Moving to Phase 2 on July 6th

Update from the Executive Director, Trish Hegeman

It's been another good week at Mane Stream and the weather cooperated too! The 11 independent riders who have returned (some riding twice a week) are already feeling more confident and solid in the saddle. While the therapy clients who were part of our telepractice program during the stay-at-home order returned to the farm for speech-language therapy working in the clinic and interacting with the horses in the barn.

The detailed policies and procedures that were created have been working seamlessly. Now we are happy to be able to move to PHASE 2 of our reopening plan starting on Monday, July 6. If your rider or client meets the requirements for PHASE 2 please contact Jen Dermody (jen@manestreamnj.org) or Melanie Dominko-Richards (melanie@manestreamnj.org) for more information about returning to the farm. Summer Campers MUST meet the requirements for PHASE 1.

What does this mean?

Adaptive Riding – riders who require minimal assistance mounting and dismounting, and who need a leader occasionally during their lesson but no sidewalker(s). Field trips can take place with limited participants who can safely maintain social distancing. Therapy Services - sessions may include equine movement as a treatment tool if appropriate for clients who can transfer unassisted and do not need sidewalkers during a session. Mane Stream will utilize select volunteers for the tasks of greeting, leading, heading and/or long-lining.

For NEWLY REVISED DOCUMENTS please check our reopening plan which details the criteria for each phase and the procedures for each of our programs. Any questions please contact Trish at trish@manestreamnj.org. Reopening Process: https://www.manestreamnj.org/reopening-process

Phase 1 Adaptive Riders

The No Barriers Virtual Summit

What’s within you is stronger than what’s in your way

Written by: Alanna Flax-Clark, Special Projects Manager

Think about Mane Stream. We don’t hide our challenges. Yet, we are able to tap into the light of the human spirit and elevate it through this no barriers life expressed through our common bond of horses.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the No Barriers Virtual Summit. I was able to hear from people who are breaking barriers in the disability world like Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind man to summit Mt. Everest; Bethany Hamilton, pro surfer; Mick Ebeling, founder of Not Impossible, a multiple award-winning social innovation lab and production company; Marlee Matlin, Academy Award® winning actress, activist, and author; and many more!

The No Barriers motto is “What’s within you is stronger than what’s in your way”. Everything I heard over the two-day Summit resonated with me personally and is everything our participants and families at Mane Stream strive to conquer on a daily basis.

Especially with everything we’ve been dealing with over the last few months, it’s important to remember that no matter what we may be trying to overcome, we all have strength in our individual identity. We have it within ourselves to accomplish anything, and we have the strength to ask for help. Within the No Barriers community, they call this our “Rope Team”--- building our tribe that will help us each day. It’s important to remember that we are surrounded by a wonderful community of family, friends, instructors, therapists… whoever may be part of our individual community. We are all here to support one another.

Don’t hide your challenges, whether they be physical or more hidden, invisible challenges. This is how you can connect with people. In other words, in vulnerability you find community. Think about Mane Stream. We don’t hide our challenges. Yet, we are able to tap into the light of the human spirit and elevate it through this no barriers life expressed through our common bond of horses.

Erik Weihenmayer said, “We aren’t connected by triumph, we are connected by struggle.” Erik is blind and has climbed all Seven Summits (the highest mountains on each of the seven continents).

Erik Weihenmayer said, “We aren’t connected by triumph, we are connected by struggle.” Erik is blind and has climbed all Seven Summits (the highest mountains on each of the seven continents). He pointed out that when you summit the mountain you aren’t at the top of your journey. It’s only when you get back down that you’ve really succeeded and are able to carry what you’ve learned from your journey and apply it to your life—move forward in your own life and share it with others.

Karamo Brown, of TV show Queer Eye said to envision the challenges in life as a slingshot that’s pulling you back.

The last thing I’d like to share is this analogy that Karamo Brown from the TV show Queer Eye shared. He said to envision the challenges in life as a slingshot that’s pulling you back. Eventually when you get to the point when you’re ready to ask for support, surround yourself with positivity, and get help, it doesn’t push you back anymore. If you want to soar, you have to let the tension go. Be patient and allow yourself to ask for help.

We hope that all of us at Mane Stream can help you relieve some of that tension on your slingshot as we’re reopening and provide relief on our social media for those that still need to stay-at-home.

Haben is the first deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School and an advocate for equal opportunity for people with disabilities.

P.S. Here’s a short clip from the Summit where Erik Weihenmayer interviews Haben Girma. Haben is the first deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School and an advocate for equal opportunity for people with disabilities. What an amazing and well-educated person—I want to be her friend!! Watch & Listen to the Haben Girma - No Barriers Podcast (Condensed Version)

Adaptive Riding Update

“Spring Training” for the Horses

After several weeks on #coronacation it was time for the Adaptive Riding horses to get back on track with #coronaworkouts. During the month of May, Mane Stream instructors, Jen and Jane put the horses through their paces to get them ready for the “Season Opener”. As seen in the below gallery it was a real workout! 😍🐎☀️ Now that “Spring Training” is a wrap, all the Adaptive Riding horses are ready to team up with their independent riders starting next week.

“Season Opener” starts June 8th

Head Instructor, Jen Dermody has been busy creating processes and developing schedules that will allow our most independent riders to come back in our Phase 1 plan. 30-minute lessons will be offered 2-3 days per week with staggered lesson times to minimize contact between riders. We have created an instructional video located below that shows the process for those returning to adaptive riding. Also located below is our “Riding Procedures and Infection Control Policy” document which contains details about the phased plans for reopening, all protocols, and procedures. If you have any additional questions please contact: jen@manestreamnj.org

The Direction of Therapy Services

Telepractice and Therapy Services at the Farm

Mane Stream implemented telepractice with some of our speech-language clients over the past couple of weeks. Our Director of Therapy Services, Melanie Dominko-Richards, MS, CCC-SLP, HPCS has been excited to work with clients and get a chance to see and hear what their life looks like at home!

Even though Melanie is treating from her home, the therapy horses seem to still make their way into the session. Whether it's a letter that a client received from their pony, to earning a video of their favorite pony eating their dinner, or even a special video message from their pony (who knew Justin could talk?!), we know how much our clients miss their four-legged friends and we want our horses to try to be a part of the session, even if it’s virtually! It also wouldn't be a telepractice session at Ms. Mel's house if Arnold (Mel’s handsome Corgi) didn't make an appearance once or twice!

STARTING JUNE 15:

As Mane Stream looks to resume on-site therapy services the week of June 15, we are making some changes to ensure the safety of both our therapists and our clients. As we begin to reopen, therapy appointments will be on the hour and will be 30 minutes in duration. This gives our therapist and staff enough time in between sessions to clean and sanitize our therapy clinic and therapy tools in order to keep everyone safe! We will also be limiting the offerings of therapy appointments to make sure that there are a minimal amount of people on the property at one time and so that our other programs can take place safely as well.

Therapy sessions will take place in a variety of places around the farm, from the clinic to the barn, to paths outside. Clients will have the opportunity to interact with our herd during their therapy session while continuing to work towards reaching their functional goals.

Our therapists are so excited to welcome everyone back to Mane Stream safely soon!

If you have any additional questions please contact: melanie@manestreamnj.org