Family Fun & Stiff Competition
Joseph O’Leary accepting the Abby Clay Rutgers High Point Independent Rider trophy.
The Annual Horse Show, a highlight and the most heartwarming event of the year, was extra special this year because of the record-breaking number of rider registrations, sponsorship checks, and donations poured in day after day. What better way to celebrate Mane Stream’s 50th Anniversary than adaptive riders spending an action-packed day of competition with family, friends, volunteers, staff, and our amazing horses?
Despite being overcast and a bit breezy, the parking lot filled up bright and early on October 23rd and didn’t empty out until almost 5pm. A bountiful breakfast spread donated by Jeanne Rogalin of Midtown Direct | Keller Williams was available to get the volunteers off on the right foot. The packed day was made even more special by the Family Fun Day activity table filled with fake tattoos, pumpkin crafts, and face painting all graciously provided and manned by the Checket Family.
And to make this year’s horse show feel even more like all the local horse shows we brought in Norma’s Food Truck! From breakfast sandwiches to a variety of lunch options, everyone enjoyed being able to grab a little something hot on a blustery day.
Once the dust had settled and the generous donations were tallied, a recording-breaking $14,000 was raised by 43 riders, 10 volunteers, and 17 sponsors!! The riders bringing in the largest amounts for Mane Stream were Mary Glaser - Adult, Joey & Stella Andreski - Youth, Blake & Colton Checket - Campers, and Tess Coffee - Volunteer.
Special thanks go out to our Judge, Andrea Davies (Dorito’s mom), who spent ALL day alone on the hill paying close attention to each and every rider as they competed. In addition to the ribbons awarded to each class, eight champion and reserve champion ribbons were also distributed by the tiny and tireless Hadleigh Hendrickson.
Winners Circle
Abby Clay Rutgers Memorial Award – Joseph O’Leary
Champion AM Adult – Danny Nerone
Reserve Champion AM Adult – Josh Ciccione
Champion AM Junior – Dylan Smith
Reserve Champion AM Junior – Stella Andreski
Champion PM Adult – Ben Burghardt
Reserve Champion PM Adult – David Santos
Champion PM Junior – Zoe Timko
Reserve Champion PM Junior – Myla Schultz
Additional thanks go out to our announcer Justin Hendrickson and all our photographers: Michelle Geise, who captured the day’s competitive events, while Michael Gaugler and Maggie Conroy captured all the smiles and hugs throughout the day. And finally, the Pumpkin Patch Photo Booth was set up by Jeanne and Roger Rogalin so that participants, their horses, and families had an opportunity to have pictures taken together. (tons more pictures still to come)
Our sincere thanks to everyone who made the day such a success!
Horse Show Volunteers
Cynthia Barkman, Tess Coffey, Nancy Cunningham, Anne Davenport, Suzanne Davies,
Aimee DiMeo-Fine, Laura Edelson, Lily Fosburgh, Pat Gaugler, Nancy Grossweiler,
Leroy Hunninghake, Gifty Jose, Karen Mikita-Kaufhold, Susan Mallows, Elaine Milano,
Janie Murphy, Mike Murphy, Nancy Poandl, Laura Senator, Emma Yarton, Mary Ellen Yen
