Fall Riding Schedule Hits Record Number
We are absolutely excited to have two new riding instructors, Kayla Thau and Gia-Raquel Esposito on board for this fall! Gia will be teaching on Mondays and Thursdays, and Kayla on Saturdays, bringing our team of instructors to 9 strong. Head Riding Instructor, Jen Dermody, has scheduled weekly riding lessons for 62 riders and counting. That’s a new record!! Whether riders are just beginning their journey or learning to jump, Jen takes many things into consideration when creating a schedule to achieve the best results: rider availability, horse use, instructor availability, and more. We believe every rider should not only enjoy their time at Mane Stream, they should be reaching their goals and making connections.
Please take a moment to get to know both Gia and Kayla and then welcome them when you see them at the farm.
Gia-Raquel Esposito, Adaptive Riding Instructor
GIA-RAQUEL ESPOSITO
Gia-Raquel Esposito has loved horses since she was a young child. She owns Airs Above Yoga, LLC, and tailors her sessions to equestrians, and also focuses on injury rehabilitation. You will find Gia working as a real estate sales associate for Turpin Realtors in Oldwick. After becoming a Mane Stream volunteer in 2019, she was encouraged to start the process of becoming a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. This allows her to combine her passion for horses and her teaching experience as a Yoga instructor!
Having lived in Philadelphia, New York, and most recently Santa Monica, California, her heart has always remained where she was born and raised. Deciding to return home to Hunterdon County, New Jersey has allowed her to keep rooted in the land she loves while giving wings to her love of helping others all over the country.
Kayla Thau, Adaptive Riding Instructor
KAYLA THAU
Kayla Thau is a recent graduate of Centenary University with a degree in Equine Studies. She spent all four years working closely with their therapeutic program (Therapeutic Riding at Centenary or TRAC). She was also a member of the IHSA team, so it is pretty safe to say, Kayla spent all of her time at the barn. Before going off to college, Kayla volunteered at Mane Stream. It was here that her passion for instruction became apparent and she knew what she wanted to do “when she grew up”. Now that Kayla has completed her teaching hours and passed her video test, she only has one more step to become a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor…her written exam.
