Team Building With a Little Help from the Herd
Just last month, on a rainy morning, the barn buzzed with a new kind of energy as Mane Stream welcomed students from Passaic County Technical-Vocational School for our first-ever Team Building Field Trip!! A unique twist on our traditional field trip model, and one we hope to offer more of in the future.
What made this visit different? A collaboration between two Occupational Therapists and two Adaptive Riding Instructors who co-designed a two-hour experience focused on emotional regulation, leadership, and self-awareness, all with the horses as their guides.
Rain may have kept the group in the barn and indoor arena, but the cozy quarters worked in the students’ favor. The close setting heightened the group’s body awareness and made every interaction intentional. The day began with grooming, a sensory-rich activity that encouraged students to notice how the horses responded to different types of touch. Were the horses relaxed? Did they move closer, lean in, or give a gentle sigh? Students were encouraged to look for subtle cues and build trust through observation and care.
From there, the learning deepened. Occupational Therapist Emily Bucher, OTR/L, explained:
“We worked with the students to learn about their own emotions and think about how to best set up their day for success,” said Emily Bucher, OTR/L. “We promoted self-care skills, including mental health practices like meditation and visualization. Using the horses, we created moments that fostered leadership, confidence, groundedness, and empowerment.”
Later, the group moved into the indoor arena for a live demonstration with Cody and Joe. As the ponies entered a visually overwhelming space filled with cones, barrels, and jumps, their hesitation was clear, they scanned the ring, wide-eyed, ears flicking, and unsure. Cody even gave a few snorts as he was led toward unfamiliar objects. Students were asked to interpret the horses' body language and then reflect on their own reactions in unfamiliar settings.
“This activity gave us a great way to talk about body language,” explained Jen Dermody, Director of Program Services and Advanced PATH Intl. Certified Instructor. “Emily helped the students connect what they observed in the horses to how they interpret and respond to new environments in their own lives.”
The students reflected on these interactions and explored questions like: What do I do when I enter an unfamiliar space? How do I prepare myself to stay grounded? The horses became mirrors, helping the students gain insights into themselves.
The learning continued with a hands-on team obstacle challenge. Volunteer Leroy Hunninghake shared, “Watching 4 groups of students build a combined obstacle course and then lead a horse through it was incredible. And to make matters even more challenging, two leaders worked together to guide the horse, with the entire group cheering them on. All of the students were totally engaged, learned a lot about horses, and were able to use both verbal and non-verbal communication between each other and their horses throughout the exercise.”
As the challenge wrapped up, a little friendly competition added a perfect finish to the day. In a surprise speed round, the group watched as Minnie, the sturdy Norwegian Fjord, raced through the course, beating the much-larger Don by more than 15 seconds, a result that brought the barn to life with cheers and laughter.
This hands-on approach helped the students see themselves in a new light, capable, self-aware, and resilient. And for the Mane Stream team, it was a deeply rewarding moment to see the potential of this new kind of field trip model come to life.
As we continue to expand how we serve schools and community groups, this team-building experience has set the bar high. One thing is certain: horses have a powerful way of connecting people to themselves and each other, and this day proved just how far that connection can go. It was a stepping stone toward self-awareness, trust, and empowerment. We can’t wait to host more programs like this in the future.
Interested in scheduling a Field Trip?
Contact jen@manestreamnj.org to learn what the options are for your trip!
