This Sunday, May 18, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to meet the incredible gallopnyc therapy horses and discover how these animals transform lives. Toy races, crafts and close meetings with horses wait on a free morning full of fun and learning.
In New York City, where stress and haste dominate the rhythm of life, an oasis of calm and hope arises thanks to four legs and a giant heart. Gallopnyc, the largest nonprofit organization in New York dedicated to therapeutic riding, invites families to their fourth annual event “one day of horses and family fun” in Central Park. The meeting, which will take place on Sunday, May 18, 2025, from 9 am to 1 pm, promises an unforgettable morning where the horses will not only be protagonists, but also agents of change.
Four legs: How do these horses help?
Gallopnyc is not a common riding program. For more than a decade, uses especially trained horses to provide physical and emotional therapy to people with and without disabilities. “Many people do not know that riding can improve the balance, coordination and even speech in children with autism or adults who have suffered a stroke,” explains María Rodríguez, director of programs of the organization.
Every week, more than 450 riders participate in their sessions, ranging from hypotherapy for people with reduced mobility to leadership programs for young people at risk. «The horses do not judge. They reflect our emotions and teach us to communicate without words, ”adds Rodríguez.
An event to feel, create and connect
The event in Central Park will be a unique opportunity for the public to closely know this work. The activities will include:
“Know the horses”: attendees can caress and take photos with therapeutic horses, famous for their quiet temperament.
Toy horse races: a fun competition where children (and adults) will assemble their own cardboard steeds and make them “gallop” on an improvised track.
Equestrian crafts: from decorating horseshoes to creating horsepower, the options to take a souvenir home are endless.
The key point of the event is to democratize access to therapeutic riding. “We want families to see that this is not just for ‘others’. The horses heal, regardless of your age or condition, ”says Rodríguez.
Stories that inspire: Lucas’s miracle
Among the attendees will be Lucas Márquez, an 8 -year -old boy with cerebral palsy who began to walk after a year of gallopnyc therapy. «Before, Lucas did not hold his torso well. Today he runs behind his horse, Storm, in El Corral, ”says his mother, Valeria Márquez, with tears in his eyes. For families like yours, the event is a way to celebrate the small great achievements.
How to participate and why not miss it
The meeting will be held in the southwest corner of Central Park, near the Pinebank arch, an accessible place and with ample space for activities. The entrance is free, although Gallopnyc accepts donations to continue financing scholarships for low -income riders.
Why go? In addition to being a fun experience, it is a window to a world where inclusion and overcoming shake hands. “New York is a city of dreams, and our horses help them come true,” concludes Rodríguez.
In a metropolis where the impossible seems possible, Gallopnyc remembers that sometimes the heroes have crines and tail. This Sunday, Central Park will witness how the connection between humans and horses can change lives. An unmissable appointment to believe, once again, in the magic of the simple. For more information visit the gallopnyc website https://www.gallopnyc.org/events/2025-central-park-promenade By: Nahuel Leto
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