Finding Our First Riders

50 People for 50 Years: Naomi Lorch, Retired Physical Therapist with Easterseals

Naomi correcting a rider’s hand position while back riding (style of riding that has since been discontinued). 

In 1972, Naomi Lorch was working as a physical therapist at the Easterseal Center in Morris Plains, NJ. Octavia Brown, founder of Somerset Hills Handicapped Riders Club (now Mane Stream), was seeking potential riders who could benefit from her new riding program. They connected, and Naomi helped recruit children who came to the Easterseal Center for therapy and were interested in adaptive (therapeutic) riding. Octavia shared, “Naomi as a PT immediately understood the potential benefits for the clients she was seeing in traditional therapy – and while “hippotherapy” hadn’t been thought of back then - she was able to give wonderful advice and insight into how each person could benefit from therapeutic riding.”

Naomi recalls, “Once the classes started, I participated in one of them on a weekly basis. I was able to offer guidance as to the most independent way a child could mount and ride, how sitting positions could be improved, etc.” Naomi’s support meant Octavia did not have to seek for riders to join the program for the first couple of years. “When we moved the program to Crossroads Farm in 1975, we could expand our clientele even further.”

In 1974 Naomi moved out of town, but continued on Mane Stream’s Board of Directors and attended some of the riding competitions. For Naomi, the best part of being involved with Mane Stream was witnessing the positive reactions from the riders. She remembers one rider had his own horse for a period of time, and another rider became a riding instructor and still rides and teaches fifty years later (Tracy Cole). “When Octavia and I discussed mutual memories about Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center (Mane Stream), she mentioned to me that both of these riders went on to compete internationally. Tracy is a judge for therapeutic riding shows and is a mentor to instructors in training.”  

Octavia and Naomi have so many memories of those early years and one that stands out is when they had a public demonstration of the program that was the catalyst for Octavia to develop an instructor training class at her farm. Naomi remembers, “this occurred even before there was a North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (now PATH Intl.) certification program!”

Thank you, Naomi, for your key role in the creation of Mane Stream!

Horse Shows Fuel My Competitive Fire

50 People for 50 Years: Silvia Marchetti, former Mane Stream Adaptive Rider

Silvia Marchetti’s grandfather, a mounted police officer, felt therapeutic (adaptive) riding would benefit Silvia when she was quite young. Silvia shares, “When I first started riding we lived in Maplewood, NJ and I rode at Rocking-Horse Rehab in West Orange. But when we moved to Basking Ridge my mom found Mane Stream. We had to wait a few months for an opening in the Occupational Therapy schedule and I am so glad when an opening came up.”

Silvia started out as a therapy client, and over time she transitioned to the adaptive riding program. She credits Head Riding Instructor, Jen Dermody, with her progress. “Jen always did a very great job with me. She was ALWAYS pushing me and she was always hard to please so I knew when she praised me I had earned it.” 

Having participated in both the therapy and adaptive programs, Silvia’s favorite time was being with great people and amazing horses. And speaking of amazing horses it was all about Buzz for Silvia. “It’s Buzz. He’s my Buzzard. He was a little stubborn most of the time, but he always took great care of me. From learning to canter to jumping for the first time ever, riding Buzz has given me the confidence to go looking for the perfect horse of my own.”

What was most challenging for Silvia was learning how to canter and jump. She started with a stirrup leather around the horse’s neck to hold on to but is now jumping verticals at the canter. And with her advanced skill level, Silvia began to compete in the Mane Stream Horse Shows. “At the 2016 Mane Stream Horse Show I won the Abby Clay Memorial Award for Highest Independent Point Rider. I competed in every Mane Stream Horse Show from 2015 until we moved to Auburn, Alabama in 2021. I have come in first a couple of times, second three times, and third once.” Silvia adds, “I compete in horse shows because it fuels my competitive fire and gets me to work ten times harder.”

Now living and riding in Alabama, Silvia recalls one of her favorite memories at Mane Stream “My favorite memory was my time riding Dorito at the BOOT SCOOTIN' BBQ in 2017. I was so nervous because it was my first time riding in front of a big audience but it ended up being one of the best times of my entire life.” 

Silvia was also a summer camper beginning at age nine through fifteen. Her favorite camp activity was… WATER DAY!!! “We would always play these SUPER FUN games involving water. Whether it was a water race on horseback where the goal was to fill your team’s bucket or chucking water at each other to cool off.” 

For Silvia, Mane Stream helped her gain confidence as a rider and helped her realize her dream of someday riding in a TV show or movie (think Heartland). “My time at Mane Stream was some of the best times of my life. I made great friends with the volunteers and (mostly) the horses, and had a lifetime of fun filled with memories that I wouldn’t give up for the world.”

We miss your smiling face and fierce competitive nature!

The Path to a Rewarding Career

50 People for 50 Years: Sheri Marino, Speech-Language Pathologist

Sheri grew up in Sussex County where all of her friends had horses. She and her friends would ride horses throughout the woods with no saddle or bridles. “Just holding onto the mane,” she recalls. Sheri chose to become a speech-language pathologist because, “The degree didn’t require math classes,” but also because when she was young, she enjoyed learning about Helen Keller and how she communicated.

At some point in high school, Sheri took an aptitude test, but didn’t remember the results. Sheri attended Rutgers University and knew she wanted to work with children but wasn’t interested in being a teacher. During a visit home, she was going through papers and came across a long-forgotten aptitude test she had taken in high school. The results provided a direction for Sheri, speech-language pathologist.

Sheri got involved with Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center (now Mane Stream) in the early 1990’s. She was working with a private client whose mom encouraged her to use a pony in her son’s session after he spoke a few sounds during a pony ride at a birthday party. She did some research and discovered Mane Stream’s founder, Octavia Brown’s program. Sheri began using one of Octavia’s horses during sessions with her client. The first two times that she put the client on the horse, the client fell asleep. When Sheri talked to Octavia about this, she suggested putting the client on a different horse that had a different type of movement. In the next session, the client was producing sounds that Sheri had never heard before. This led to more sounds, words, and sentences. For Sheri, figuring out how to use equine movement in treatment was most challenging. “There were not many therapists utilizing hippotherapy (using the movement of the horse to provide sensory and motor input) at the time. The only other speech-language pathologist was Ruth Dismuke-Blakely, MS/CCC-SLP in New Mexico. It was a lot of trial and error!”

Sheri was with Mane Stream for 8 years, from 1992-2000, providing speech-language pathology services to many clients, all while conducting therapy sessions outdoors (even in the winter and summer months) since the property did not have an indoor area. Building the current facility was a way to increase ring time to meet the needs of all the clients who wanted to include equine movement into their treatment plans. According to Sheri, “Everyone wanted to do it all!”

Over those 8 years, Sheri got to know many volunteers, instructors, therapists, and participants including Tracy Cole, and Mary Pat Gallagher. Although Sheri couldn’t remember her favorite horse to work with, she does remember Mo. Mo was a Gray Arabian that unfortunately did not work out for the program, but found a home with Sheri who adopted him and became her personal horse. 

Sheri left Mane Stream in 2000 for maternity leave and two years later, founded Rocking Horse Rehab in West Orange, NJ. Her time at Mane Stream helped inspire Sheri to create Rocking Horse Rehab, which has been an Essex County staple for over 20 years. Without her experiences with Octavia and Karen Bocksel, former Mane Stream Executive Director, Sheri feels she would not be the person that she is today. Sheri credits Octavia and Karen for putting her on the path to such a rewarding career. It truly is a “gift.” She reflects, “Octavia and Karen are like family to me; I learned more from them than I did in college! Octavia’s drive and passion to help others continue to motivate and drive me today.”

Thank you for all that you have done for the industry and for being part of our history!

Learning to be Focused, Calm & Respectful

50 People for 50 Years: Emiley (Ross) Popp, Volunteer & Camp Counselor

Emiley was 16 and on the way to visit her aunt in Long Valley, when she spotted the “Volunteers Needed Sign” at Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center (now Mane Stream). Looking for volunteer hours to put on her college application, volunteering at Summer Camp sounded like the perfect opportunity for her. Emiley shared, “Volunteering at camp taught me to be responsible, focused, calm, and respectful, and how to work with all different types of people. It was an eye opener, and I loved it!”

Emiley remembers Mane Stream as being a big family where everyone knew everyone. She volunteered on the weekends and during camp, with the same group of people each week. “It was a close-knit family and I fell right into it.” The people she remembers working with the most were instructors, Lisa and Kathy and of course former volunteer coordinator Carol, and Kate, the barn manager at the time, was like a big sister. Emiley remembers looking up to a few of the volunteers like Megan Porzio. Emiley reveals that she had “found her people.” Emiley favorite day as a camp volunteer was trail ride day. “As a volunteer, trail ride day could be rough, but it was really great for the kids. The organization [Mane Stream] does amazing work and I was excited to see the campers grow week by week and year by year; it was cool to see it from the sidelines.”

Emiley confessed that the first year was a real challenge; however, as the years went on, she adjusted to the ebb and flow of the camp’s daily routine. “Coming back to camp each year felt like a family reunion. I loved seeing the inclusivity of the summer camp program and how all of the volunteers were there for the same purpose regardless of age, which ranged from 16 to 65.” She fondly remembered returning campers would run over and give her a hug.

While at Mane Stream, Emiley learned to interpret and understand the abilities within her group, a skill she uses to this day. Emiley felt that the benefit of an inclusive camp like Mane Stream’s was the opportunity to work with all different types of people. In her daily life, Emiley did not have the opportunity to meet people with different abilities. Her experiences at camp taught Emiley how to interact with a variety of people and encouraged her to become confident in many ways.

After volunteering for a few years at camp, Emiley joined camp as a staff member and she loved the challenge of creating arts and crafts projects that could be completed by a wide variety of abilities. Her favorite project was a horse show wind chime! Emiley was able to carry over a lot of her camp experiences into her time as a student teacher. The knowledge she gained from working with Mane Stream’s participants impacted her ability to adapt classroom projects to the different needs of her students. Although Emiley left teaching, she used the skills she acquired at Mane Stream to help in her job as an EMT.

In addition to volunteering and part of the camp staff, Emiley was also a barn assistant. A favorite memory was working in the barn on the holidays. “My mom and sister would come and keep me company, when no one else was around, it was magical.” Emiley continues to follow the progress of the organization on social media. She likes seeing how Mane Stream still has a family atmosphere for participants and volunteers. She also stated “You can’t beat hippotherapy (as a treatment tool). Animals seem to bring out the best in people. My days at the farm were very rewarding.”

Thank you for your years of service and for sharing your story Emiley!



Camp fun leads to a dissertation on diversity, inclusion...

…and acceptance in libraries.

50 People for 50 Years: Megan (Porzio) Smith, Volunteer, Camp Counselor, and barn assistant

Megan joined the Mane Stream family, a little reluctantly, in 2000 as a volunteer, when she was in high school. Her good friend was already volunteering here and convinced Megan to join her. During her time as a volunteer, Megan formed many lasting friendships and she still gets dinner with some of these friends today. Time spent at Mane Stream broadened her worldview and understanding of those who experienced the world differently from her. She knows that her volunteer time has made her a more empathetic person. It also carried through to her professional career and is currently the inspiration for her graduate dissertation on diversity, inclusion, and acceptance in libraries. Megan works to make her library welcome to all people.

Megan remembers Mane Stream as a welcoming place. She recalls meeting Melanie Dominko-Richards, who “was so motivated with such a wide variety of knowledge. At such a young age she was a voice of experience and proof that age wasn’t what mattered and people took many paths to arrive at Mane Stream.” Megan’s impression of the organization hasn’t changed much, but she states, “It has been great to see the organization grow!” Adding the therapy clinic is a great example of how the organization evolves to meet the needs of our participants. At its core, Mane Stream continues to serve a population that is underserved. It's why the organization has endured and succeeded for 50 years!

Megan fondly remembers our horses from her seven years here.  Sparkler, Woody, Gracie, Annie, Axel, Daisy, and Jigsaw were some of her favorites. She enjoyed Sparkler the most since they both had a mischievous streak. Nothing seemed to slow him down (not even his blind eye!) As for people, she remembers volunteers Mel, Emiley, Carrie, Carolyn, Robyn, Rich S. Scott K., and an adaptive rider named Kirk.

Megan volunteered with Camp Cold Brook [Mane Stream Summer Camp] for many years and was a barn assistant too. Her favorite camp activity was painting the camp banner with the campers and being able to have them see something tangible that they contributed to. She also enjoyed “chalking” the horses (decorating the horses with sidewalk chalk). The most challenging part of her time at Mane Stream was waking up early to do the barn or do events! “I am a night owl! However, nothing was better than being at the barn alone on the weekends. There was something very calming about mucking stalls and being with the horses when no one else was here.”

Megan’s favorite memory of her time at Mane Stream was the time that she spent with campers. Our summer camp is inclusive and she liked that it fostered an environment where everyone, regardless of ability, could learn from one another. Megan said, “There are not a lot of opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in what some would consider “normal” activities. At Mane Stream, participants can engage in the same activities as their peers.” You cannot measure the qualitative or quantitative impact that the programs have, Megan feels that it is a ripple effect. Megan stated that even though she hasn’t visited the farm in years, the impact of her time here continues to be part of her life today. She continues to feel connected to Mane Stream’s programs after all these years and loves to promote our programs to those who could benefit…just like she did all those years ago!

Thank you Megan for continuing to be a champion of Mane Stream’s program!

50th Anniversary Update

From the Executive Director, Trish Hegeman

It’s been a great first 6 months celebrating Mane Stream’s 50th Anniversary! I have had a lot of fun learning about our early years and the people from our past who have been instrumental in building Mane Stream into what we are today. I encourage you to read all of our 50 People for 50 Years articles and celebrate their roles in Mane Stream’s history.

We kicked off our anniversary year with a great party and fundraiser, Boots on Bourbon Street. Over 200 people gathered for a fun night with a Mane Stream therapy program demonstration featuring Minnie the Fjord and client Stella, great New Orleans inspired food, line dancing, a silent auction, and a paddle raise for the establishment of our Best Foot Forward Fund to help with routine maintenance and unexpected expenses around the farm.

Our programs are thriving this year! There were 69 riders in our spring adaptive riding session, the most we have ever had in a single session. Therapy services is also having a great year with many new clients in addition to some who are returning for the first time since the start of the pandemic. And our field trip program exploded this year with double the number of visits from Girl Scout troops and school groups. This is quite a change from 1972 when we had only 4 riders a week.

This fall we will have two more celebrations - the Equus - Gratitude Gala on October 1 and the Annual Horse Show on October 23. The gala will be at the United States Equestrian Team and will be an evening of memories, great food, dancing, live and silent auctions, and catching up with friends and neighbors. The Annual Horse Show is my favorite day of the year. Seeing the adaptive riders show off the skills they have been working on during their weekly lessons, the pride they have in their accomplishments, and the smiles on their faces when they receive their ribbons are the true highlights of the day. I hope that you can join me at the show this year.

I always consider it an honor to be Mane Stream’s Executive Director, and being in that role during our 50th Anniversary is definitely a highlight! It has been fun talking to former volunteers and staff members about different times in Mane Stream’s history. Especially interesting has been learning about the search for our current property and our transition from an almost all volunteer organization into a professionally staffed nonprofit.

I hope that you can join us at one of our events to help us celebrate all that we have accomplished over the past five decades and we are excited about starting the next chapter in our story.

It's National Farrier's Week!

50 People for 50 Years: Scott Previte

Thirty-nine years ago, Scott Previte began his career as an apprentice farrier. In those early days, one of the barns he visited was Octavia Brown’s farm on Larger Cross Road. He had never heard of adaptive (therapeutic) riding but was impressed with the mission and program. This inspired him, even more, to keep the horses’ hooves in tip-top shape.

And, while still in school, Scott was driving a Krauszer’s milk truck and would occasionally stop by Octavia’s barn to help as needed. 

Fast forward twenty years, Sarah Dunn, a previous barn manager at Mane Stream, called Scott to shoe a horse at our current barn on Old Turnpike Rd in Oldwick. When he saw it was the same program, with the same mission, of helping children and adults with special needs, Scott was delighted. Shortly thereafter, Jen Dermody, the equine manager asked him to come back to Mane Stream, and soon became the official farrier.

 Thank you, Scott, for so many years of service! 

These days Scott and assistant, Annie, continue to ensure top care to the herd.

Summer Fun Update

Summer Camp - Week 1 & Week 2

For 10 weeks during the summer, the farm is filled with giggles, glitter, giddy-ups and, during Week 2 of summer camp, add a ton of tiaras. You won’t even hear a single groan when it’s time to muck the stalls. Camp at Mane Stream isn’t just about learning to ride; campers learn to take care of our horses which means a lot of chores! From scrubbing water buckets to making grain and more, campers learn that taking care of their horse is a labor of love.

But never fear, there is still plenty of time for FUN. Lots of FUN! Each and every day the campers participate in an activity or game and spend a little time doing arts & crafts. Every day of the week also has a different theme such as Western Day, Neon Day, Carnival Day, and yes, GLITTER DAY. Frankly though, we all know that Miss Kelly has her glitter and stamps with her at all times. So, be prepared if you enter the camp domain.

The week ends with the Horse Show. Proud parents line the fence to watch and cheer as their children demonstrate the skills they have learned, improved upon and/or mastered. And at the end of it all, ribbons and certificates are handed out for a job well done!

What do the next 8 weeks have in store? You’ll just have to wait and see.

Week 1 Gallery

 

Week 2 Gallery