Horse Sense: Children of Promise Stables

It was a beautiful Thursday morning while Nancy Galdi and her staff of volunteers and instructors—Allison Wright, Michelle Sommerville, Jon Fischer, Catherine Heinzer and Ryan Corzine—waited for the bus to arrive. The horses were fed and ready and so was the first children’s sensory garden at Children of Promise Stable in Nanuet.

Excited and obviously happy to be outside came Kevin Newell, Ryan Murray, Thelmo Aguirre and Marcellous Gagot; third and fourth grade students who attend Highview Elementary School in Nanuet.

“I feel happy when I am at COPS (Children of Promise) Barn,” said Murray at the end of the day. Teacher Jessica Keaveny and Teaching Assistant Carleen Vitale helped the children with everything from putting dirt in the wheelbarrows, preparing holes for planting, navigating around the raised beds, planting carrots that they grew in the classroom, watering and collecting worms.

“My favorite part of COPS Barn was when we planted tomatoes, carrots and radishes," said Aguirre. "I felt happy because we planted our plants.”

Children of Promise Stable was founded in 2001 as a Not for Profit and offers a unique opportunity for children. Individuals are taught to get up on a horse and take part in equine assisted activities. At COPS, a full program is tailored to each individual and is prepared for ages 3 and up. There is a traditional riding ring and a fully shaded sensory riding trail. Students touch, feel, listen and interact with many objects sights and sounds along the way. In addition the facility is looking to expand its services by building a much needed indoor riding arena adjacent to the current outdoor stable. The arena will be named the “Thomas Foley Arena” dedicated and in honor of , who lived in the community and who had a deep love of horses, nature and people who he served in his life. He was a New York City Fireman who lost his life during 9/11.

Nancy Galdi, Equine Program Director at COPS has been riding horses since she was five years old and is very interested in healthy foods and nutrition.

“The idea of the children’s garden arose about a year and a half ago, for many reasons,” said Galdi. “We currently have a delicious raspberries growing everywhere as part of our sensory integration trail and I have one student that begs to pick the raspberries every time. This was a great sensory experience for her and I so support organic and farm fresh supported produce that the idea came about.”

Galdi met with Mark McNeill, Superintendent of the Nanuet School District and explained her plan for a large sensory garden.  However, she wanted to first build a “test” smaller version of the garden and wait to see what happened. Dr. McNeill was very supportive of the idea. The home for the future Nanuet School Sensory Garden will be at the outdoor educational center near the stables. But for now, Galdi has the smaller sensory garden to attend to. 

Many volunteers and people gave their time, money and energies to make this garden come to fruition.

• Douglas Conway—Ridge Supply in Chestnut Ridge
• Yorke Remodeling
• Rudy Villanyi—Nanuet superintendent of building and grounds
• Fesco Fence
• Greg Howes from Stone Barnes Center for Food & Agriculture
• Galdi’s friend Anthony who dug trenches for days to get the proper fencing in place

“Increased physical activity from gardening will help our students with fine and gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination and embark all the senses in a sensory exploration," said Galdi. "It is another type of 'out of the saddle' activity that the children can do. It ties into science, nutrition, math, literacy and social skills development.”

At the end of the day, the children rode the horses in the ring and out into the sensory trail. Gagot who has ridden her horse Cody before.

“It makes me happy when I ride Cody,” Gagot said.

Riding in the fresh air with Gargot probably makes Cody happy too.