MANE STREAM INC
Unbridled Possibilities for children and adults with special needs
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Mane Stream's programs fill the need for high quality recreation and therapy services for children and adults with special needs. Through our adaptive riding program we provide our participants with a recreational activity that they are unable to access in the same way as their neuro-typical peers. Mane Stream's specially trained instructors are experts in modifying activities to ensure that our riders are able to learn skills that will lead them to achieve. Our therapy services program provides a unique opportunity to use the horse's dynamic movement as an effective tool in therapy sessions. Most of our clients participate in multiple therapies throughout their week and their sessions at Mane Stream can yield different results because of the tools and the environment. For 52 years Mane Stream's programs have been an important part of our participant's lives, giving them valuable and meaningful experiences leading to improved quality of life.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Adaptive Horsemanship
Adaptive riding lessons use adaptive teaching techniques and/or equipment to help riders learn riding and horsemanship skills through instruction from a PATH-certified instructor. Riders may be assisted by volunteers to lead the horse or walk along with the rider when necessary. The goal of riding is for each rider to become as independent as possible. Our instructors customize lessons to each rider’s needs. The horses in our program are calm and dependable, and are capable of helping our riders walk, trot, canter, and even jump. Our horses also enjoy trail rides and games.
Inclusive Summer Camp
As a complement to our year-round programs, each summer Mane Stream provides an inclusive day camp program for both children with disabilities and able-bodied children. The camp has attained full approval as a youth camp from both state and county health departments. In addition to daily riding lessons and learning horsemanship skills, campers participate in games, crafts, and other equine activities.
Physical Therapy Services
Physical therapy is for individuals who wish to increase their balance, strength, endurance, flexibility, and improve their gross motor and mobility skills.
Occupational Therapy Services
Occupational therapy is designed for individuals who wish to improve motor control, coordination, balance, attention, sensory processing and performance in daily tasks.
Speech and Language Therapy Services
Speech-Language Therapy is for individuals who wish to improve speech and language communication through augmentative communication, sign language and verbal modalities.
Horses for Healing
Horses for Healing is an equine assisted activities program for those living with, recovering from and living life after cancer. Whether during treatment or post-treatment many cancer patients and survivors feel the need for activities that remove them temporarily from the demands of treatment schedules, medical professionals and even the anxious concern of friends and family members. The Horses for Healing program recognizes this unique situation and provides a healthy outlet for children and adults. Horses for Healing is built on a team model that forms a support network outside of the illness experience. The program offers horsemanship, grooming and bonding time with the horses, adaptive riding instruction and adaptive carriage driving. Horses for Healing gives participants a broad experience with the horses at Mane Stream.
OPERATION: Take The Reins
Take the Reins is a program for veterans to provide physical rehabilitation through equine assisted therapy. Mane Stream's physical therapist, a former Olympic athlete and PATH Registered Instructor will oversee the program with the support of a mental health professional. Our program is designed to reduce stress, combat isolation and depression, and encourage a healthy and active lifestyle. This program is free to veterans with funding provided through Wounded Warrior Project.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of therapy hours provided to clients
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, People with disabilities
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
This is number of therapy visits - each visit is 45 minutes.
Number of speech therapy sessions performed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Related Program
Speech and Language Therapy Services
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Mane Stream's goals are to provide high quality therapy services (occupational, physical, speech-language, mental health) and to teach horsemanship and riding to children and adults with special needs.
Our programs show that connections to horses can have powerful and profound positive impacts for our special needs participants. We have programs for veterans, people living with and recovering from cancer, and children and adults with developmental, emotional, behavioral and physical challenges with the goal of using our horses to improve their quality of life.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our key strategies are to provide high-quality programs that directly benefit our participants. Our team of therapists, instructors, volunteers, horses and administrative staff all work together to ensure that each participant is able to fully realize their individual goals.
We give our horses the best care and training possible so they are able to work hard for our participants.
Therapists and instructors are encouraged to participate in professional development and networking opportunities with their peers so they are constantly learning how to best serve our clients and riders.
Volunteers attend rigorous training before they begin working in our programs and we offer education throughout the year to increase their knowledge and ensure that they and our clients are safe during our programs.
Everything we do at Mane Stream is client focused, meaning that our clients are the reason we exist and we work to ensure that their experiences at Mane Stream are meaningful and providing the very best equine assisted activities and therapies that we can.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Mane Stream has a dedicated donor base who helps ensure that we meet our financial goals. In addition to individual donors, we also enjoy foundation and corporate support and host two fundraising events annually.
All of our staff are experts in their respective fields and continue to hone their skills with professional development and training when possible. Mane Stream routinely hosts therapy students and interns, helping shape future practitioners.
Our horses are a vital part of our successful program and we treat them accordingly. They are trained for their jobs and enjoy lots of turn out time.
Mane Stream has the personnel, financial and horse resources in place to enable us to implement our mission and meet our goals.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
For 52 years Mane Stream has provided equine assisted therapy and adaptive riding for children and adults with special needs. We work to develop programs that meet the changing needs of the local and regional special needs community. When possible, we develop projects to address deficits in service.
Our programs are mostly fully subscribed. Every year we look to see if there is a specific population who could benefit from our services and try to develop a program and partnership with a local organization to implement a program. An example of this is our Horses for Healing program for individuals living with, recovering from or living life after cancer.
In 2018 we began offering field trip programs to community groups and schools. This program started with one Girl Scout troop and has expanded to over 15 group visits per year and includes special education classes and other organizations serving children and adults with special needs. In 2019 we partnered with the Adult Day Center of Somerset and Good Grief to create programs for senior adults with dementia and children living with grief. In 2023, we developed a program for individuals living with Parkinson's Disease based on our successful Horses for Healing program.
Our ultimate goal is to provide programs for everyone who can benefit from working with our team of horses, therapists/instructors and volunteers so we will continue to reach out to different special needs populations to meet this goal.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
MANE STREAM INC
Board of directorsas of 01/18/2024
Karen Kaufhold
Karen Kaufhold
Cynthia Barkman
Steve Bezer
Madison Rezai
Linda Dietz
Jeanne Rogalin
Michael Renfer
Kate Coyne
Sarah Gore
Elizabeth Sobel
Emily Maillet Kellog
Julia Greifeld
Kathy Kamine
Amy Gimbel
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/07/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.