Jill Medinger
PHOTOS BY Snap Photo and Cinema
Artist (The Wild Horses of Sable Island) Roberto Dutesco, GallopNYC Board member Lauren Reischer and Jessica Springsteen. 
GallopNYC Founder Alicia Kershaw, Jessica Springsteen and NY Times writer and GallopNYC Advisory Board member Sarah Maslin Nir 
Ariel, Mark (COL) and three-time Olympian Daniel Bluman (ISR) with family and friends 
Para Dressage rider Sydney Collier, her service dog Logan and Barbara Richardson 
GallopNYC Junior Board Member and jumper rider Lucy Deslauries (USA), Executive Director Jennie Bucove and Board Chair Constance Hunter 
A beautiful evening at the Dello Joio’s Wembley Farm 
Sara Maslin Nir and broadcaster and journalist Soledad O’Brien 
Louise Riggio, R. Scot Evans and Stephanie Bulger 
Olympian Norman Dello Joio, Ann Spicer and Michael Waring
On a February evening in Wellington, Florida, the heart of America’s winter equestrian scene, the spirit of New York was alive and thriving. GallopNYC, the city’s largest therapeutic horsemanship program, held an unforgettable fundraising event, drawing a passionate crowd of equestrians, philanthropists and changemakers united by a shared belief: horses have the power to transform lives.
Graciously co-hosted by Olympian Jessica Springsteen and the esteemed Wembley Farm—home to Olympic medalist Norman Dello Joio, his wife Jeannie, and their children, top FEI rider Nick Dello Joio and Daniella Dello Joio—the evening was both elegant and inspiring.
The event celebrated GallopNYC’s profound impact in New York City, where over 450 individuals each week—riders and unmounted participants alike—benefit from therapeutic services. From children with disabilities to military veterans, trauma survivors, first responders and seniors, GallopNYC offers a therapeutic connection to horses that fosters resilience, confidence and joy.
“Our work is about more than just horseback riding,” said GallopNYC Executive Director Jennie Bucove, “It’s about fostering independence and well-being for people of all backgrounds. Many people don’t have the privilege of access to horses. This event was a powerful reminder that the equestrian community is committed to changing that.”
The funds raised in Wellington will directly support GallopNYC’s mission and ensure that financial aid continues to be available to those who need it most. Participant fees cover only half the actual cost of a session, and every lesson is underwritten. Thanks to this model—and the support of more than 200 dedicated weekly volunteers—GallopNYC continues to make equine-assisted therapy accessible to all.
As the sun set over Wembley Farm, the message was clear: when the equestrian world comes together, the possibilities are limitless—and the impact can reach far beyond the barn.