Meet the Team
Gentle Gallop is a youth-led initiative dedicated to raising awareness about therapeutic riding and aims to educate communities on how equine-assisted activities can support individuals with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges, while also promoting and fundraising for programs and facilities.
Founder
Gentle Gallop was founded in 2026, by Zaara Nair in her freshman year at Biotechnology High School. A rider herself, Zaara has spent years developing a deep understanding of horses and the discipline, trust, and communication required in equestrian sports. And having developed a deep bond and passion for horses, she believes them to be the best form of therapy.
Zaara volunteers with the SPUR Program, a therapeutic riding initiative, at Sunnyside Equestrian Center. Through volunteering, she has witnessed firsthand the profound and evident physical and emotional benefits that equine-assisted activities can provide for individuals with diverse needs. These experiences shaped her commitment to increasing awareness and accessibility surrounding therapeutic riding.
Driven by the belief that education and advocacy can create meaningful change, Zaara founded Gentle Gallop to bridge her love for horses with a mission of inclusivity, compassion, and impact.
Advisor
Dr. Benazir Meera is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise Sciences and Recreation at Lehman College, City University of New York (CUNY). Her research focuses on improving health, well-being, and quality of life through sport and physical activity interventions for individuals across the lifespan. Employing community-based participatory and mixed-methods approaches, she works closely with traditionally underserved and underrepresented individuals to design, implement, and evaluate person-centered interventions that are meaningful, accessible, and sustainable within real-world community settings.
A former athlete on the Indian National Short Track Speed Skating Team, Dr. Meera has experienced firsthand the transformative power of sport and movement. As both an athlete and researcher, she believes that participation in sport and physical activity can serve as a powerful tool for enhancing physical health, mental well-being, social inclusion, and overall quality of life. This belief continues to drive her research, teaching, and community engagement efforts as she seeks to expand access to meaningful movement opportunities for individuals of all ages and abilities.
A major focus of Dr. Meera's scholarship is equine-assisted services, particularly therapeutic horseback riding and its impact on physical health outcomes. She has experience working with diverse populations, including autistic children and older adults living with dementia. As an equestrian herself, she brings both professional expertise and personal insight into the unique benefits of horse-human interactions and therapeutic riding programs.
Notably, Dr. Meera developed and evaluated a novel parent-mediated mobile application designed to complement therapeutic horseback riding programs for autistic children. The app has shown promise as an innovative resource to support learning, skill development, and engagement beyond the riding arena. She is currently leading efforts to scale and implement the application across therapeutic riding centers nationwide, beginning with organizations in the New York City and New Jersey regions.
Through her interdisciplinary research, community partnerships, and commitment to inclusive physical activity, Dr. Meera strives to translate evidence into practice and create opportunities that empower individuals, families, and communities. Her work is driven by the belief that sport, physical activity, and meaningful community participation can improve health and enrich lives across the lifespan.
Social Media Manager
Gabby Sommers
Gabriella “Gabby” Sommers is a high school student at Trinity Hall with a passion for horses, medicine, and making a positive impact in her community. She has been riding horses for many years, and the barn has become her second home. Through horseback riding, Gabby has learned the value of patience, perseverance, responsibility, and the unique bond that can exist between horses and people.
Outside of the barn, Gabby is passionate about advocating for those living with chronic illnesses. Having lived with Type 1 diabetes since she was six years old, she understands firsthand the importance of support, education, and compassion. Her experiences have inspired her to volunteer, raise awareness, advocate for others, and give back to her community.
In the future, Gabby hopes to become a pediatric endocrinologist so she can help children navigate their own medical journeys with the same encouragement and support she received growing up. She is honored to be part of Gentle Gallop because she believes deeply in the incredible impact horses can have on people’s physical and emotional well-being. Gabby is excited to combine her love for horses with her passion for helping others while supporting a mission that brings life-changing experiences to the community.
Community Outreach Director
Cheryl Nolan
Cheryl is a junior at Holmdel High School. She’s been around horses for about 10 years, spending countless hours both riding and caring for them. She currently rides competitively and leases a horse, who she considered her best friend in the world. Through her journey alongside horses, she has learned how calming and understanding they can be - even without saying a word. This led her to discover therapeutic riding, which combined her love of helping people and her connection to horses.
Cheryl first met Zaara while volunteering at SPUR - a therapeutic riding program at Sunnyside Equestrian Center. There, they bonded over their shared love for horses and desire to make a difference in the community.
While volunteering, Cheryl witnessed firsthand how impactful therapeutic riding can be. From improving physical strength to connecting with another animal, riders at SPUR learned a vast variety of skills that are often difficult to practice in conventional situations. The uniqueness and effectiveness of this form of therapy overall inspired Cheryl to partner with Gentle Gallop to make therapeutic riding more accessible, raise awareness of its benefits, and create a meaningful impact in their community.