More than 700 attendees trotted over to ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship in McKinney for the seventh annual Gala at the ’Gait. The annual event with an elegant Western twist supports the organization in its mission to help children and adults with disabilities move beyond their boundaries through the healing power of the horse.
And what better way to explain to donors, sponsors and volunteers exactly what to expect at ManeGait than to show them what’s done at the facility? So guests — including McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller with wife Donna Loughmiller, Dawn and Ryan Neufeld, Emily and Randy Pogue, and Giselle and Gary Montagna — were escorted directly from the valet to meet the stars of the show: the ManeGait therapy horses.
ManeGait founding family Bill and Pris Darling and Landon and Zach Schneider introduced attendees to the horses before everyone headed to ManeGait’s outdoor covered arena, which was transformed into a dazzling party space full of belt buckles, big hats and big hair. Guests shopped the silent auction and enjoyed a dine-around experience with food from Kent Rathbun Concepts, Mexican Sugar, Velvet Taco, Nothing Bundt Cakes and more than a dozen other restaurants.
But the highlight of the evening came when country music artist and Dancing With the Stars contestant Chuck Wicks got partiers two-stepping with hits like his soon-to-be-released single, “Saturday Afternoon.” One lucky auction winner, Carmen Roberts, was granted a spin around the dance floor with Wicks himself.
Serving Collin, Denton, Grayson and parts of Dallas counties, ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship strives to enrich lives by nurturing a welcoming and inspiring environment designed to embrace, encourage and empower.
Brandon Pogue, Jennifer Pogue, Carolyn Brooks, David Brooks
