Meet Paige and Kathy

You may have seen these two women around the farm in the past year...but did you know…

Paige Ball - Saturday Riding Instructor & Camp Instructor

PAIGE BALL

Paige first came to Mane Stream as a high school volunteer where she assisted with adaptive riding and summer camp. She returned after graduating from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in Education (major: Special Education and Rehabilitation Emphasis). Currently, she is working as an ABA in-home therapist during the week, teaching adaptive riding lessons on Saturdays at Mane Stream and teaches at Summer Camp. She is also in the process of completing her PATH Intl. certification to become a Certified Therapeutic Riding instructor (CTRI). 

Paige was born and raised in NJ. She grew up on a farm in Warren, NJ, and has always enjoyed being around animals! Her passion for riding horses started when she was 2 years old, and she has been riding on and off for the past 23 years. She is excited to be back riding weekly now. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, spending time with friends, family, and her 1-year-old black lab named Beau. 

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Kathy Dermody - Camp Administrator & Riding Instructor

KATHY DERMODY

Kathy Dermody is a PATH Intl. Certified Registered Riding Instructor with over 20 years of experience teaching riders of ALL abilities and levels. After retiring from a local public school district where she was a 1:1 aide for students in special education classrooms, Kathy joined Mane Stream’s team as a riding instructor. She has also taken on the position of Camp Administrator where she organizes the incoming emails, phone calls, and mountains of paperwork to ensure that every camper has a wonderful camp experience.

Kathy lives in Hunterdon County, where she and her husband raised their family. She enjoys spending time riding, Leo, a horse she and her daughter, Jen share. She also has an adorable boxer named Olive and is known for making a pretty mean salad!

Remember to introduce yourself if you see them on the farm!

Challenged to Think Critically

An OTA Student’s Journey at Mane Stream

 “I want to thank all of the staff at Mane Stream for welcoming me into their family. They all provided such a strong support system and treated me not as a student but as one of them. What I have learned here is invaluable and will forever be appreciated. Thank you again for making my first fieldwork opportunity the best that it could be!”

- Carolyn

Did you know that Mane Stream is a clinical education site for occupational therapy programs in the tri-state area?! Students come for 8, 10, or 12 weeks to learn about occupational therapy and equine movement as a treatment tool. Our most recent OTA student Carolyn was with us for 8 weeks and boy did those weeks seemed to fly by for us at Mane Stream! Director of Therapy Services, Melanie Dominko-Richards, MS, CCC-SLP, HPCS relayed, “Carolyn was a pleasure to work with over the past 8 weeks. Having a fieldwork student who is also a CTRI (let alone a horse person!) was extremely beneficial and helpful. I am grateful for the time Carolyn spent with us as not only did she learn from us, but I also learned from her (for example, I sound like an owl when I ask "who" questions!).”

Carolyn’s fieldwork educator, Mane Stream OT, Gina Taylor, MS, OT, HPCS commented, “Carolyn came to Mane Stream on her first OTA fieldwork placement and gained skills that will improve her abilities to provide occupational therapy services to pediatric clients. A fieldwork site is a place to learn and grow from student to clinician and Mane Stream provided the grounds for Carolyn to help take that next step.”

CAROLYN’S STORY:

What did you learn?
There was so much to learn during this fieldwork and there is so much I still have to learn about occupational therapy and equine movement as a treatment tool! Even coming in with the background I have in adaptive horsemanship and occupational therapy, there was still so much to learn and each week Gina challenged me to think more critically by changing my perspective, adding another clinical piece to my sessions, or by exploring other ideas. Field work at Mane Stream showed me that there are so many pieces of the puzzle that come together which you cannot experience in a textbook or a mock treatment.

One thing that I learned that I could not have picked up in the school setting was about the dynamics of working with and transitioning through multiple environments. It's one thing to work in the clinic where the only factors are the tools in the clinic, the therapist, and the client. When utilizing equine movement, this dynamic is magnified. Although I work with horses and I was familiar with the input they provide to their riders in a therapeutic sense, I was never really educated on the various types of movement until Gina showed me. Gina taught me about footfalls and the vibration that travels to the client; how fast they are moving and how their speed propels the client and subconsciously encourages them to engage their muscles; how alternative positions can benefit different muscle groups and engages the sensory system in various ways; and how the body heat of the horse can also benefit the client. Additionally, you then also have all of the sensory of sights, sounds, and smells when you are working outside and the social aspect of interacting with multiple people all at once.

Carolyn didn’t just spend time with OT clients. She also enjoyed being able to observe other disciplines such as speech-language pathology and co-treat alongside Mel. She said, “there was so much to learn about and I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to see the extent of speech-language pathology. My observations and co-treat with speech-language pathology gave me a new perspective on the treatment they provide.”

When asked about working directly with the clients in therapy sessions Carolyn said, “I made connections with all of the kids! They were all so great, willing, and flexible to have a new friend to play with during their sessions.  I enjoyed getting to know each of them and planning fun sessions that benefit them in their therapy goals. Every moment was memorable as each of them was a learning opportunity, full of fun, laughter, and friendship, and every moment challenged me to become a more experienced practitioner.”

FINAL PROJECT

Mel provided the idea for my final project and I helped bring it to life. The idea was to continue to build an inclusive environment at Mane Stream by providing opportunities for people of all backgrounds to be able to experience the farm. On each stall there is a plaque with details of each horse with their name written in Braille. There is also a QR code for each horse that you can scan to see how to finger-spell their name in American Sign Language and then a demonstration of the sign we created for each of them. In the description of each video, you will also see the reasoning behind the sign we chose for them. These signs are also around the facility for different objects and rooms, and include how to say the object’s name in various languages.

Mel was thrilled with how Carolyn’s fieldwork project turned out from concept to completion and she wishes her all the best on the rest of her occupational therapy journey!

Stepping Out for America's Horses

Mane Stream, an EQUUS Foundation Guardian, is excited to be part of "Stepping Out for America's Horses". This campaign is designed to demonstrate your athletic prowess and philanthropic power to safeguard the comfort and dignity of America's horses throughout their lives.

How Many Steps Will You Take to Keep America's Horses Safe? Walk, Run, Ride, and Pledge your steps during the week of June 22-26 to support your favorite horse from among one of the participating EQUUS Foundation Guardian charities.

We hope you'll choose our ambassador Mane Stream horse…Minnie! Each stepper selects the Mane Stream horse and then 100% of the funds that the stepper raises goes to support that Mane Stream horse.

Early registration starts June 15th. Registration is open and free to all 2021 EQUUS Foundation #HorseProtectors and individuals who have made a donation to the EQUUS Foundation during our fiscal year which began on September 1, 2020. Click here to become a #HorseProtector.

Stepper registration link

So Long, Farewell

We’ll miss you RENE! With lots of smiles and laughter, we say farewell to Horses for Healing 2.0 rider, Rene, as she relocates to the Midwest. Rene started out with the program back in 2018. From spending time in the barn bonding and grooming our pony, Justin to getting hooked and joining the rest of the ladies for mounted weekly lessons, the progress Rene made is truly inspiring.

Rene recently said, "One of my regrets about moving is leaving H4H 2.0. It has made me so happy to be here...you are all exceptional at what you do!"

Thank you for the kind words Rene. We're going to miss seeing your smiling face and we hope you find a new barn family in your new location. And don't forget to visit when you are back in town!!

SO LONG DAPHNE: 22 years! That's how long Daphne has been part of the Mane Stream family. Anyone who sticks with a recreational sport for that long must really LOVE it. We've enjoyed seeing Daphne grow up and participate year after year but now it's time for a change as her family moves down south. We'll miss her smile, laughs, and her wonderful appreciation for her horse #GoodJobJoe.

Meet Juliette from RISE

RISE- Readiness for Individual Success in Employment

This fully-funded 4-week program is designed to assist young adults in transitioning from high school to adult life. RISE is a partnership between Abilities of Northwest Jersey Inc. and Employment Horizons.

Meet Juliette!

Juliette was already very familiar with horses when she arrived for her first morning of work at Mane Stream. She rode for a few years when she was young and even showed a couple times. She proudly told us she even remembers getting two 2nds and a 1st place ribbon. She loves animals and, after working at a dog shelter for a couple years, was excited to try training at Mane Stream. Although a little nervous at first, Juliette made connections with many of the herd and learned a lot about horse behavior. We won’t tell the others, but Juliette did say that Buzz was her favorite.

Juliette shared her thoughts about her month at Mane Stream: “Working at Mane Stream was definitely an adventure. Each of the horses had such huge personalities, each different from the rest. Each day you walk into the barn not knowing what fun thing is going to happen. One thing I will miss is seeing one of the horses, Buzz, in the stall being goofy or just hanging out, keeping me company. Another thing I will miss will be having a fun time with the horses while doing my tasks. Working with Barn Manager, Anna, was awesome and a good learning opportunity because she shows what tasks need to be done and how to do them. She also gives off big sister vibes and is always ready to joke around with while staying focused on the tasks that need to be done.”

While at Mane Stream Juliette and her job coach, Rachel, assisted Barn Manager, Anna, with a whole variety of tasks. They tackled everything from grooming and bathing to feeding and cleaning, and maintenance of all things horse-related. They even learned a little about field management - which involved spending time in the fields raking up old hay so that grass will grow evenly.

This was Anna’s first experience mentoring and she said, “Juliette was wonderful, and made great progress during her time at Mane Stream. She was very funny and lovely to be around. It feels good to share my craft with someone who is so interested!”

We send good wishes to Juliette on her next adventure! We also look forward to partnering again with Abilities of Northwest Jersey Inc.

‘Community in Connection’ Visits the Farm

Collaborations are a beautiful thing!

We are excited to be one component of Community In Crisis’ new program called ‘Community In Connection’. Each element has a different name and trips to Mane Stream are the “Horses for a Healthy Lifestyle.”

Ken Musgrove, CPRS, Director of Recovery Support with Community in Crisis, Bernardsville shared, “I wanted to let you know what a positive impact our visits have had on those that participated as well as the larger community. The ability to safely re-enter and interact in society is critical in reducing the harmful impacts of social isolation. The added benefits of grooming the horses and experiencing their soothing presence increase the value of the experience exponentially.”

The goal of ‘Community in Connection’ is to bring the recovery community together, in community with the larger community to improve everyone's overall mental well-being. Incredible partners such as you allow us to deliver on our mission and we are incredibly grateful to work with you.

Ken also stated in the recent Bernardsville Times article, “Community is the cure. Perhaps not a specific, measurable scientific cure, but an antidote to the negative consequences of isolation exacerbated by addiction and the pandemic.”

So far the group has visited the farm twice and we hope to have them back soon!

Know of a community group interested in a field trip to Mane Stream? Check it out!

We’ve ‘Herd’ the Appreciation…Have You?

By: Rebecca Jablonksi, Volunteer Coordinator

What a month!

We had a great turnout to celebrate our volunteers by sponsoring a horse or a pony for our “Herd of Appreciation.” Each horse or pony donated is a symbol of the appreciation the Mane Stream community has for our volunteers. From individual volunteers to the groups of volunteers who are dedicated to their programs, such as the therapy volunteers, adaptive riding volunteers, and the group of volunteers who come in for special visits like the Girl Scouts, our volunteers make it all happen. Without all of their hard work and commitment to each of our programs, we wouldn’t be able to provide the level of care to our participants that we do because of our volunteers.

Because a celebration isn’t a celebration without treats, we gifted our program volunteers with yummy cookies and chocolates as well as practical gifts of face masks and hand sanitizers, making sure everyone remains safe and healthy through this pandemic. We couldn’t be more grateful for each person who has offered their time and service over this past year. With all the changes we have gone through regarding our programs, each volunteer has taken it in stride. The patience, understanding, and flexibility each volunteer has given us has been invaluable as we navigate these unprecedented times.

We’ve been fortunate to have our regular Saturday Volunteers not only return for their spots but also make time during the week to fill in for other spots where we need them. Quite a few of our tried and true volunteers have taken on multiple days of commitments, understanding that there are people who are waiting until the vaccine is more widely available. This type of dedication to our program is what we love most about our volunteers, when things change at a moment's notice they are always willing to step up for our participants.. We recognize these times have been unpredictable and navigating the ever-changing rules and guidelines can seem daunting at times, but the people who come to Mane Stream never falter in their perseverance. Being able to recognize everyone for their love of our organization has been a blessing.

Open House Brings NEW Participants

Spring has definitely sprung and even though the weather was more lion than lamb on Saturday, April 10th, a consistent line of families came to tour the facility, pet the horses, and find out how programs at Mane Stream can benefit children and adults with special needs.

Director of Therapy Services, Melanie Dominko-Richards, MS, CCC-SLP, HPCS was on-site answering questions along with the Head Instructor for our Adaptive Riding program, Jen Dermody.

After talking to Mel and Jen, quite a few of the families left with registration packets in hand, determined to start riding lessons or OT, PT or SLP sessions. Later this spring Katrina Low-Beer, PT, DPT will return to Mane Stream to treat clients on Thursdays.

Let us not forget the few who stopped by because our VOLUNTEERS NEEDED sign is back up! Summer Camp is just around the corner and each day during the 11 WEEKS (that’s right 11 weeks!) of camp we will need 5-6 volunteers to assist campers during grooming, tacking, and riding lessons (M-F 8:15am-12:30pm). We are also in need of volunteers with horse experience to help with our programs during the week.

Anyone who didn’t get the chance to swing by the farm can always call 908.439.9636 and talk with either Mel or Jen about current availabilities or contact them directly via email.

THERAPY: Melanie Dominko-Richards, MS, CCC-SLP, HPCS (melanie@manestreamnj.org)
RIDING: Jen Dermody, Head Riding Instructor (jen@manestreamnj.org)

Learning a Thing Or Two About Wine

Virtual Wine Tasting by Tewksbury Fine and Spirits

Whether it was a group of friends gathered around a fire pit, couples lounging in their living room, or coworkers around the conference table all the attendees agree that the 5 FULCRUM wines were divine.

On April 22nd, via Zoom, Founder and Winemaker, David Rossi of Fulcrum Wines imparted his wealth of knowledge, without any pretensions, and mixed in a few tales of his winemaking journey which started in NJ. Before you knew it 90 minutes had flown by as David kept the attendees engaged and answered everyone’s questions.

If you didn’t get to attend this event you can always purchase the wines from Tewksbury Fine Wine and Spirits. Just remember to mention Mane Stream!

Thanks to Tewksbury Fine Wine and Spirits for setting the whole event up and making sure 15% of all proceeds will be donated to Mane Stream!

TECH SHEETS FOR THE 5 FULCRUM WINES

2019 FULCRUM DRY GEWURZTRAMINER
2019 CLOISONNE CHARDONNAY
2019 ON POINT PINOT NOIR
2019 BROSSEAU PINOT NOIR
2019 FULCRUM PINOT NOIR

New OTA Student at the Farm

8 Weeks of Clinical Fieldwork Studies

Please welcome our new Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) clinical fieldwork student, Carolyn Beisiegel from Eastwick College! She will be with us for the next 8 weeks working 4 days a week at the farm and 1 day remotely. We know some of you are used to seeing fieldwork students at Mane Stream but Carolyn is pretty special.

Carolyn comes to us with a ton of industry experience already. She has been a PATH Intl. Certified Riding Instructor for the past 7 years and is an avid dressage rider. She has been working at Winslow Therapeutic Center in Warwick, NY for the past 2 years and was previously a volunteer there for 3 years. She has also worked at other adaptive riding and therapeutic centers in both Colorado and Florida. Like a lot of non-profit employees, she does a bit of multitasking. In addition to teaching lessons, she is also the marketing, events, and fundraising assistant. And for the past year she has taken on the Volunteer Coordinator position.

So when you see Carolyn around the barn please welcome her and take a few minutes to ask how she's enjoying her time at Mane Stream.

Share the news that Mane Stream is a Clinical Fieldwork Education Site. Read More