GaitWay

Empowering girls and young women to a successful adulthood and confidence through mentorship and working with horses.

We are a nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls and teen women through mentorship and working with horses. We are 100% donation and grant based; visit our link below to donate or learn more about how you can help!

06/19/2026

A huge thank you to Glo Event Co for helping make this year’s Boots & Ballgowns Gala extra fun!

We were absolutely thrilled to have them join us this year, and their photo booth was a huge hit from the moment guests arrived. Throughout the evening, there was a constant line of people laughing, posing, and making memories with friends and family.

And can we talk about those AI images?! They were absolutely adorable and quickly became one of the most talked-about features of the night. It was so much fun seeing everyone’s images come to life in such a unique way!

Thank you, Glo Event Co, for bringing extra joy, laughter, and excitement to our gala. We are so grateful for your support and for helping create an unforgettable experience for our guests!

06/18/2026

A huge thank you to Andrew and the team at 1111 Catering for helping make this year’s Boots & Ballgowns Gala such a success!

We were so thankful to partner with them again this year. As always, the food was absolutely phenomenal, and their team was just as impressive. From their professionalism and attention to detail to their friendly smiles and willingness to jump in wherever needed, they are a joy to work with from start to finish.

Fun fact: Several of us at GaitWay seem to catch 11:11 on the clock and call it a little sign of good luck. So when we first discovered 1111 Catering, we were pretty convinced it was fate. ✨

And honestly, they’ve lived up to it ever since. When you’re serving more than 250 guests, having a team you can count on makes all the difference. Andrew and his crew show up ready to help, keep things running smoothly, and serve up an incredible meal with a smile.

We are incredibly grateful for their continued support and for the role they play in creating such a wonderful evening for our guests. Thank you, 1111 Catering, for helping make the night so special! 🩷🍽️✨

06/17/2026

A huge thank you to Ashley with Bloom Bar for the absolutely beautiful centerpieces at this year’s Boots & Ballgowns Gala!

One of our favorite parts of the gala is watching the arena transform into something completely different for one magical evening, and Ashley’s florals added such wild, beauty to the space. Every table looked stunning, and the arrangements perfectly complemented the theme of the evening: Wildflowers & Wild Horses.

Did you take your centerpiece home? Ours are still green and beautiful nearly two weeks later, which is a testament to the quality and care that went into every arrangement.

We are so grateful for Ashley’s creativity and support of GaitWay. Thank you for helping make this year’s gala feel extra special! 🌼✨

06/16/2026

At this year’s Boots & Ballgowns Gala, Heather had the honor of unveiling the newest addition to the Dream Maker program:

✨ Dream Builders ✨

Our teen program has grown so much that we’re finally able to take the Dream Maker program in a direction we’ve dreamed about for years.

Several of our most senior Dream Makers will be stepping into elevated leadership roles at the ranch, helping with everything from training and mentoring newer Dream Makers to assisting with marketing, social media, and more behind-the-scenes program operations.

Dream Makers already leave the ranch with valuable life skills, leadership experience, and real resume-building opportunities. But through Dream Builders, these young women will gain even more hands-on experience in real-world job settings while continuing to grow as leaders.

How cool is that?

Watching the Dream Maker program grow and evolve has been incredible, and we’re so excited to see this next chapter unfold.

To everyone who attended, donated, volunteered, sponsored, bid, danced, and believed in this mission—thank you. Dream Builders is possible because of you, and we can’t wait to see where these girls go next. 🐎

06/15/2026

One of the coolest moments from this year’s Boots & Ballgowns Gala was this one right here.

One of our very own Dream Makers took the stage with Black Dirt Junction to perform Wildflowers & Wild Horses by Lainey Wilson—the theme of this year’s gala.

And she absolutely rocked it!

Watching her go from singing Christmas carols while doing barn chores (yes, all year long) to confidently taking the stage and belting out a song in front of a crowd of 250+ people was something truly special.

Moments like these are what GaitWay is all about. Helping girls discover confidence, find their voice, and realize they are capable of more than they ever imagined.

A huge thank you to Black Dirt Junction for learning the song and so graciously welcoming our Dream Maker onto the stage with them. It was a memory we won’t soon forget! 🌻🐎✨

🔉: Sound On!

06/10/2026

The Boots & Ballgowns Gala is one of the hardest and most rewarding things we do all year.

Months of planning. Weeks of preparation. Countless conversations, brainstorming sessions, and “what ifs.”

And then it all comes together.

Our indoor arena transforms into something entirely different. The tables are set, the lights are glowing, the music starts, and suddenly it’s filled with more joy and laughter than ever—with dancing and an incredible community of people who believe in our mission of empowering others through horsemanship.

We’re still in awe of the support that surrounds GaitWay and the girls we serve. Seeing so many people come together to invest in their futures is something we’ll never take for granted.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making our 2nd Annual Boots & Ballgowns Gala one we’ll never forget.

📸: A glimpse of the energy and excitement captured by West of Jericho Photography

06/07/2026

✨ Another Boots & Ballgowns Gala is in the books, and our hearts are so full! ✨

We cannot thank our sponsors, donors, volunteers, supporters, and guests enough for making this beautiful evening possible. From the laughter and dancing to the paddle raising and generosity, every moment reflected the incredible community that surrounds GaitWay.

Because of your support, our participants will continue to have access to the horses, mentorship, and life-changing opportunities that help them grow to believe they can do hard things. Every bid, donation, and shared moment of joy will help fuel another year of dreams becoming reality for these girls!

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in our mission and celebrating alongside us. We are beyond grateful. 🩷🐎

🎥: Sneak Peek of Last Night ✨

06/05/2026

Today’s the day!

After weeks of planning and a whirlwind of preparation this week, we are beyond excited to welcome guests to Boots & Ballgowns tonight! Our team, participants, and supporters have worked tirelessly to transform the ranch for this special evening, and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Get ready for an unforgettable night of great food, live music, incredible auction items, and a whole lot of impact as we come together to support the girls of GaitWay.

Are you ready?! We can’t wait to see you tonight! 🤠✨

06/03/2026

We are so incredibly grateful to all of the talented artists who donated their time, creativity, and hearts to mentor our Dream Makers as they created this year’s live auction pieces.

These artists didn’t just help create beautiful works of art—they invested in our girls. They shared their skills, encouraged creativity, built confidence, and helped bring each participant’s unique vision to life.

The result is a collection of one-of-a-kind pieces that represent so much more than art. They represent mentorship, growth, perseverance, and the power of community.

This Friday at Boots & Ballgowns, these special creations will find new homes through our live auction, with proceeds helping us continue providing our programs free of charge to the girls and women we serve.

Thank you to every artist who partnered with us this year. Your impact extends far beyond the finished piece, and we can’t wait to showcase what you’ve helped create.

🩷 Blue Roof Paint Barn
🩷 PM Design Studio
🩷 Honey & The Bee Photography
🩷 Adrienne's Creations
🩷 Erin Elking

06/02/2026

GaitWay is a nonprofit organization that uses horsemanship and ranch life to help girls and women build confidence, leadership skills, responsibility, communication, and grit.

Participants learn about horse care, horsemanship, teamwork, problem-solving, and the value of hard work through hands-on experiences at the ranch. Along the way, they form meaningful connections with the horses and one another while gaining life-skills that carry into every aspect of life.

And perhaps most importantly, our programs are offered completely free of charge to participants. That’s why events like our Boots & Ballgowns Gala are so critical—they help ensure that every girl who can benefit from our programs has the opportunity to participate, regardless of financial circumstances.

At GaitWay, we’re not just teaching horsemanship—we’re helping our participants discover what they’re capable of.

📸: West of Jericho Photography

Address

5327 Liberty School Road Suite 101
Hillsboro, MO
63050

Website

https://linktr.ee/gaitwayinc

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