particularly works with children, youth, and
adults who face developmental, emotional, social, and physical chal-
lenges; and
WHEREAS, Participants of the GallopNYC Program have a wide range of
disabilities including learning disabilities, such as: autism spectrum
disorder, cerebral palsy, and developmental, speech and language delays;
this vital organization also works with at-risk teens and children
exposed to domestic violence; it serves 300 riders every week and oper-
ates its riding program at five New York City locations; and
WHEREAS, Therapeutic horsemanship uses the pleasures and skills of
horseback riding and horse knowledge to build developmental, emotional,
social, and physical skills for each individual rider; under the direc-
tion of a PATH International certified instructor, supported by trained
volunteers, each rider progressively acquires riding skills and measur-
able improvements in life skills; and
WHEREAS, Therapeutic horsemanship involves learning to ride a horse,
and building a bond with a horse, as well as becoming knowledgeable
about how to care for a horse; it also means understanding how horses
perceive the world and respond to people, and being a leader to a horse;
and
WHEREAS, Under the luminous leadership of Executive Director, Alicia
Kershaw, through weekly sessions, GallopNYC helps riders walk, talk,
connect, focus, behave, learn, and have fun; it also offers hippotherapy
services; and
WHEREAS, Hippotherapy is a form of physical, occupational and speech
therapy in which a therapist uses the characteristic movements of a
horse to provide carefully graded motor and sensory input; a foundation
is established to improve neurological function and sensory processing,
which can be generalized to a wide range of daily activities; and
WHEREAS, GallopNYC has been featured in several major newspapers
including THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, THE DAILY NEWS, and THE NEW YORK
TIMES; in 2014, this outstanding program was chosen to be recipients of
proceeds from the Inaugural Central Park Horse Show, and the first Annu-
al Equus Film Festival; and
WHEREAS, In addition, GallopNYC has appeared on cable channel NY 1,
and in an exhibit at the Museum of Natural History; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend GallopNYC upon the occasion of hosting its annual Ride With
Pride Horse Show; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Alicia Kershaw, Executive Director, GallopNYC.