Emma & Julia Share More Than Just the Love of Horses
A pre-med college student who also volunteers with the Tewksbury First Aid and Rescue Squad, Emma Yarton has been a dedicated volunteer since April 2018 with almost 600 hours accumulated so far. Emma found out about Mane Stream from her aunt who volunteered at Mane Stream over 20 years ago. She also said as many do, “I have driven past the barn hundreds of times and I knew I wanted to volunteer at Mane Stream because it combines two of my favorite things: horses and helping people.” After hearing how great volunteering was for her sister, in 2020 Julia turned 14 years old and quickly joined the team so that she could give back to the community too.
Not many teens continue to volunteer when they move on to college, which we totally understand. So, we are truly grateful that Emma continues to take on volunteer shifts when she has time. She loves coming and meeting many new friends and fabulous horses, while helping people enjoy horseback riding keeps her coming back. “I have lost count of the number of amazing volunteers and staff I have met at Mane Stream, they are all so passionate and excited to be there. I also love how many volunteer options are offered at Mane Stream, because I can personalize my volunteer experience.”
Julia said that her favorite part of being a volunteer is watching the riders progress over the years. “It makes me smile knowing that I helped someone grow and learn. The riders learn so much from their lessons and being part of that is an honor.”
Both young women agree that summer camp and helping out with Girl Scouts are their favorite Mane Stream shifts. Julia enjoys spending a big part of the day at the barn helping with the riders and horses during summer camp. She feels like the Camp Staff do a good job switching everything up so there are always new activities for the campers to do. Emma echoes her sister’s sentiments saying, “There is always something new, whether it be games, activities, or horses, I always look forward to coming to camp. Getting to see how campers have grown as riders over the years and teaching new riders the basics of horseback riding is so much fun. I love Girl Scouts for similar reasons. I like meeting the different Girl Scout troops, some are local and others are farther away. When it comes to campers and Girl Scouts, some of the riders have never ridden before and some have, it is a nice mix.”
When it comes to the horses everyone has a favorite. Julia loves Buzz! He has been around since she started volunteering and she even rode him in the 2021 Horse Show. “He is such a great horse and is wonderful with all the riders and campers.” Emma loves Dorito and was sad to hear he retired, but happy he is now living the life he deserves! “Dorito was so versatile. He did camp, adaptive, and Girl Scouts. He was a saint, he never made a fuss and was well-mannered. He loved providing piggyback rides to tiny kids but also was superb for cantering with adults. When I rode as a camper one year he truly took care of me. He had no issue when it came to cantering and was so gentle. With the Girl Scouts, he liked to show off, he posed for pictures and stood like a puppy dog in the center of the arena, which really impressed people. He took care of every rider, he knew when to trot slow or be goofy! You could paint him, deck him out in sparkles, and tie bandanas to him and he just didn't care.”
Finally, Emma and Julia expressed their strong bond through their shared love for horses. They have been riding together for eleven years and find joy in volunteering at Mane Stream. Julia highlighted the significance of sharing a passion with her sister, emphasizing how it strengthens their bond while allowing them to give back to their community collectively.
Thank you Emma and Julia we truly appreciate your continued support.
