Three Gaits, Inc.
Stoughton, Wisconsin
Three Gaits is a nonprofit equine-assisted activities and therapy center on a 20-acre farm in Stoughton, Wisconsin. It offers therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, equine-assisted learning and Riding in the Moment, a program for adults with dementia. It serves people of all ages with physical, emotional or intellectual disabilities.
- Therapeutic riding with PATH Intl. certified instructors
- Hippotherapy led by licensed therapists
- Equine-assisted learning (ground activities)
- Riding in the Moment for adults with dementia and their care partners
- Volunteer and group volunteer opportunities
- Children and adults of all ages
- Autism, ADD and developmental delay
- Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and spina bifida
- Brain injury, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy
- Adults with early- or middle-stage dementia
More about this center
About the Program
Three Gaits has been a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center since 2002, and its riding lessons are taught by PATH Intl. certified instructors. In hippotherapy, a licensed therapist uses the horse as a treatment tool toward functional physical, occupational or speech-language goals. The staff page lists a licensed occupational therapist (OTR/L) and a physical therapist (PT, DPT).
Equine-assisted learning uses ground activities with horses to build skills such as problem-solving, communication, self-regulation and confidence. Each client works toward goals set with the client's team and the therapist.
Riding in the Moment
Riding in the Moment is for adults with a documented diagnosis of early- or middle-stage Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, who attend with a caregiver, family member or friend. Participants come weekly over an eight-week session to ride, groom or simply spend time with the horses, and no horse experience is needed. The center says the first session is free, and transportation funding is available on request. The program is run with the Geriatric Health Services Research Lab at UW-Madison.
Getting Started
New students, and anyone away from lessons for more than a year, start with an assessment that sets class placement and goals for the term.
Equine-assisted activity lessons are $85.82 for 30 minutes and $128.70 for 45 minutes, and hippotherapy sessions are $143.01 for 30 minutes and $214.48 for 45 minutes. Assessments are $128.70 for riding and $214.48 for hippotherapy. Cash or check paid before the term earns a discount, and card or PayPal payments carry a 3% surcharge. Three Gaits accepts third-party payment through Wisconsin's Children's Long-Term Support and IRIS programs. See our guide to equine therapy costs.
History, Horses and Staff
Gail Brown and Lorrie Renker founded Three Gaits in 1983 with two horses and eight riders, and by 1986 the organization had bought its 20-acre farm on Highway 138. The website lists 16 program horses, 18 staff members and hundreds of volunteers. Jolie Hope is the executive director.
Location
Three Gaits is at 3741 State Rd. 138, Stoughton, WI 53589, on Highway 138 between Stoughton and Oregon. Call (608) 877-9086 or email info@three-gaits.org. Students and volunteers can report cancellations at (608) 877-9087.
From public records, not yet reviewed by the center · Last updated Oct 2026 Suggest an edit
Common Questions
Answered from the center’s own website and public records.
How do I enroll at Three Gaits?
Email info@three-gaits.org with the student's name, responsible party, email and phone to request the required assessment.
How much do lessons cost?
A 30-minute riding lesson is $85.82 and a 30-minute hippotherapy session is $143.01. Scholarships are available, and families who need help with the cost can email info@three-gaits.org.
Is there a waitlist?
Three Gaits says its waitlist has been greatly reduced and it aims to contact students about one month before a spot opens.
What should riders wear?
The center provides a safety helmet. Riders wear long pants, and shoes with a sturdy heel or non-slip sole are recommended; sandals, Crocs, clogs and open-toed or open-heeled shoes are not allowed.
Location
Stoughton, Wisconsin 53589
Questions to Ask When You Call
The center is the best source for these answers.
- Are you running now, and taking new riders?Start here. We couldn’t confirm a current schedule.
- Which ages and needs do you work with?Ask about experience with your rider’s specific condition.
- Is a licensed PT, OT or speech therapist involved?Therapist-led hippotherapy is usually the only kind insurance may cover.
- What does a session cost, and are there scholarships?Many nonprofit programs offer sliding scales or sponsored spots.
- Do you have a mounting ramp or lift?Important for riders who use a wheelchair or need help mounting.