Mane Stream’s Horse Whisperer

50 People for 50 Years: Dan O’Donnell, Volunteer

Mane Stream’s very own horse whisperer, Dan O’Donnell, training Peanut to long-line.

For over thirty-five years, Dan O’Donnell has been riding horses and enjoying the Tewksbury Trails. It was through his riding that he became aware of Mane Stream and the many volunteer opportunities available here. Once retirement was in sight, Dan thought, “It would be a great opportunity to do something good while satisfying my desire to be around horses.” Looking back, he remembers all the sweeping he did in his first year. Now a seasoned volunteer, in addition to his weekly volunteering spots, Dan schools (trains) many of the horses and ponies to maximize their performance and minimize their stress levels during lessons and therapy sessions.  

Rebecca Jablonski, former Volunteer Coordinator, says “Dan has volunteered for nine years and has over well over 1,000 hours of service. He is a one-of-a-kind ‘horse whisperer’ and has even taught our staff a thing or two! Watching him school the horses is always a treat to see and being able to witness such an experienced equestrian working with our program is a gift. When Dan is at the farm he never fails to brighten the day.”   

Over the years, Dan has seen the enormous good the organization has provided to those in need. “I have been impressed by almost everyone I have worked with at Mane Stream. From the volunteers, therapists, instructors, participants and staff in one way or another and they have all demonstrated a high level of professionalism, dedication, and caring, day after day and year after year.”  

And finally, this article wouldn’t be complete without a special note by Melanie Dominko-Richards, MS, CCC-SLP, HPCS, Director of Therapy Services, “Dan’s unique horsemanship background, equine training, and horse handling skills are an incredible asset to Mane Stream. He consistently keeps the therapy herd in shape which provides a quality experience for our clients.”

Thank you Dan!

My Heart is Full with All the Memories

After years of volunteering with Mane Stream “A-Team Terri doesn’t need instruction, she picks up what the therapists are puttin’ down!” Melanie Dominko-Richards MS, CCC-SLP, HPCS, Director of Therapy Services.

50 People for 50 Years: Terri Andrechick, Volunteer

Written by: Terri Andrechick

I got involved with Mane Stream back when it was Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center (SHHRC) back in 2002. It was my love of horses and helping others that drew me to Mane Stream. My thought was if I could give a parent 1 hour to just sit and have a cup of coffee or an hour of silence to read a book, why shouldn’t I?! My children were grown and I had some available time so I looked up volunteer opportunities and found Mane Stream and it sounded like something I could do. 

My first meeting was with Carol, the volunteer coordinator at the time. We [prospective volunteers] all met in a large room and she went over everything from how Mane Stream began, their purpose and it all sounded great. I started slowly by coming once a week usually on a Saturday and began getting comfortable with the horses as well as the participants and instructors. My favorite instructors were Kathy Brennan and Gloria (don’t recall her last name), we all had such great fun. I remember the classes were sometimes crowded with 3 or 4 riders at a time but somehow, they always figured out how to make it work, like playing Stop and Go, or matching the little horse pictures with the large pictures on the wall. The games were meant to encourage the clients to listen and find things plus they learned how to control the horse, although hopefully, they didn’t notice we were guiding them. 

I’ve been at Mane Stream so long that I’ve seen Mel (Melanie Dominko-Richards) become a beautiful, enthusiast, wonderful, excellent therapist [speech-language pathologist] from a high school volunteer. So, she has a special place in my heart for her hard work and dedication.

Over the years, horses have come and gone, instructors have been joined by therapists, and the time with the riders and clients is spent focused on their individual abilities and how to challenge that ability to the next level rather than grouping like abilities into one class. 

My favorite part of being a volunteer for so many years is having had the opportunity to watch the riders and clients grow and achieve levels no one thought they could. I’ve seen a young adult that had little to no core strength after several months start to sit up, which his mother never thought would ever happen. I’ve seen some clients come in who were non-verbal and over time start saying “go” or “stop” and eventually “walk-on”.

My absolute favorite memory has to be one time when we walked outside thru the woods out past the cornfield. We kept telling the rider to “duck” to avoid the over-hanging branches. After about the third or fourth time the young man was laughing hysterically so we stopped to see if he was okay. His response made my heart happy – he said “no one has ever asked me to duck and I’ve never been able to walk thru woods after a rain in the mud before”. You see this client was a wheelchair user and to see the huge smile on his face and to see it from his perspective made tromping around the mud all the sweeter. I’ve seen smiles on riders that just light up their face when they trot and then there are those who are so excited because they found the hidden object all by themselves. 

I’ve been blessed to have worked with many instructors and therapists and now that I’m retired I have more time to enjoy this blessing. I’ve made some amazing friends and enjoy catching up with them and hearing how their families have grown, plus I get to see impressive goals being reached by clients year after year. 

There are so many memories, I’ve forgotten more than I remember. I only hope I’ll be physically able to continue volunteering for a few more years but, when I have to stop, my heart will be full with all the memories of the people who volunteer there as well as the riders and clients I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years.

Welcome the NEW Volunteer Coordination Team

Marianne Scharf, Volunteer Assistant and Emily De Jong, Volunteer Coordinator

We are excited to welcome our new volunteer team! As many know Emily joined Mane Stream in the early fall as a weekend Barn Assistant. In addition to being in the office Tuesday thru Friday, she will retain her Barn Assistant responsibilities on Friday afternoons and Saturdays. Marianne has been volunteering with Mane Stream for the past 4 months and will be assisting in the office on Mondays and during volunteer training sessions.

Please note that they will share the volunteer@manestreamnj.org email and the Google Voice number so communication will remain the same. We are confident that Emily and Marianne will quickly become the dream team and hope that you will be able to meet them next time you are at Mane Stream.

Thank You #GivingTuesday2021 Donors!

The Mane Stream Leprechauns are lucky to have donors like YOU!

You may remember these two as Farmer Felix & Cowgirl Kelly from last year's #GivingTuesday campaign. That single-day campaign raised $5.6K for hay and round bale holders. Well, it took a while but we did finally find TWO new round bale holders. Minnie also got into the St. Paddy's Day spirit and wanted to help thank you too.

#GivingTuesday2021 Donors

Cynthia Barkman, Larry Berlin, Christine Brenner, Barbara Burke, Charlotte Clarke, Catherine Coloff, Maggie Conroy, Suzanne Davies, Gillian Deschamps, Mary Dickey, John Dickey, Laura Edelson, Arden Epstein, Liam Fitzpatrick, Amy Gimbel, Barbara Goodson, Tamela Griffin, Nina Higgins, Maria Holt, Rachel Howell, Kathy Kapiloff, Karen Kaufhold, Tama Lama, Victoria Leone, Eugenia Macchia, Elaine Milano, Kathy Mosquera, Kevin Murphy, Susan Oldroyd, Katharine Page, Tammy Paolino, Jason Pintar, Meredith Prescott, Jeanne Rogalin, Piper Rotolo, Barrie Saltzman, Eleanor Shanley, Rene Slater, Timothy Smith, Stacey Staub, Andrea Stepnosky, Julie Strain, Tami Swartz, Alex Taylor, Mary Ellen Yen, Maryann Zeira

Embracing all of the Opportunities and Possibilities

50 People for 50 Years: Victoria Ponte, Adaptive Rider

Victoria Ponte at the 2015 Horse Show

Embracing all of the opportunities and possibilities that Mane Stream has to offer, Victoria Ponte has been part of the Mane Stream community for the past 22 years. A debilitating stroke, in her sixth month of pregnancy, upended Victoria’s life. Previously extremely active, she realized she would not be able to do some of the things she once did. Through various meetings and appointments, adaptive riding was suggested to Victoria. With little knowledge of what it was, Victoria discovered Mane Stream. Tentative at first with a combination of both fear and excitement, Victoria began a long road to recovery. Over the years, small steps turned into a fast trot, and Victoria won her first horse show in 2014, with the highest score as an individual rider. Through perseverance, time, and hard work, Victoria slowly gained confidence to become an independent rider.

Experiencing both adaptive riding and physical therapy on a horse, Victoria thinks that therapy is much more difficult and challenging than adaptive riding. She explains, “I started with adaptive riding in 2000, and did not try Mane Stream’s therapy services until about 3 years ago. It was a hard transition because therapy is done with no saddle, stirrups or reins, all of which I was accustomed to using in adaptive riding for many years. It was more work to stay on the horse using my core muscles to control where my body was going.”

She participates in Mane Stream’s Annual Horse Show yearly to demonstrate to her family just how much she has accomplished and progressed with her riding skills. Jen Dermody, an Advanced CTRI and Victoria’s long-time instructor states, “I admire Victoria’s resilience and determination as she continually strives for excellence.”

Although all of the horses are special at Mane Stream, Victoria’s favorite is Tink. She continues, “The facility is beautiful, and with all of the horses I have ridden, they have all been perfect for me. I really appreciate the efforts of the volunteers without whom I could not participate in the program. I really love Mane Stream.” Victoria’s commitment and fidelity to the programs offered at Mane Stream is evident. She attributes her success to the many instructors and volunteers who give their time in working with and helping others. Victoria has a favorite thought about her instructor, “Jen is a brilliant juggler with many different skills and abilities, she expects me to ride as if I don’t have a disability.”

With Victoria’s long relationship with Mane Stream and her love of riding, she says, “Mane Stream has provided a fun, safe, way for me to enjoy strenuous exercise as a disabled person. It has been a social outlet for me as well.” 

I Remember When She Spoke Her First Words

50 People for 50 Years: Jill Thomas

Jill Thomas’ love of horses and children brought her to Mane Stream in the early 1990’s. As a new volunteer, she helped with riding lessons and summer camp. Jill became more involved in the business side of Mane Stream, co-chairing a number of fund-raising events with Shelia Tweedie. In 2002, they ran the Blue Ribbon Gala which raised funds for the “new” indoor arena. Jill was an integral part in the demolition and renovations at Mane Stream’s current location. She remembers, “My husband, Mike was also happy to be involved when he could, helping with the building of the indoor arena and offices.”

Jill served for 5 years as a Board Member, including terms on the Executive Board, and attended several PATH regional seminars over the years. Wearing a few different hats, Jill was also the volunteer liaison, making sure the program ran smoothly.

For Jill, the “VERY BEST” part of belonging to an organization like Mane Stream was seeing the participants thrive, learn and be happy. “I remember, one little girl spoke her first words ever while on one of the horses.”

Over the years, Jill became fast friends with many of the volunteers and instructors (she listed MANY!) In Jill’s words, “We were a rowdy, happy bunch.” So much so that after volunteer shifts, they would gather at local restaurants for dinner. On one occasion, Jill found herself sitting at the bar speaking with the gentleman next to her, sharing with him the mission of Mane Stream and how so many children had been helped. Before she knew it, the gentleman took out his checkbook and wrote a generous check! Little did Jill know that the man sitting next to her was actor James Gandolfini from The Sopranos, who had been filming at nearby Hacklebarney State Park.

We asked former Volunteer Coordinator, Carol Ferris, what she remembers most about Jill. She was quick to respond with “I was always impressed by her kind, caring & brave nature. I used to call her Jilly Bean, which always made her laugh. I was a volunteer when I first met her, and remember how patient and understanding she was with everyone she worked with, riders & volunteers alike. I remember being about 5 months pregnant and volunteering with her on a trail ride, and she was so concerned for me. I think she was quite relieved when we all made it back to the barn safe & sound! Jilly Bean was a huge asset to SHHRC, and played a big part in making me and many others want to become more & more involved with the program.”

One of Jill’s fondest memories involves a barn cat named Callie. One day Jill saw Callie limping around the office so she took Callie home for a few days for a little extra care. Jill remarked that those in the office knew they would never see Callie around the barn again because the cat would become part of Jill’s family. And in fact, Callie did become part of the family and moved to South Carolina with Jill and Mike in 2003.  

After moving south, Jill traded horses for turtles. Eager to help the local turtle population, she is now a certified volunteer working with a local turtle rescue. She finds and helps move turtle nests (mostly loggerheads). Jill still keeps in touch with some of her old volunteer buddies and follows along with all that goes on at Mane Stream via social media. Jill summed up her thoughts with, “Some of the best years were spent with SHHRC [Mane Stream] and with such wonderful people.”

From Trail Rides to Galas, Martha Enjoyed All That’s Offered

Marth Carrellas competing in the 2006 Horse Show

50 People for 50 Years: Martha Carrellas

Martha joined Mane Stream’s adaptive riding program in 2000, when we were known as Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center. From day one, Martha was dedicated to being the best rider she could be. At that time Octavia Brown was still involved, Karen Bocksel was the Executive Director and Kathy Brennan was the Head Instructor. Martha remembers, “The new barn and indoor arena had just been completed. The outdoor ring was just a track in a field below where the current ring is now. In the early days, trail rides were always a favorite especially in the fall when the leaves were changing colors. Ride-a-thons were a means of fundraising back then, bringing together friends and the community.”

For Martha, Mane Stream provided the opportunity to return to an activity that she had loved for years, horseback riding. Due to her disability, Martha thought that riding was out of reach for her. At Mane Stream she found a wonderful place to meet new friends, riders, volunteers and staff. Martha’s dedication and perseverance to become the best rider she could be paid off through the years, achieving top honors (the Abby Clay Rutgers Memorial Award -High Point Independent Rider) at the Annual Horse Shows in 2009, 2011, and 2013!

Although a skiing accident in 2014 a skiing accident interrupted Martha’s riding schedule she returned to Mane Stream in 2020 she came back for physical therapy.

Over the years Martha has ridden many different horses, most of whom have been retired. Her first horse was Sweetie followed by Rocket, Dart, and Hat, but her favorite of all was Anneliese. She was one of the first Fjord horses at Mane Stream. Martha reflects, “Anneliese and I were a team, she was a great worker and we had fun doing dressage patterns in class and at horse shows.”

Martha watched SHHRC grow over time to evolve into Mane Stream today - she was part of the drill team for the ribbon cutting ceremony of the current facility. Always a part of the Mane Stream community, Martha and her husband Steve have attended many fundraisers over the years. Martha sends “Congratulations on the first 50 years, may the next 50 be just as bright.”

It Started with a Knock on the Window

An Interview with Sheila Tweedie

“I was sitting in my car, reading my book and waiting for Craig [Sheila’s son] to finish his volunteer shift when Octavia [Brown] came right up to my car and knocked on the window.” And that’s how Sheila Tweedie, Trustee Emeritus, started her 50-year relationship with Mane Stream. It was 1972 and Sheila’s son needed volunteer hours for high school. He had grown up riding horses and when he heard about Octavia’s fledgling program he thought it might be fun.

Sheila smiled and then chuckled as she recently retold the story of how she came to Mane Stream (previously named Somerset Hills Handicapped Riders Club). “Craig had told Octavia that I was a pediatric nurse and an equestrian and she needed help so I was drafted to be a substitute sidewalker. The next week Octavia sent my son out to ask for help again.”   With another chuckle, Sheila continued, “When winter came and lessons ended until spring, Octavia told us (Sandy Dota, Judy Marpet, and Natalie Gallagher) that we needed to become official instructors before riding lessons started back up in the spring. So we spent the next 8 weeks at Octavia’s kitchen table learning all the NARHA [predecessor to PATH Intl.]  materials.”

We asked Sheila about her favorite early memories of Mane Stream and she immediately spoke about the one-week summer program that SHHRC offered at the Hunterdon Developmental Center near Clinton, NJ. Her ever-present smile this time was accompanied by a little shake of her head, “Each summer we would trailer over 2 horses (one named Fast Eddie, there’s at least a handful of stories about this big guy) and we would give 20-minute rides for 3 hours, RIGHT ALONG Route 78!! There was a groundhog den underneath the mounting area, which also made things interesting. The whole setup was rustic but extremely rewarding! We were told by the caregivers and nurses that the residents were more aware and brighter in spirit after these short rides. And these benefits lasted for more than just the day. After providing this summer service for five years the school was finally able to arrange transportation for their residents to attend weekly lessons at the SHHRC facility.”

Sheila remained an important part of Mane Stream’s growth over the years. A long-time instructor, she joined the Board of Directors in 1998 and over the years she held every officer position including President. She remained an active Board member until 2014 and now serves as Trustee Emeritus. In addition to giving generously of her time, Sheila and her husband John, also supported Mane Stream through their generous donations over the years, helping to literally build the organization into what it is today. Sheila co-chaired many fundraising events over the years, helping to raise much-needed funds and spread the word about Mane Stream’s programs.

In 1994, having outgrown its space, Mane Stream purchased our current home, a 12-acre farm in Oldwick. Sheila was part of the capital campaign to fund the new facility as well as a key part of the crew who helped to bring it to life. She, along with many other staff and Board members, picked up paintbrushes and hammers to help create the facility. As she says, it was a labor of love knowing that at the new farm the organization would be able to serve more participants. 

While Sheila was sharing her talents at Mane Stream, she has also been active in the Far Hills town government. She is a long time member of the Far Hills Town Council, and currently serves on both the Planning Board and the Board of Health. In addition, she is a Past President of HRH of NJ (Health and Recreation through Horses of New Jersey) and the current Secretary and one of the founders of the National Fjord Horse Rescue Network. Sheila fell in love with Fjords through her work at Mane Stream and in addition to the Rescue Network, she breeds Fjords at her farm in Far Hills. 

Proving that you never know where you will be when your passion finds you, Sheila has been instrumental in shaping Mane Stream from the very beginning. Her strong belief in our mission, to improve quality of life for children and adults with special needs, has guided her work with Mane Stream for fifty years and we are very lucky that she agreed to help when asked all those years ago.      

Getting Off the Sidelines and...

…Learning to Trust Myself

Tracy Cole, Mane Stream’s first rider (1972)

I started riding with Somerset Hills Handicapped Riders Club (SHHRC) in 1972 when I was 7 years old, and I have been riding ever since. It all started when I was asked by a doctor at Easter Seals if I wanted to learn to swim or learn to ride. I had wanted a pony for as long as I could remember, so the choice was obvious. It was the best choice I ever made.

By learning to ride, I became part of a team, with the horse as my other team member. This is important, because before riding I spent most of my time on the sidelines watching other people be part of a team. Riding gave me a chance to do things I could not do on my own two feet. Once that happened, a whole new world opened up for me.

At SHHRC I learned to walk, trot, canter, and jump a very low cross rail. While learning these skills, I went on some wonderful trail rides through the countryside and discovered how much fun it could be to gallop up the hill and wait for everyone else to catch up with me for a change. (If you walk slowly and are always trying to keep up with others, let me tell you, that kind of gallop is quite a rush! Dart and I did it as often as possible by his choice, not mine. I just told him to pick his own pace. Boy, am I glad he liked the rush too!)

I also learned about competition at SHHRC. I competed in the club shows, in-state shows, a national show, and an international show. During this time, I won some, I lost more, and I learned a lot. One of the things I learned was that after you have been there done that and got that T-shirt (hopefully with no grass stains!) it is better to stop competing to win and just compete to learn something either for yourself or for your horse. Then, when you are done competing it is good to pass on what you learned to other riders by either coaching or judging.

Finally, and probably the most important thing I learned from SHHRC, is that if I trust myself, I can make a lot happen. I learned to drive so I could get to my lessons, I got a job so I could pay for my lessons. I started travelling and wound up telling a lot of different people about how good riding is for me. I moved to my own place. Then finally, I did what I thought was at one time impossible. I became an instructor and now I teach others to ride so they can see how great the world can be.

I started riding when I was 7 years old in 1972 at SHHRC, and now, 50 years later, I am still riding, I am teaching, and I am mentoring instructors in training. What more can you ask for when you are doing something you love?

Welcome Patty!

PATTY WALTER,
Development and Communications Assistant

Patricia (Patty) Walter has joined the team as our Development & Communications Assistant. With years of fundraising and marketing experience, Patty was able to jump right in during the busiest time of the year (Fall 2021), making us extremely lucky to find her when we did.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Patty has held various artistic jobs including as an interior designer, retail buyer, magazine editor, and design director for Bloomingdales. She then switched gears when she moved to Dallas, and started working within private education serving as an Admissions Director at a pre-k-12 private school. Twenty-five years later, Patty returned to the northeast to be closer to family. Continuing in the private education sector, Patty worked as an Alumnae Director at an all-girls private high school in NJ, creating events, fundraisers, activities, and planning the alumnae magazine. 

Looking for a change of pace and easier commute, Patty found Mane Stream! Now she has the time to spend with her family or taking care of her small farm in Lebanon with her husband, looking after their chickens, ducks, and bee hives.

If you happen to stop by the farm before 3pm peek your head into the office to welcome Patty to the team.