Five Questions With: Elizabeth Capalbo

Elizabeth Capalbo is founder and program director for the North Kingstown-based nonprofit Gaits of Harmony, which provides certified therapeutic riding programs.
Elizabeth Capalbo is founder and program director for the North Kingstown-based nonprofit Gaits of Harmony, which provides certified therapeutic riding programs.

Elizabeth Capalbo is founder and program director for the North Kingstown-based nonprofit Gaits of Harmony, which provides certified therapeutic riding programs. She founded the nonprofit in 2014 after acquiring two horses that were therapeutic equines and becoming certified as a registered instructor. She serves on the Interactive Vaulting Committee of Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International and is the Rhode Island state chairwoman for PATH International. Here she discusses the mission and value of the nonprofit.

PBN: How and why did you establish the nonprofit Gaits of Harmony?
CAPALBO:
I established Gaits of Harmony with Patricia O’Leary in February of 2014. I had volunteered for years at a therapeutic riding facility and decided I wanted to make this my career path and went to college for therapeutic horsemanship program management. I worked at various programs and then in 2014 I decided to use my own horses. My friend Pat is certified as an instructor and a physical therapist and we started Gaits of Harmony.
We saw a need to serve the Rhode Island community with certified instructors and a certified program through Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International. Therapeutic riding helps with such ailments as autism, depression, anxiety, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and Down’s syndrome.

PBN: Give an example of your favorite therapeutic riding success story.
CAPALBO:
Aimee has been with Gaits of Harmony since July 2015 and she has a special bond with Thumper and has only been comfortable grooming and performing ground work with him, until March 2. Three volunteers worked with Aimee as she began grooming Thumper. One volunteer quickly groomed and tacked another horse, Sherman, who Aimee has been getting to know over the last several weeks. They brought Aimee to the arena with her family. Aimee walked right up the ramp and got on Sherman. All volunteers helped. After about two laps around Aimee only needed one volunteer to lead. She was so comfortable and so relaxed. After she got off the horse, she was so proud of herself. This is the essence of our program: time, trust and lifelong bonds.

PBN: As program director, which programs do you find are most popular and which are you looking to grow?
CAPALBO:
Our therapeutic riding program seems to be the largest, and the most knowledge can be taught in those sessions. We are looking to grow our hippotherapy and vaulting programs as we bring in new staff and new volunteer staff.
Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational or speech therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement. Interactive vaulting is an activity in which the students perform movements on and around the horse. These movements can be very simple such as sitting without holding onto a handle or a more elaborate compulsory move such as kneeling or standing on the horse.

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PBN: What is your biggest fundraising challenge?
CAPALBO:
At Gaits of Harmony, we have to supplement 50 percent of our income with fundraisers and grants. Our biggest hurdle with fundraising is finding consistent donors rather than the sporadic ones. It makes planning for events and budgets hard.

PBN: What are your goals for 2016 and beyond?
CAPALBO:
The goals for Gaits of Harmony in 2016 are to expand our volunteer base to include volunteers for events, lessons, barn chores, projects and farm maintenance. Also we hope to expand our donor base and create donor programs to create more consistent donors that are valued through the assets on the farm. We are looking to create horse sponsorship programs, scholarship programs and a few other possible donation opportunities other than our events.

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