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Heal. Inspire. Transform.   

Together We Can Make A Difference. 

Please Help Support Our Mission. 

Our Horses and Staff Thank You!  

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Our Mission

Changing Gaits, Inc. is a faith-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that partners with horses for equine therapy with a healing bond to educate, mentor, empower behavior changes, and enhance life skills for all age groups with mental, physical, and emotional disabilities.

Changing Gaits, Inc. is a Non-Discriminatory Ministry. All of our activities are available to all people regardless of race, religion, age, gender, disability, or sexual orientation. 

Quality of Life Spotlight: Changing Gaits | News

We at Changing Gaits are overwhelming grateful for our newly updated service with state-of-the-art equipment that is changing lives for those with paralysis. For where He leads us we will follow.  This article from The Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation is a magnificent acknowledgment of the lives powerfully impacted by our mission of work.

 

God Bless and thank you so much!

christopherreeve.org

Thank you to our generous Sponsor Cynthia Nordby for her contribution to help create this new website and media.

"Horses were my healing presence during my childhood. Changing Gaits inspires me as a follower of Jesus Christ to live generously, walk humbly, and "above all love one another deeply from the heart" (1 Peter 4:8)" - Cynthia 
Because of the generous support from our Sponsors, our horses will continue to have the dedicated daily care to keep them safe, healthy, and happy. 

If you would like to become a sponsor, please visit our sponsorship donation page and select your donation level.
How To Help Our Horses | Join Our Sponsorship Program
Help Us Feed And Care For Our 35+ Horses. Your generous support helps continue our dedicated daily care of feeding, grooming, housing, and veterinary costs to keep our horses safe, healthy, and happy. We sincerely thank you for your support and contribution!
Corporate & Business Friendship

Please email or call us directly to discuss our Business and Sponsorship Opportunities and Perks, or to discuss tax-wise giving options including incentives for taxpayers available through the 2020 CARES Act. Thank you so much!  

Our Featured Horses

We help people. Our horses help people heal and change their lives. At Changing Gaits we recognize and understand the value and impact horses have on us all- the help us with self-esteem, self-empowerment, self-awareness, self-control, and most importantly horses give us happiness.

View All Our Horses Here >

Why Horse Therapy?

We help people. Our horses help people heal and change their lives. At Changing Gaits we recognize and understand the value and impact horses have on us all- the help us with self-esteem, self-empowerment, self-awareness, self-control, and most importantly horses give us happiness. 

Read More about Horse Therapy here >

Serenity Walk

Sponsor Perks:

One 1-hour horseback ride for

monthly sponsorship

$25
Free Spirit Trot

Sponsor Perks:

Changing Gaits t-shirt, and one 1-hour horseback ride for monthly sponsorship

$75
Golden Canter

Sponsor Perks:

Changing Gaits baseball hat, coffee mug, and one 1-hour horseback ride for monthly sponsorship

$150
Majestic Gallop

Sponsor Perks:

Changing Gaits t-shirt, baseball hat, coffee mug, and one 1-hour horseback ride for monthly sponsorship

$250+
The Changing Gaits Movement
About Us
Founder & Executive Director

Guy Kaufman

Nile “Guy” Kaufman is a Certified Equine Specialist through OK Coral, the Lead Trail Guide and a Public Speaker. He has been in recovery and free from addiction for 20 + years. He has extensive experience in relapse prevention with addiction. Guy enjoys working with adults with disabilities, kids with special needs, and mentoring troubled youth.

changinggaitsinc@gmail.com  |  651-324-8299

Changing Gaits Board of Directors
Nile "Guy" Kaufman
Board Chair / Founder / Executive Director
changinggaitsinc@gmail.com | 651-324-8299

Wendy S. Hazzard
President / CGI Grant Writer
wen.ven@gmail.com

Tim Mehner
Vice President / Independent Contractor
timmehner@gmail.com

Donna Larson
Board Secretary / Executive Assistant
donnalarson1958@gmail.com


Denise Schneider 
Event Planner / CGI Volunteer
dschneider422@gmail.com

Sherry Ostertag

Marketing Coordinator / CGI Volunteer

slostertag@gmail.com

Mary Pelz

Officer / Bridge Outreach

marypelz01@yahoo.com

Pat Arneson

Officer / CGI Volunteer

patarnjo@gmail.com

Paul Enright

Officer / Guided Trail Rides

pjenright4@gmail.com

Mike Fleischhacker

Officer / CGI Volunteer

flyscott1@hotmail.com

Cheri Engler

Volunteer Coordinator

coach@usfamily.net

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Program Director - George Will

 

After learning the hard way what doesn’t work in life, George learned how to succeed. He loves teaching and working alongside staff. George has a natural knack in helping residents stay focused on their successful sobriety. He is happily married to Betty for 20+ years and lives in Ogilvie, Minnesota.
 

Executive Assistant / Board Se- Donna Larson

​Donna has been with us for 5 years. She enjoys keeping Guy and CGI organized while assisting the sober house residents with anything they need in administration. Donna grew up on a farm so her love for animals as well as her love for Jesus is a perfect fit.
Marketing Coordinator - Sherry Ostertag

Sherry has always had a deep passion for animals and the great outdoors. It was a life long dream to have her own horse to explore the trails with. That dream finally became a reality when she met her mare Maggie. Now she enjoys spending her free time at the ranch helping others experience the joy of horses.
Peer Recovery Support Specialist
​Jason Siems


Jason is certified in Equine Assisted Therapy, working with our sober living clients and those looking to heal. He has been blessed sober since 2009 by working the 12 steps and the help of his late sponsor, Mike Walsh. Jason is extremely grateful for his beautiful bride-Sarah, his two boys-Jansen and Jayden. He loves to fish and hunt in his free time while giving credit to his one and only savior, Jesus Christ.
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