Emma Yarton Wins $270 Gift Card!

Equus Foundation Service Volunteer

Please congratulate EMMA YARTON for being chosen as one of five 1Q2023 EQUUS Foundation Service Volunteers! Emma will receive a $270 gift card for Ariat Boots and we're sure she's pretty excited about that!!

THANK YOU for your service EMMA!

Emma Yarton has been volunteering at Mane Stream for five years and riding for ten years. "Horses offer far more than just companionship," said Emma. "Horses have taught me responsibility, respect, organization, and confidence -- and to experience the freedom that comes from riding." "The most rewarding part about volunteering at Mane Stream for so many years is that I am able to see riders improve from year to year," said Emma - some even starting out afraid of horses.

FREE Parkinson's Program

PAPERWORK DEADLINE: MAY 1st

Based on our popular Horses for Healing program for people living with cancer, we are launching our first session for those living with Parkinson’s.

THE BENEFITS:

Adaptive horseback riding provides both physical and emotional benefits through learning new skills, and interacting with horses, peers, and volunteers. Riding helps to develop balance and coordination and requires good body awareness. Through weekly lessons, your stability and coordination will improve, helping you to communicate with the horse and positively impact your daily life. 

If you or someone you know is interested in our FREE Horses for Healing Parkinson's program, please note our deadline to submit paperwork is quickly approaching (Monday, MAY 1st). The program will be starting in June and only a few spaces are left.

PAPERWORK FOR DOWNLOAD

Celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Week 2023

Thank you for helping our participants bloom!

April is National Volunteer Month where we have the privilege to celebrate the invaluable impact our amazing volunteers have on the lives of our participants and their families. Our volunteers donate thousands of hours each year to make the Mane Stream experience even more special for our participants. These hours are not limited to hands-on assistance in our regular programming but also include those who often go the extra mile to pitch in to help our four-legged friends by mucking their stalls and scrubbing their buckets. While others lend a hand in making our fundraising events AMAZING! And lastly, there are those who tirelessly plan for the future to ensure Mane Stream continues to flourish.

We salute ALL of our dedicated volunteers for their unwavering service to our riders, therapy clients, horses, and the mission of Mane Stream. Without you, we would not be where we are today!

Below are just a few of our dedicated team of volunteers who have graciously shared their stories. Thank you Stellario, Maggie, Jennifer, McKenna, Jessica, and Chip!

STELLARIO

Letting Each Lesson Take Its Course

Stellario D’Urso,
Adaptive Riding Leader
(25hrs. in 6 months)

 Stellario chose to volunteer at Mane Stream because he believes in the healing power of horses and the benefit they provide to all around them, particularly those in need. But what keeps him coming back is the joy and happiness he sees on the faces of all the participants. Well, that, and the time he gets to spend with the horses. Stellario says the quiet time while grooming and tacking a horse before a session is his favorite portion of his volunteer shifts. As an experienced horse person, Stellario was immediately comfortable with the grooming and tacking but over the last 6 months, he has learned to let each lesson take its course and to let the dynamic between the rider and the horse unfold with as little intervention as possible.

“We are so glad to have another reliable volunteer with years of horse experience who is also great with our riders!” Kelly Champion, PATH Intl. Certfied Riding Instructor

MAGGIE

THE HAPPINESS TRAIL

Maggie Conroy, Adaptive Riding Saturday Volunteer
(562+hours, 5 years!)

I volunteer because Mane Stream, is so much more than riding lessons. These are life lessons. It is not about winning or losing, it is about learning that doing your best is what is important in the ring, and out of it. 

Mane Stream is working hard, learning responsibility, accomplishments, building confidence, camaraderie, teamwork and most of all fun, hugs and smiles, not only for the students but for their families and friends.

The happiness trail travels a long way.  All of the staff and volunteers make it happen, and lest we forget, the wonderful horses. 

For me, it is all about my nephew, Anthony. Grown now, he was just a little red-headed boy effortlessly guiding a 1,000lb horse through an obstacle course, showing off his 2 point, proudly holding a ribbon in the air. He loved sharing quiet moments with a velvety muzzle and ears, a comforting warm breath conveying a sense of understanding, a connection that is priceless.

For my family, it was about a father and grandfather, sitting in his cozy room far away in South Carolina, holding a book with a photo of his grandson riding, on the cover. We could almost see him turning the pages and hear him saying “Oh boy, look at Anthony on that big horse, oh my.” The pages were full of volunteers guiding Anthony around the ring, of big hugs & high fives all around, for a job well done.  Pictures of family on the rail, the pride evident on their faces, eyes swelling with tears to see this little boy, who struggled with everyday issues, up there, on top of the world putting his horse through his paces.  A boy, who on the back of this horse, is in control, his face glowing with confidence. 

I wanted to give back for all those happy experiences and for how many possibilities were unbridled for Anthony because of them.

I hope all the Mane Stream volunteers can really appreciate the impact they have on everyone involved. The riders, their family & friends, the horses, everyone benefits from our volunteer time, and the Saturday team is awesome! The fun we have on Saturdays stays with me all week :-}

“In addition to Maggie being a dedicated Saturday volunteer for 5 years, she also takes amazing photographs that perfectly highlight all the magic that happens at Mane Stream. Thank you Maggie!” Louisa Bartok, Marketing & Communications Manager

JENNIFER

The Highlight of My Week!

Jennifer Arber,
Saturday Adaptive Riding Sidewalker
(21hrs. in 5 months)

Jennifer started volunteering at Mane Stream last October after reading about us on the internet.  I’ve always loved horses and while I didn’t have much hands-on experience, I really wanted to learn and become a part of such an amazing program. I knew from the very first session that I was going to love it!  Being around the horses has been incredible, that goes without saying, but what has been truly heartwarming has been the Mane Stream staff and fellow volunteers.  Everyone has been so welcoming and kind.  As a ‘newbie’ to the world of horses and all the lingo that goes with it, I could not have asked for a better group of people to spend my Saturdays with.  Everyone is so helpful and I am learning so much!  I also love the riders and their families and look forward to seeing them each week and getting to know them a little better.  They are all so wonderful.  It is honestly the highlight of my week!!! 

“Jennifer is a great addition to the Saturday team! She’s always willing to learn new things and pitch in wherever she is needed. Thank you Jennifer!!” Kayla Thau & Angela D’Alessandro Saturday Riding Instructors

McKENNA

Watching Confidence Grow! 

McKenna Douglass
Sidewalker & Header
(48hrs. less than a year)

Volunteering at Mane Stream has been such a rewarding experience for me! I love watching the riders' confidence grow as they reach their goals. Seeing the riders accomplish something new after working hard for weeks is such a great feeling.  People should definitely volunteer at Mane Stream if they want to work with awesome riders, staff, volunteers, and horses. I am excited to volunteer for many sessions to come! 

“From the very beginning, McKenna committed to a weekly volunteer spot. She is always eager to learn and has become an engaged therapy volunteer who is even willing to sub in when she can.” Emily De Jong, Volunteer Coordinator

JESSICA

I always leave happier!

Jessica Kaiser, Sidewalker
(72hrs. just over a year!)

Jessica chose to volunteer with Mane Stream because she has always loved working with children/people AND she loves being around horses, so this was the perfect combination! She keeps coming back because, “It has just been the most rewarding experience! I love seeing the progress that both children and adults make in their lessons/sessions. It is amazing to see the joy on their faces when they are able to accomplish something new. 

When asked what her favorite moment has been over the past year she replied, “There isn’t one specific moment but I do know that it is the highlight of my day and I always leave happier. I have learned so much about how to work with horses, practicing patience and the way in which animals can help us to heal in a variety of ways.”

Jessica wanted us to know that she enjoys sidewalking because she provides support, build connections, and sees the progress from week to week that each participant makes. “I am forever thankful to be a part of the Mane Stream family. I was hoping to be able to give so much to Mane Stream but it has given me so much more.”

“Jess is an integral part of both our adaptive riding & therapy teams and it’s wonderful that I can count on her. She’s also been known to help out with the Girl Scout Field Trips on Friday afternoons too which is extremely appreciated!” Emily De Jong, Volunteer Coordinator

CHIP

Watching the Progression

Chip Quayle,
Therapy Sidewalker
(53hrs. less than a year)

Chip learned about Mane Stream through his wife, Karin, who is an equine massage therapist and friends with Board Member, Linda Dietz. Over the past several years they both have attended several Mane Stream fundraisers as guests, and Chip was always impressed with the organization. So, once he retired it was time for him to check out what it takes to be a Mane Stream Volunteer. Chip also stated that his adult son has Asperger’s syndrome, so he liked that Mane Stream works with kids with a variety of challenges.

We asked Chip what keeps him coming back and he stated, every time I've worked with a therapy client, I can see that they benefit from their time with the horses, the therapist, and the volunteers.

When we asked what his favorite moment was Chip stated, “It's more like a series of moments than just one. I've loved watching our client Dante go from being afraid to get on Minnie during his first session, to in later sessions flashing a BIG smile when he's about to get on Minnie at the mounting ramp and then spending most of his ride "no hands" as his seat improved.”

Chip has also learned firsthand the effect that horses can have on clients. While the horses all have personalities, they don't judge. I've also realized that there are a lot of good people out there who volunteer at Mane Stream (in addition to the awesome employees)!

"Mr. Chip learned the ropes of therapy by jumping in with both feet! His sense of humor and empathy make him a great communicative partner!” Melanie Dominko-Richards, MS, CCC-SLP, HPCS.

My Two Passions Collide in Hippotherapy

Announcing Evelyn Kidd, MS, OTR/L

In honor of National Occupational Therapy Month, we are thrilled to share all about our new OT, Evelyn Kidd, MS, OTR/L, who recently moved to the area looking to continue utilizing hippotherapy as a treatment tool. Prior to joining the Mane Stream team, she was at Heightened Potential Co. in Illinois, where her friend and mentor, Jeanni Bonine, HPCS, showed her the ropes at her farm.  

A busy Occupational Therapist since 2016, Evelyn currently works in early intervention during the weekdays. This is an in-home setting for children birth-three years of age.  Evelyn finds this setting to be extremely rewarding and she enjoys building relationships with families while seeing young children achieve their goals with her help. She also has experience in other settings, including pediatric outpatient and adult outpatient focusing on neuro-rehabilitation (stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, Parkinsons). She is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) and an LSVT-BIG certified clinician. She has completed her level 1 Advanced Intensive Mentorship with the STAR Institute for Sensory Processing, as well as the American Hippotherapy Association’s Hippotherapy Treatment Principles Part 1. 

Get to know even more about Evelyn!

Where did you receive your education? I attended the University of Illinois at Chicago for my masters of science in occupational therapy after having attended Stockton College in Galloway, New Jersey for my undergraduate degree.

Did you have previous horse experience before learning about Hippotherapy? I did not have much horse experience prior to becoming an OT and entering into the world of hippotherapy (2016). Hippotherapy collides my two passions of working with animals and people, and I LOVE continuing education!! As soon as I learned about hippotherapy when I was in grad school, I began researching how I could incorporate this into my career.  I have taken Hippotherapy Treatment Principles Part 1  from the American Hippotherapy Association and will be obtaining my Part II this October.

What do you like most about treating at a facility like Mane Stream? I was very "picky" when searching for the right place for me to continue my journey practicing hippotherapy. After some research and visiting a few facilities, I found Mane Stream. I enjoy feeling a part of a team, having mentorship and people to bounce ideas off of. I appreciate the fact that there is a clinic space and that they truly understand the concept of hippotherapy - therapy with the help of horses. 

How does treating at a facility like Mane Stream differ from a regular clinic? It is very different from a regular clinic! The arena dust is the first difference to note! I most appreciate the access to the outdoors, nature, and horses (of course!) in this very unique setting.

Tell us about a favorite memory. Any time a client makes progress, it becomes a core memory for me. I celebrate with them and their families. I have so many favorite memories, it's really hard to pick just one.... but I enjoyed dressing up on Halloween as a dinosaur, and even the horses had little costumes, and the kids were just SO excited for it. 

What do you do in your free time? I live with my husband, two young children and rescue dog in Sussex County and we enjoy going on hikes together as a family and being in nature whenever we can throughout the year. We also visit the shore (and Mommom and Poppop!) often. I play intramural softball in the spring and summer, which I love. I am a very big animal advocate and enjoy getting involved in animal rescue efforts when I can. 

Making Her Debut on FOX and FRIENDS!

Fox and Friends - Highlights Mane Stream

In honor of World Down Syndrome Day, Fox and Friends Weekend Co-Host, Rachel Campos-Duffy, and her three year-old daughter, Valentina, came to the farm. They learned more about how Adaptive Riding and Therapy Services can be beneficial in so many ways, not only for people with Down Syndrome, but for those with a wide variety of special needs.

Take a peek! VIDEO CLIP

Since the two airings (3/19 & 3/21), lots of donations (one-time-only & monthly) and emails have come in from across the nation. We are so thankful to the FOX Network to have chosen Mane Stream!!

Thank you to everyone who came
to help with the filming

This video would not have been possible without YOU all!

Katie & Susanne Higgins; Alexa, Laura & Phil Nacamuli; Stella, Joey & Joyce Andreski; Kloe, Zoe, Lilly, Connor, and Stacy Timko; and adaptive riders Jasper and Emily.

Alison Crowley, Debi Delorenzo, Laura Edelson, Nancy Grossweiller, Karen Kaufhold, Elaine Milano, Janie Murphy, Jeanne Rogalin

and
the Mane Stream staff!

Volunteers are the Heart of Mane Stream

That’s why we celebrated the whole week!

At Mane Stream, Valentine’s Day isn’t just for the participants. This year we wanted to make sure our dedicated volunteers knew just how much we really do care. So, in addition to Valentine’s decorations, Miss Kelly’s shenanigans, decorative headbands for all, and holiday-specific games, our brand new Volunteer Assistant, Renae Flanagan, showed her creative side by transforming pink, white, and red show ribbons into appreciation ribbons for each volunteer throughout the week. Along with the ribbons were bags of Hershey’s Kisses because, well, it’s always nice to have a sweet treat on the way home from the barn.

If you follow us on social you saw the daily stories and all the fun! If not, here’s a taste of what went on, minus all the Instagram stickers and whatnot.

Say Hello to Our New Staff

This month we would like to introduce three more NEW team members. You may have seen them in the office, around the farm, or teaching lessons. One is Buzz’s original owner, another comes to us from Centenary University and TRAC, and the third is our new Barn Manager! We hope you’ll take a few minutes to read their staff profiles and then introduce yourself the next time you see them.

Renae Flanagan

Renae recently joined the team as our part-time Volunteer Assistant. In addition to being in the office every Monday, she also helps the Volunteer Coordinator with hands-on training sessions and additional volunteer-related activities. Renae comes to us with years of varied experience after having managed a Manhattan dental office and coordinated fundraising events for her son’s Montessori school. She started riding horses as an adult and purchased BUZZ as a 5-year-old. They both trained together eventually showing in the Adult Hunters. When it was time for BUZZ to slow down, Renae donated him to Mane Stream in 2016.

In her spare time, Renae has a small business baking decorative cakes and rides her horse, Irish. She and her daughter enjoy riding together so much that they recently joined Pony Club and Renae has since accepted the position of Vice Regional Supervisor for the NJ Pony Club.

angela D'Alessandro,
riding instructor & barn assistant

New to Mane Stream in 2023, Angela is now one of our weekend instructors as well as barn assistant picking up extra shifts as needed. Angela is a recent graduate with an Associate of Science in Equine Studies from Centenary University. During her time at Centenary, she was a work-study student making sure the large herd of horses was happy and healthy all year long. Angela was also an exercise rider for TRAC (Therapeutic Riding at Centenary) and then became a volunteer for the program which she really enjoyed!

As a little girl, Angela always wanted to be a cowgirl when she grew up and she took the chance in high school to follow her dreams. She has worked in show barns and worked horse shows since she was 16. During the summer breaks, she ran summer camp where her love for teaching really blossomed. Having ridden mainly in hunters (2’), equitation (2’), and dressage, she also loves to ride western and practice natural horsemanship in her free time when she has the chance, but usually, she reads, goes offroading in her jeep, plays chess, and spoils her dog.

aLEX wILLARD, bARN mANAGER

Our most recent addition to the team is Alex Willard whose main job is to make sure the herd is happy, healthy, and looking good all year long. She has spent her entire life around horses learning from some of the best in the industry and takes pride in giving exceptional horse care. In 2019, she participated in the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program where she was selected as a Barn Management Alternate for the National Finals. Alex rode competitively as a junior rider, a Coastal Carolina College IHSA athlete, and soon after as a professional rider. She loves teaching in the barn and in the ring where she can share her love and passion for the animal and the sport. Alex also has professional social media experience so look out for fun shots of the herd enjoying their downtime!

No More AmazonSmile, Now What?

On February 20th the AmazonSmile program abruptly ended.

Since 2013, Mane Stream has had an ever-growing group of people “Shopping for Good”. That means they designated Mane Stream as their charity of choice so that 0.5% of eligible Amazon purchases would be donated to our mission. THANK YOU!

What do we do now?
How can Mane Stream make up thousands of dollars in income? There is one way for donors to set it and forget it - just like AmazonSmile. Become a recurring donor! We call these generous people PARTNERS IN POSSIBILITIES. Each person has committed to donating a small amount each month, and just like AmazonSmile, small amounts do add up and can really make a difference.

Join Partners in Possibilities!


Helmet Recall - CHECK YOURS!

DO YOU HAVE THIS HELMET?

This recall involves Ovation Protégé model equestrian helmets manufactured from December 2020 through December 2022 and sold in multiple colors and finishes. The Ovation Protégé is an equestrian helmet that is certified by the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) to the ASTM F1163-15 standard. An SEI certification label, which includes the model name and date of manufacture, is located inside the helmets.  “OV” is printed on the front of the helmets.

EASY REMEDY:

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Ovation Protégé helmets and return them to the retailer they purchased from or to any Ovation authorized dealer for a FREE REPLACEMENT Ovation Deluxe Schooler helmet or contact English Riding Supply for a $60 refund.

The replacement helmet or refund will be provided upon return of the recalled helmet OR proof of destruction of the recalled helmet. (Consumers are not required to return the physical helmet to English Riding Supply.)

To destroy recalled helmets, consumers should cut off the harness straps. Consumers should email a photo of the cut harness and a photo of the interior manufacturing label, clearly showing the manufacturing date and serial number, to helmets@englishridingsupply.com. The manufacturing label is located on the interior foam liner underneath the comfort liner, so consumers will need to remove the comfort liner to access the manufacturing label.