GAIT times three

Horse-A-Fair at GAIT brings the program to the community, By Marilyn Rosenthal MILFORD — Francesca Antonecchia, 3, and her 8-year-old sister Alexandra from Milford were very excited. Francesca specifically asked to spend her birthday at the Horse-A-Fair this year. They, and more than 250 other adults and children had a grand time and supported a worthwhile cause. The GAIT facility is a premier center for therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, vocational training, equine assisted psychotherapy, and numerous volunteer opportunities — and the annual affair is the community’s chance to see, understand and help support it. GAIT is accredited by international professional authorities in the field of equine assisted activities and therapies. Martha Dubensky, the Executive Director and founder of GAIT is an advanced instructor. Lena Dubensky, and Elizabeth De Luca are registered instructors. One of the most interesting additions to the Horse-A-Fair this year was the Coakley Labyrinth. This labyrinth — unique to GAIT — is an intricate system of paths which helps train riders to improve their balance and rhythm. It was donated by the Coakley family who contributed the materials, time, and labor to create this permanent structure. It was a labor of love for the Coakleys and their children, Nicholas, Andrew, and Katie, who were also at the Horse-A-Fair. The labyrinth is not only fun to walk, but doing so helps connect the right and left hemispheres of the brain to coordinate the performance and cognitive sides of the brain. Riders count their steps as they are walking the labyrinth. There was also a demonstration by Sam Albanese, an equine dentist who showed how he cleans a horse’s teeth and gums. Allen Hayes, the farrier, demonstrated how to shoe a horse. Working on Tiger, a Gray Arabian, he took off the old shoes, trimmed the hoof, and put on new shoes. Because horses hooves grow rapidly, they need a farrier about every 8 weeks. In addition to these demonstrations, both GAIT volunteers and GAIT special needs riders showed how they work with the horses in the riding arena. We asked several people at this event why they attend each year. They credited the “wonderful work with special needs children and adults”; GAIT’s “special combination or top qualifications and caring”; and the care they show for every rider and every horse. One volunteer said, “because when we volunteer for GAIT, we get so much back. It’s the wonderful spirit of the place.” The spirit of the place was clearly in evidence at this event. People were happy, smiling, caring, and kind to each other. The entire board of directors was on hand volunteering, serving hot dogs, hamburgers, sweet corn, and drinks; and collecting donations. The hot dogs were donated by The Kiwanis Club of Milford, the hamburgers were donated by Gourmet Beef Naturally, and the sweet corn was donated by the Brian Ford family. As one volunteer anonymously said, “It’s a great place to support.” For more information on GAIT, go to their Web site at www.gaitpa.org , or call them at 570-409-1140.