We're in the news again!

Have you seen the latest Black River Journal?

It’s a year of reflection and a time to look ahead as Mane Steam, a premier therapeutic riding center for children and adults with special needs, celebrates its 50th anniversary. A half-century is a short span in the millennia-old relationship of humans and horses, but at Mane Stream in Oldwick, it’s long enough to make an impact that lasts for hundreds of lifetimes. The 2nd oldest facility of its kind in the country was founded by equestrian Octavia Brown, who was considered a pioneer when she founded an adaptive riding program... Continue Reading

Growing Up at Mane Stream

50 People for 50 Years: Katie Higgins - Our Smiling Overachiever!

Katie Higgins first came to Mane Stream as a summer camper. Each summer she would look forward to doing crafts, making tie-dye shirts, grooming, and “painting the horses”. But for Katie, it’s the horses that kept her coming back each year. As she says, “I love riding the horses the best.” 

After eight years of summer fun, Katie decided she would like to try taking private horseback riding lessons. That was three years ago and Katie has been steadily progressing every lesson. One of the most challenging things Katie is learning to do is trotting. She loves her instructor, Kathy Dermody, PATH Intl. Certified Riding Instructor, and is currently learning how to post at the trot. Kathy commented, “I always call Katie my overachiever. She always works so hard during her lessons. When I ask if she needs a break, her usual response is, ‘I’m OK.’ Katie always exceeds my expectations and I am sure she will continue to do so!”

Katie is a regular competitor at Mane Stream’s Annual Fall Horse Show. In fact, this past October, Katie was the Grand Champion in her age group! She enjoys the camaraderie of the Horse Show and is excited to show off new skills every year.

What’s Katie’s favorite Mane Stream memory? Riding Carson! In a wonderful coincidence, Katie’s older sister Nina had competed in Hunter/Jumper shows with Carson years ago when Nina was riding with a local stable. That stable sold Carson, and the new owner eventually donated him to Mane Stream. It was a happy surprise for Nina to see Katie riding Carson at one of the summer camp horse shows. Holland Kochanski, PATH Intl. Certified Riding Instructor and former summer camp director, commented, “Katie is one of the sweetest and most kind people I have ever met. She always has a smile on her face, even when she is concentrating on getting her horse to do what she wants it to do. Katie has a passion for horseback riding, which you can see every time she is on the horse.”

Katie has grown up at Mane Stream, moving from camper to rider to Grand Champion. We are excited to see where Katie’s riding career with Mane Stream takes her, all with her big “Katie” smile!

That's a wrap! Summer Camp 2022 C'est fini!!

Phew! What a Summer we had at Mane Stream this year.

Ten weeks of fun, new friends, new faces, Derek, our new pony, and the 18-hand Gabun on loan from Centenary University Equestrian Center. Even though the days were hot, and seemed to move slowly, Paige Ball, Camp Director kept campers busy and engaged. In her first year in the position, Paige reflects, “I love that the camp is inclusive. There is a wide range of ages and abilities that we are able to serve, and I am overwhelmed at the hard work and commitment of the volunteers.”

Mane Stream’s summer camp is comprised of novice riders just beginning their journey, advanced riders working on small jumps, and everything in between. This year in addition to the brand new campers, there was a combination of siblings, cousins, Girl Scouts, friends, and veteran campers alike. Many locals consider our camp to be a safe place to begin their child’s riding career. We love when those campers come back year after year and then eventually become volunteers. Our group of dedicated volunteers and PATH Intl. certified instructors engaged the campers each week with creative activities that can be enjoyed and executed by all. Holland Kochanski, former Camp Director and now part-time instructor, says that limiting the number of campers per session over the past couple of years offers more time for specialized attention. “We were able to work one-to-one with the campers, whether it was learning to groom, tack or ride.”

Early mornings filled with riding lessons and horse care, such as grooming and learning to use the clippers, helped to increase confidence in our riders. As the mornings grew warmer, the horses had the opportunity to rest while the campers engaged in games and crafts. There was no shortage of glitter to be found on the horses, hooves, campers, floors, and even a few reluctant staff members all thanks to Meadow Brook Glitter for their kind donation!  Once again tie-dying was at the top of the list of favorite activities with some really spectacular designs and color combinations emerging this year. And with the help of Instructor, Kelly Champion, there was plenty of neon, roller skates, dance contests, shenanigans, and an occasional unicorn hat. The last day of each week concludes with a horse show for campers to demonstrate their new-found and improved skills with family. In the end, it’s time for certificates, ribbons, and a couple of pics with their steed.

After 10 weeks of camp, we can truly say it’s the volunteers working in conjunction with the staff that make camp a success each year. One such volunteer is Lily Fosburgh, who started volunteering for camp six years ago when she turned fourteen. “In the beginning, I had no horse experience, I really gained a lot of confidence learning something new.”  Now a junior engineering major at Rutgers, Lily returns as a volunteer each summer. She finds working with the campers and horses provides balance to her very hectic academic schedule.

Thank you 2022 Volunteers and Staff!

Our Amazing Volunteers:
Nikki Blair, Mackenzie Caro, Tess Coffey, Sofia Criscola, Grace D'Anza, Debi DeLorenzo, Hope Dunleavy, Laura Edelson, Lily Fosburgh, Kate Goodrich, Nancy Grossweiler, Bessie Huggins, Catherine Huggins, Kathy Kapiloff, Sophia Leal, Madison Maldonado, Florie O'Brien, Saira Patel, Anna Squindo, Mary Ellen Yen, Sam Yagoda, Emma Yarton, Julia Yarton, Sabrina Yekta, McLaren van Rooyen, Molly Walsh, Elizabeth Walsh, Chase Ward, Christian Wong, and photographer, Olivia Iskra

Our Camp Staff:
Camp Director: Paige Ball        Camp Administrator: Kathy Dermody
Instructors: Kelly Champion, Jen Dermody, Kathy Dermody, Holland Kochanski, Kayla Thau, and Anna Wright
Camp Health Director: Melanie Dominko-Richards

Remember summer camp fills up SUPER quick.
Set a reminder for 9am on February 1st, 2023 when registration opens for next summer !!

Week 7 Update

Another scorcher week of summer camp is complete! Each morning the riders groomed and tacked with lightning speed to beat the heat. Throughout the week they worked on mastering various skills, including cantering, cavalettis, jumping crossrails, and even a vertical jump or two. Congratulations to our advanced riders!

Week 8

After 8 weeks of camp, there's a dusting of glitter on every surface at Mane Stream. This week's attendees included a mix of veteran campers and 2 cousins visiting from Italy! And Miss Kelly on roller skates made her usual appearance much to the delight of all.

Week 9

This week joining several veteran campers were siblings who live locally. First-time riders and returnees spent the week smiling from ear to ear. Gel glitter was introduced this week. Volunteers did an excellent job assisting the campers and instructors each day. Only 1 more week to go!

Week 10

Lots of firsts this week...1st time at Mane Stream Camp, 1st time trotting on the lunge-line, 1st time trotting independently, 1st time riding a horse (not a pony!), and so much more. The painting of the horses was pretty impressive too! You'll have to wait to see "Cousins Fishing Off the Pier" Minnie is such a good canvas.

Don’t miss out on all the fun…make sure to check out all the earlier weeks: Weeks 1-2 and Weeks 3-6.

Establishing Occupational Therapy at Mane Stream

50 People for 50 Years: Ilaria Borghese, MS, MA, OT and Entrepreneur

Career paths often twist and turn before arriving at a final destination and profession. Ilaria Borghese’s journey began after she received a master’s degree in neuroscience from the University of Connecticut. She was hired as the Clinical Coordinator for the Brain Research Center at Children’s Hospital in Washington, DC. It was her experience at the center that made Ilaria realize she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare and she applied to both medical and occupational therapy schools.

Ilaria’s first exposure to occupational therapy began when she volunteered at a facility near UConn. She had observed an OT who utilized horses in treatment and it was a profound experience. She recalls, “After applying to schools, I was going to go to the first place I received an acceptance letter from, and that happened to be an occupational therapy program at New York University.” Side note, Ilaria never even opened letters from other schools. Soon after receiving her master’s degree in occupational therapy, Ilaria moved to New Jersey with her husband. This is where fate leads Ilaria to the Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center (now Mane Stream).

Ilaria saw a flyer for an organization looking for volunteers at a local town hall. Upon completing the application, she met Karen Bocksel, Executive Director, who responded “You’re an OT? Do you want to start a program here?” Ilaria spent the next six years, in the early 2000’s, developing the first OT program at Mane Stream. Her first impression was that “It was such a welcoming and positive environment. I enjoyed how I could collaborate with other professionals who may not have necessarily been healthcare professionals, but were disability experts. I remember how supportive everyone was of one another.”

Ilaria’s favorite horse to use in therapy was Sue. While Sue definitely had her own likes and dislikes, Ilaria enjoyed working with her due to her movement and personality. Many years later, Ilaria was looking for a mare as a companion horse. She knew some people at Mylestone Equine Rescue and put in a call; they said that had just the horse for her. When Ilaria went to go and meet the horse, it was none other than Sue! Of course, Sue went home with Ilaria and spent the rest of her years on the farm. Ilaria also took another SHHRC horse home when a career in adaptive riding wasn’t quite the job for him. Kieffer is still at Ilaria’s farm today (and even sometimes helps her bring the garbage can up the driveway!)

When asked to share a treasured memory, Ilaria quickly shared the story of a local equestrian who became a quadriplegic due to a serious car accident. The woman’s husband reached out to Ilaria asking for help, and though the client was against coming at first, she was eventually convinced to try therapy at Mane Stream. In the beginning it took many people to get her safely on the horse and to support her once astride. However, after a couple of sessions, Ilaria could see that the client was accepting of her treatment sessions and gains were being made. With a feeling of deep satisfaction Ilaria recalled the day this client was not only able to transfer herself on and off the horse, but also when she was able to post at the trot because her muscles had the memory of doing so. Using her OT skillset and helping her client work towards her goal of riding again is a memory that Ilaria cherishes. 

In addition to horses, Ilaria has a special interest in Greyhound dogs and their unique medical issues. She has lectured and written articles on paw-related conditions in ex-racing Greyhounds and has conducted and co-authored one of the largest epidemiological studies on the breed. While practicing at Mane Stream, Ilaria extended her special interest and became the creator, designer, and innovator of therapeutic devices for animals. In 2001, she started Thera-Paw, Inc. a company that to this day still develops, manufactures, and distributes splints, braces, soft orthoses, protective garments, mobility aids, and other assistive products for animals with special needs. Ilaria eventually left Mane Stream so she could focus her time custom-fabricating these devices and working closely with small animal practitioners to develop novel approaches to custom splinting and bracing.

In 2010, Ilaria co-founded STAAR, the Symposium on Therapeutic Advances in Animal Rehabilitation, a conference for veterinary professionals that brings advanced courses in comprehensive animal care taught by the leaders in the field. By 2020, Ilaria also co-founded Vital Vet, a multi-platform supercenter dedicated to improving the lives of animals. Through this platform, all things related to animal rehabilitation, physical therapy, and pet fitness can now be found in one central location to help veterinary professionals and pet owners learn, connect, and make more informed decisions about their animal companions.

Mane Stream is fortunate that Ilaria’s path took her to Mane Stream where she established the first occupational therapy program which has benefitted hundreds of children and adults over the years.

Finally, Old Enough to Volunteer

50 People for 50 Years: Tess Coffey, Previous Camper and NEW Volunteer

Tess Coffey has been coming to Mane Stream summer camp forever, at least it feels like forever, in the best way possible. She has loved every minute of camp and for the past few years, she has been patiently waiting to turn 14. Why 14 you might wonder. Well, that’s the magic age for becoming a Mane Stream volunteer! This past June Tess FINALLY turned 14 and she wasted no time getting trained and jumping in as an official camp and program volunteer. Tess shared, “The people are so welcoming and patient. Each client is lovely to interact with. One therapy client I volunteer with has improved so much. It’s so exciting to see first-hand.” Tess is a jack of all trades too. “[I’ll do] Whatever is needed - adaptive leader, side walker, summer camp, therapy header, and I’m always happy to do barn chores too.”

Tess’s passion for horses all started with her older sister Catrionia. “My sister loves riding horses. Years ago, she started off as a volunteer at Mane Stream and then eventually became part of the barn staff. I am so grateful to her for sharing this incredible equestrian world with me.”

Tess remembers, “Mane Stream was a safe and well-organized barn, one that we trusted as a great place for me to start riding.” At camp each year, Tess learned all about beginner horsemanship and worked very hard learning new skills. “Whenever I rode a different horse at camp, I forgot everything else in my life and just focused on my riding.” Each summer at camp Tess became more independent with her riding, increasing her strength and connection with the horses. A couple of years ago, Tess decided that riding at camp wasn’t enough and she started taking lessons at Valley Crest Stables in Lebanon and currently rides a Haflinger named Makeeta. This fall she hopes to join the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) with Valley Crest to get some show experience.

As a camper, Tess worked with many instructors and reflects on those who have made a difference in her riding, “Kelly is super fun and never fails to brighten your day. Jen brings tough love when needed, but underneath that hard shell, she truly cares. Holland has taught me the basics and put up with ‘little me’ and for that, she is a saint.” Tess has also competed in several Mane Stream Horse Shows in the Camper Class, which gave her a chance to see all of the other Mane Stream riders.

Looking back at her years as a camper, Tess loved riding bareback and getting covered in glitter. As Tess moves forward from camper to volunteer, her sentiments remain the same, “Thank you to all of the wonderful staff that have taken care of me for so many years. Mane Stream has truly left a special mark on my heart.”

A Belief that Volunteering Betters Our Community

50 People for 50 Years: Laura Brucker, Equus - Gratitude Gala Co-Chair, and Board Member

Laura Brucker’s daily commute led her right to Mane Stream’s door. After learning more about the mission and meeting some people involved with then Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center, she attended the 2003 pirate-themed Equus Gala. “That evening, I met Board Member, Marianne Walsh Saladino, as well as, then-Executive Director, Nichola Redmond, who both encouraged me to join the Board of Directors.” Laura had worked in marketing professionally and had planned lots of events as a volunteer, which, coupled with her years as an equestrian and passion for our mission, made joining the Mane Stream Board the perfect fit.

Laura chaired her first Equus Gala in 2005 and since then co-chaired several others. Over the years Laura has worked with many co-chairs including Jaimie Morais, Sofia Cocoziello, Jill Friedland, Emily Maillet Kellogg and Marianne Walsh Saladino. Laura recalls, “I’ve seen it all while planning for Equus…from Katie Borghese standing tippy toe on a ladder at all hours of the night hanging dried leaves for a fall event at the USET to Sofia Cocoziello stuffing her entire arm into centerpiece filled with decorative jelly while glamorously dressed for our 2018 Fire and Ice Equus Gala.”

Thanks to Laura’s creativity and hard work, she, her co-chairs, and their committees have raised over $2 million through the years to support the participants and programs offered at Mane Stream. Part of their success is making sure that Equus guests feel connected to our mission and the participants who benefit from their generosity. One of the best ways to do that is to invite families and participants to tell their stories. “Probably the most special memory for me at Equus was when Jill Friedland’s daughter Lucy created a video about her brother Adam, one of our all-time favorite clients, who passed away. The video is used today to introduce our Helping Hands Pyramid component at Equus. The first time the video was shared at the event will remain with me forever - watching Adam’s family’s response and witnessing how it inspired the audience who remained silent and thoughtful while it was playing.”

Laura believes it is vital to assist local organizations to better our community. It has been extremely rewarding to spread the word about Mane Stream’s mission, and to gather generous friends and family to support the initiatives. Being involved with Equus has given Laura’s children wonderful opportunities to get involved and learn the benefits of supporting a nonprofit organization too. Her son, Jack, helped to produce a video that was shown to hundreds of people at Equus one year. And her daughter, Paige, has helped at Mane Stream horse shows and behind the scenes at Equus. “Mane Stream has become the one of the leading organizations of our extended family’s philanthropic efforts over the years.”

This year Laura is co-chairing 2022 EQUUS – Gratitude Gala with Marianne Walsh Saladino and Emily Maillet Kellogg, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Mane Stream. “I love to introduce new people to Mane Stream, and will continue to think of new ways for people to get involved or benefit from our programs.”

We know that with Laura and co-chairs at the helm, this year’s 50th Anniversary celebration will be a night to be remembered for And knowing Laura, she will bring new faces and friends to EQUUS at USET, this year and it will be a night to be remembered.  

She’s done it all!

50 People for 50 Years: Marianne Walsh Saladino, Volunteer, Board Member and Equus - Gratitude Gala Co-Chair

As many know, Marianne Walsh Saladino has been involved with Mane Stream and our fundraising events for years. Over twenty years in fact! She joined the Board of Directors in 2001 and that same year, co-chaired the Equus X gala with Penelope Ayers at Beval Saddlery. They say time flies when you are having fun, and Marianne has enjoyed every moment of being a part of Mane Stream. She has especially loved her involvement with our Equus galas - from Carnival in Venice to Disco Inferno to Sundance and so many more.

Marianne learned about Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center (now called Mane Stream) when she spotted an article in a local paper about the capital campaign to purchase and build our current facility. As a life-long rider, Marianne knew this organization would be a perfect fit for her skill set. She remembers, “One day a week I had a babysitter to watch my daughters Kara and Casey (who were one and two) at the time, and I decided to devote part of that day to SHHRC.” Before long Marianne was asked to be part of the organizing committee for the opening of the new facility in Oldwick, and from there she was asked to join the Board.

As both rider and volunteer, Marianne knows how special horses are. “So, it’s not that I was surprised when I heard a non-verbal rider’s first word was ‘pony’, but I will say that it took my breath away. Or when another rider was told they would never walk, and now they do. All the riders know how special the horses are. Just a common bond that riders share, no matter one’s ability.”

As Marianne’s commitment to Mane Stream grew, her daughters grew as well. For years Kara and Casey would watch lessons, play on the property and help set up events with their mother. “It was never a question if they would volunteer at Mane Stream, it was just a matter of when,” said Marianne. “The girls volunteered because they loved it!”

In 2013, Marianne “retired” as an active Board member and became an Emeritus Director. Recently she served on Mane Stream’s Strategic Planning Committee, bringing a very useful historical perspective to the process. In addition to her other valuable contributions, Marianne does have a true super power as a silent auction display creator. Year after year she swoops in to package baskets and setup the auction tables, making all of the items look fantastic and enticing for potential bidders.

This year, Marianne is once again co-chairing Equus with Laura Brucker and Emily Maillet Kellogg for our 50th Anniversary celebration and we are back at the famous and historic USET. It will be a family affair for Marianne with her daughters and husband attending that evening. “I’m excited for Equus this year celebrating 50 years of Mane Stream. And if past Equus’ are any indication, we are in for a fabulous night! I couldn’t think of a better place or a better mission to support.”

Volunteers Can Compete in the Horse Show

Calling ALL VOLUNTEERS!

Ride one of your favorite steeds…at a Reduced Rate!

If you are an active volunteer who has volunteered at least once in 2022 this is your chance to ride one of our amazing horses on Sunday, October 23rd. It's on a first-come, first-served basis so don't delay! After you register you will be prompted to create your own online fundraising "CHAMPION" page which will make it easy to raise money for the horse show OR bring your registration fee on 10/23.

Grab Your Chance >

Last year’s competitors had a blast and you can too!

6 Weeks of Camp Complete!

We’re in the home stretch with just 4 more weeks of summer camp to go. In addition to camp director, Paige Ball, there is a team of PATH Intl. Certified Instructors and volunteers helping at camp every day. Our inclusive summer day camp for children with special needs, their siblings, and their typically developing peers is a mainstay for the local community. Registration for camp opens on February 1st and for the past couple of years, parents have been diligent in registering immediately so their children get the weeks they want. Most spots are filled by mid-February, with a waiting list that continues to grow in the months that follow. We love our campers and it seems they love us too (or maybe it’s just our horses?)!

We love sharing camp activities with our community and volunteer photographers help make this happen. Olivia Iskra has come to camp every Monday this summer to ensure each and every camper has great pics to take home with them at the end of the week. These same pics are shared here and on socials. Whether you love the horses or the smiling faces of campers, volunteers, and instructors, without volunteer photographers like Olivia, we would see very little of what goes on each day. THANK YOU OLIVIA! And good luck in college we will miss you very much!

WEEK 3

Week 3 was a short week due to the long 4th of July weekend. For those who weren’t on vacation, coming to Mane Stream was a great option. With 2 brothers, 2 sisters, and the rest returning campers, the week got off to an easy start making for tons of smiles and a super cute parade of horses.

WEEK 4

Week 4 was the first of two Advanced Rider weeks and the campers worked on mastering trotting on the correct diagonal, going over cavalettis, cantering🐎, and some even tackled small jumps. This group also delved further into horse care with this year’s focus on getting comfortable with clippers! Head Instructor, Jen Dermody, also put everyone through their paces with her scavenger hunt, where campers work in teams to find the pieces of a bridle and then must put it together correctly. 🐎🏅👏

WEEK 5

What can we say about Week 5? It was super🔥HOT🔥but the riders were smart and rode early each day. That meant more time for cooler activities like bathing 💦their steeds 🐎. Congratulations to the riders, volunteers, and instructors who had a great time all week, despite the weather.

WEEK 6

In addition to daily riding lessons, week 6 riders were up for FUN starting on Day 1! There were backbends, dance-offs, and shenanigans pretty much every single day. They seemed to really know how to make the most of their 5 days. Special note: 3 campers first came to Mane Stream back in 2021 to earn their Girl Scout Horseback Riding Badge. They had so much fun that they also came to camp that year and then again this year.