GallopNYC Consolidates Queens Programs at Sunrise Stables, Queens
GallopNYC's location at Sunrise Stables in Queens. Photo by Maddy Falkowitz
New York – July 6, 2024 – GallopNYC, New York’s only therapeutic horseback riding program for people with disabilities, today announced that it is consolidating its Queens program at Sunrise Stables in Lindenwood and, as a result, it will close its operations at Forest Hills. GallopNYC intends to offer lessons in Staten Island and the Bronx in the very near future as well as to continue to offer lessons in Prospect Park.
Since July 1, 2023, GallopNYC has been self-funding lessons for about 200 riders that are earmarked to be funded by NYC contracts. As many NYC nonprofits have experienced, the City has been slow to pay its contracts – this has caused a severe cash shortage, with nearly $150,000 yet to be funded. The City’s loan program is of some help, but some aspects of the process are uniquely difficult for GallopNYC, such as the inability to borrow to fund horse care and feed.
Commenting on the decision, Founder and Interim Executive Director Alicia Kershaw said, “The cash crunch has caused us to look closely at our overall cost structure. The Forest Hills site has very high costs associated with it, and we have concluded that the site is no longer financially viable for our organization.
“We need to optimize our operations so that we can grow and expand. We owe it to our riders, supporters, staff and volunteers to operate in a sustainable way.
“We will consolidate our Queens programs at our Sunrise Stables in Lindenwood. We remain committed to our mission to serve and our vision to make the life-changing benefits of therapeutic experiences with horses available to all New Yorkers with disabilities and other needs. And after this necessary consolidation, we will continue to work tirelessly to fulfill our mission.”
GallopNYC Board Chair Constance Hunter said, “While we have loved being in Forest Hills and appreciate all that the prior owners have done to assist us, with this consolidation, we can right-size our cost structure. allowing us to continue to fulfill our mission.“
Additional Facts About the Consolidation
We recognize that the Sunrise Stables location will be less convenient for some of our community and we regret that, but overall, GallopNYC’s decision to consolidate our Queens program at Sunrise Stables, Lindenwood, will not significantly affect our programs:
● GallopNYC will continue to offer lessons to all of our current riders.
● GallopNYC will continue to employ the majority of our staff who currently work at
Forest Hills.
● Our horses’ welfare is of great importance to us, and we are committed to finding good
homes for those ready for retirement.
● GallopNYC will continue with plans to open programs in Staten Island and The Bronx
and continue to offer programs in Prospect Park.
The barn at Sunrise Stables. Photo by Cam Willis