50 People for 50 Years: Volunteer, Stacy Megna in her own words…
Stacy Megna, heading Dart for a Speech-Language Pathology Session
I love horses and was always trying to find a way to work with them. Through a work colleague, I found out about SHHRC (now Mane Stream). So, I attended an orientation and I really liked what I heard so I became a volunteer and was a regular Wednesday night volunteer for many years.
I have so many great memories and met so many really wonderful people and of course horses. Some of the volunteers I met in my first couple of years are still good friends today. And there are so many horses who will always be unforgettable, Beyra, Minnie, Goldie, Dunkin, Sara, Justin, Dart, Annalise, Prince, are just a few of the ones I loved working with.
I became a volunteer because I wanted to work with horses but what turned out to be one of the most rewarding and fun experiences was working with the kids. I met little ones at 3 years old that I saw grow up and become strong young adults. It was amazing to be part of a team of instructors, therapists, volunteers, and horses that worked together to help kids with some of the most difficult challenges they had to face. Seeing the kids overcome challenges and improve each week was wonderful and we would have so much fun during the lessons. What I loved about volunteering at Mane Stream is that it felt like you were getting together with good friends each week while you made a difference in someone's life.
I had never long-lined [leading the horse from behind using long-lines during therapy sessions] before joining Mane Stream and I really loved doing that. One time when I was warming up one of the horses, getting ready for the session, she spooked at something and took off running. Remembering my training to always keep control of the horse, I held onto the long-lines trying to keep up with her and slow her down. Well, I was no match for her and I eventually lost my balance and had to let go which made her stop right away. I looked up to see my fellow volunteers with a look of concern on their faces as they asked if I was OK. I assured them I was fine and then they all busted out laughing. They said I looked like Superman flying in the air behind a horse as my feet left the ground. We still laugh about that today.
50 years is an incredible accomplishment! I’m glad I was a part of its history and I miss it.
