Congratulations to Stella and Justin on an unforgettable EXPERIENCE AT Harrisburg!

From our arena to the bright lights of Harrisburg, it was a Kentucky Derby-sized thrill for Mane Stream on Friday, October 16th! Two of our riders, Stella and Justin, represented us at the prestigious Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Qualifying for the LifeVac Therapeutic Riding Championships is a huge honor earned at our Spring Horse Show at USET, and both riders represented Mane Stream with skill, sportsmanship, and pride.

The atmosphere in Harrisburg was electric. Justin’s mom, Debbie, shared how thrilling the day was from a competitor’s perspective, noting that Justin thought walking into the grand arena felt as exciting and impressive as entering the Kentucky Derby! Justin, who has been riding with us for eight years and is always first in line to sign up for the Fall Horse Show, embraced every moment in the walk-trot division with his characteristic calm demeanor.

For Stella, who started with Mane Stream as a five-year-old therapy client in 2021 before moving into adaptive riding, the big stage was second nature. Supported by her trusted partner Tink, Stella brought home a fantastic 3rd place ribbon! When asked before stepping into the ring if she was feeling nervous, Stella casually replied with total poise: "I'm not nervous, I'm a professional!"

The team spirit stretched all the way back to Mane Stream, too, while Stella's classmates and teachers at Millington School gathered around the big screen to cheer her on live, our own staff was watching online back home, rooting for both riders every step of the way!

It takes a village to make a trip like this happen! A massive thank you to Director of Programs Jen Dermod, Barn Manager & Instructor Rachel Doyle and Instructor Kathy Dermody for safely trailering our horses the 2+ hour drive to Harrisburg and back. Thank you also to Instructor Kelly Champion for cheering on our riders in person. A huge shoutout goes to Kelly O’Donnell for doing a classy braiding job on Don and a special braiding job on Tink, complete with unicorn charm & purple thread (Stella's favorite color!) to perfectly match Stella's helmet, hair bows, and belt!