Pushing Further to Get Results

HORSES FOR HEALING makes a difference

This session of Horses for Healing (H4H) for individuals living with cancer was a tad different than usual. Why? This spring the two participants were Mane Stream Volunteers. One is a current volunteer and the other retired a few years ago after many years as our Head Barn Volunteer.

Why were there only two participants? Shortly before the session started two participants had to pull out because they were not well enough to join the group. Mane Stream sends healing thoughts their way and hopes to see them at the farm in the future!

What else was different? Program Coordinator & riding instructor, Kelly Champion said, “It was comfortable from the start and it felt right to push the riders further than I might with someone new. I was so excited to get Jess to walk & trot with posting off lead in just 5 weeks and she’s never even ridden before! As for Joy, she hadn't ridden in 30 years but I was able to increase her confidence so much that she was able to walk and trot independently for 4 weeks and then canter on her last day. I’m so proud of them both!!”

H4H RIDER: Jessica KAISER
(4 years cancer free)

“Horses for Healing provided me a space to relax, breathe and face a new challenge. To be able to connect with Tux and gain confidence in riding each week was incredible. Kelly and the volunteers who guided me, cheered me on, and celebrated my accomplishments were amazing! I am grateful to have had this experience and blessed to be healthy to do this rewarding experience. Thank you Mane Stream!” 

H4H RIDER: JOY KOCHANSKI

“I loved my time at Horses for Healing.  Each session was filled with accomplishments I never knew I could have achieved with the thanks going to a terrific instructor, Kelly, and the help of the devoted volunteers.  After each class, I felt uplifted, like I could do anything, and really happy.  Thank you Mane Stream for providing this wonderful class!”

WHY DO THE VOLUNTEERS LOVE HELPING?

VOLUNTEER: Cynthia Barkman

“The name of the program exemplifies truth in advertising - Horses for Healing - and it’s a privilege to share this experience with every H4H participant.  In our lives, we all need to find and embrace our communities and the H4H community can always count on the support of their instructor extraordinaire and volunteers who enthusiastically look forward to our time together each week.  And seeing the participants relax and enjoy their time with their horse, well, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

VOLUNTEER: Laura Edelson

“I love volunteering for Horses for Healing because I love the program and I enjoy watching the participants’ confidence grow little by little each week as they start to relax and enjoy their time on and with the horses.  It is fabulous to interact with the participants and see them blossom and for an hour a week enjoy themselves and not worry about cancer.”

Celebrating Our Dedicated Volunteers

They make our Participants Bloom and Soar!

Mane Stream recently celebrated National Volunteer Week, with 44 of our dedicated volunteers putting in 130 hrs over the course of a week and a half due to weather cancellations. In addition to the regular weekly volunteers, we were excited to welcome 9 new volunteers during this special week and hope they had a blast. Each day the teams enjoyed an abundance of snacks and treats in between riding lessons and therapy sessions and took home either a beautiful succulent (graciously donated by Hionis Greenhouses) or a birdseed ornament made by our Volunteer Coordination Team, Emily De Jong and Renae Flanagan.

This year we also turned the spotlight on 6 volunteers with varying levels of Mane Stream experience. Please take a moment to read what they had to share.

Stellario - Letting Each Lesson Take Its Course
Maggie - The Happiness Trail
Jennifer - The Highlight of My Week
McKenna - Watching Confidence Grow
Jessica - I Always Leave Happier!
Chip - Watching the Progression

We salute our “Village” of dedicated program volunteers who help make the magic happen here at Mane Stream. Without them, we would not be where we are today!

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.