Meet Our Charity Partner: HorseAbility

Empowering Lives Through Horses

HorseAbility is proud to be the 2025 Long Island Elite (LIE) Charity Partner — a partnership that celebrates the power of community, compassion, and meaningful connections. At HorseAbility, our mission is simple yet powerful:

To improve the lives of individuals with special needs through equine facilitated interactions.

Founded in 1993 by Kathleen (Katie) Kilcommons McGowan, HorseAbility began with a single horse, a shared passion for healing, and a child with cerebral palsy whose life was changed forever. What started as a one-horse operation has evolved into Long Island’s leading year-round Premier Accredited Center, serving over 3,000 individuals each year.



What We Do

HorseAbility offers comprehensive and inclusive Equine Assisted Services tailored to individuals of all ages and needs:

• Adaptive Riding: Tailored mounted lessons that blend recreation with therapeutic outcomes, led by certified instructors.
• Hippotherapy: Licensed OT, PT, and SLP professionals use the horse’s movement to enhance sensory, motor, and cognitive function.
• Equine Facilitated Therapy & Activities: Ground-based or mounted sessions to support emotional, behavioral, and social growth.
• Groundwork & Horsemanship: For those unable or not ready to ride, these programs focus on horse care and unmounted interaction.
• G.O.A.L.S. (Goals Oriented Activities for Life Skills): Farm-based learning and work programs that build essential life and job skills.
• HorseAbility for Heroes: Equine-facilitated experiences designed to support veterans and their families in healing from trauma, PTSD, and transition challenges.
• Seniors & Memory Care: Joyful, social engagement through horse interaction for seniors, including those with cognitive impairments.
• Visiting Minis: Our miniature horses travel to hospitals, schools, and nursing homes, bringing healing and happiness to the broader community.

Other community-focused programs include:
Cart driving, school field trips, Special Olympics coaching, PATH Intl. certification training, scout merit badge fulfillment, college internships, and Camp HorseAbility – our inclusive summer day camp.

A Home to Learn, Heal & Grow

Our 20-acre farm is located on the beautiful SUNY Old Westbury campus and is designed to be as functional as it is therapeutic. It features:

• Indoor & outdoor arenas
• Three outdoor riding rings
• Indoor classrooms and mobile learning spaces
• Sensory-friendly trails and turnout fields
• Miniature donkeys, goats, and therapy horses

Every inch of our space reflects our belief:

Every opportunity is a learning opportunity.
Whether you’re a client, student, volunteer, or community member, there is something for everyone at HorseAbility.

Impact on Long Island

HorseAbility is deeply rooted in the Long Island community. We partner with over a dozen school districts, work closely with local and regional organizations, and support families across Nassau and Suffolk counties as well as the 5 boroughs. We provide much-needed respite, therapy, and alternative education programs to children, adults, and seniors.

Since 1993, we’ve ensured that no family is turned away due to financial hardship. Every participant and program is subsidized by at least 50% through fundraising and donor support.

The 2025 LIE Capital Project Partnership

We are incredibly grateful to Long Island Elite for their partnership in making our Outdoor Education and Play Project a reality. This transformative capital project will expand our capacity to provide year-round, inclusive, outdoor programming in a safe and therapeutic setting.

Project Components Include:

• Fully Accessible Playground – For therapeutic recreation and Camp HorseAbility use.
• Outdoor Accessible Lab/Classroom Space – Covered learning stations, cross-ties, and wash stalls to support year-round education.
• Utility Installation – Water/electricity hookups to support outdoor classrooms and locker rooms.
• Playground Excavation and Site Prep
• Two Mobile Classrooms/Locker Rooms – Flexible spaces for therapy, education, and camp.

This project supports our continued growth ensuring that people of all abilities can thrive in an inclusive, hands-on environment.