Driving for Surviving Lives On

Group that teaches driving to kids who faced life-threatening illness will join with the state's oldest therapeutic riding organization for a new way forward

The question of whether Driving for Surviving could survive the death of its founder last year has just been answered: Mane Stream is picking up the reins.

New Jersey's pioneering therapeutic riding facility, Mane Stream (formerly the Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center) will be taking over the driving program that was started by Shelley Zlotkin of sharingVillage to support children recovering from cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Zlotkin's husband, Martin, was serving as acting director trying to assure continuity, but the way forward was uncertain without the program's founder.

As Driving for Surviving comes under the Mane Stream umbrella, however, the smaller group's work can proceed, and it's good news not only for the youngsters, but also for the contributors and volunteers who made the program run.

"Their mission and ours are very much the same, making for a good marriage. They, too, are professionals with a passion to help compromised children,'' said Zlotkin, who believes, "Shelley would be proud of this dynamic association."

He pointed out, "They also have professional grant writers and know how to secure funding, a full time office staff, PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International)-certified instructors and licensed therapists. They are an established and professional organization, a leader in providing equine-assisted therapy and adaptive horsemanship programs."

Driving for Surviving owns a group of mini-horses and ponies used to teach the children driving, giving a new dimension to lives that have been compromised by disease and the problems that come with it.

World Pairs Driving Championship gold medalist Sharon Chesson of Bedminster has been involved coaching the children, whose self-esteem gets a boost from learning a skill. The new venue in Oldwick offers an indoor ring, which means year-round programming and no need to cancel sessions because of the weather, as was the case when Driving for Surviving was based in Bedminster.

Zlotkin plans to stay involved.

"I hope to be able to represent Shelley's wishes, her ideals and her vision; that's where I'm coming from," he said.

"Shelley spent so many years and (gave) so much love and devotion to this program, I just can't imagine allowing it to fall by the wayside."

Maureen Pethick, a key member of Driving for Surviving's advisory board, noted, "I feel it's the best of both worlds because we have the ponies and the carts and volunteers, but we don't have the infrastructure; Mane Stream has the infrastructure and everything in place. We can add to their program and with them taking on ours, we can continue."

Pethick, who is the communications and facilities coordinator for the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation, noted it would have been "really sad to see everything Shelley worked for disappear after all the hard work of all the people; the volunteers and the kids."

Some of those who have been through the program will come on board on as mentors for what will be called Driving for Surviving at Mane Stream, so it can keep its identity.

"It has such good name recognition and is well thought-of in the community and the equestrian community. We don't want to lose the connection," explained Mane Stream's executive director, Nichola Redmond.

The minis and ponies will be shipped in for lessons, since they can't be housed in Oldwick because of the restriction on the number of equines allowed to live on the property, but Mane Stream will have a satellite Readington facility in the future, which may open another door for the program.

Redmond added that taking on Driving for Surviving is "a big step for us," noting her group "provides programs for people with physical, developmental, emotional and medical challenges."

She hopes Driving for Surviving can start in June with cancer survivors as a primary focus for the pilot program, which likely will go into December and include eight to ten participants. At first, she wants to "keep it a little small, to make sure we can work out all the logistics. Once we get all that ironed out we'll be able to expand it significantly. This is Shelley's legacy and we want to maintain that.

"Initially, we'll stick with the kids, because that's where the client base has come from in the past. I hope eventually to open it up (to adults) and make it more family-oriented. There are a lot of possibilities for expansion. It's just going to depend on time and space and funding."

More information is available at sharingvillage.org and manestreaminc.org.

ON THE RAIL -- The Sussex County Horse Show is back on track after a divisive legal battle over finances with the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show.

Ken Okken, a former president of the August show, and Robin Fairclough, a trainer whose father, Robert Rost, managed the competition in Augusta for years, are taking over the effort to put on the A-rated fixture at the Sussex County Fairgrounds.

"Everything's going to be business as usual," said Okken, who is president again. Cory Corrigan, the manager for 19 years, will be serving in that role once more, and the $50,000 Kistler Grand Prix is on the schedule, along with such regular features as the Lou Dobbs Show-sponsored jumper feature.

Fairclough said the prizelist will be "pretty much the same as last year" and box seats (a bone of contention in the lawsuits) will be available for patrons, while general admission folks will have free seating in the bleachers.

A group of horse show officials sued the fair, and they in turn were sued by the fair. The matter was settled with the resignation of five horse show directors and an agreement to give the fair financial control of the show.

Although there has been a lot of bitterness as a result of the long-running unpleasantness, Okken and Fairclough are simply moving ahead.

"We need to let the past go," said Okken, who is focusing on making sure one of the state's landmark shows retains its status. The Sussex County Benefit show series also will continue.

"We're going to get it done and we're committed to making it happen," said Okken, noting spectators and exhibitors won't notice a difference.

More volunteers are needed. Those who are interested can call the show at (973) 948-5022. For more information, go to the show's website, sussexcountyhorseshow.com.

He has finished second, third and anywhere but first over a dozen or so years, but Mario Deslauriers finally won the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational last night in Tampa, topping a field of 32 on Cella.

Leaving out a stride to the last jump put him ahead of Molly Ashe Cawley, a two-time Invitational winner, who was riding Carissimo and Beezie Madden, third with Simon. They were the only three to score double-clears in the five-horse jump-off before a crowd of more than 7,000 in Raymond James Stadium.

"She's a big horse, but she's quick enough," said Deslauriers. "I met the first fence on a good lick and the jump-off kind of fell into place. I thought she jumped fantastic."

The mare wears a distinctive nose net that was part of the original equipment that came with her. "We haven't changed it, it works, so we always ride her in it," Deslauriers said.

Meg Sleeper of Frenchtown has been named to the long list for August's World Endurance Championships in England with both Syrocco Reveille and Syrocco Cadence. Sleeper, a veterinary cardiologist, is a championships veteran.

Eventer Kristin Schmolze of Califon and her horse, Cavaldi, are looking for help to get them over to England next month for the 4-star Badminton Three-Day Event. A benefit party will be held from 6-10 p.m. April 18 at Oldwick Manor at the Oldwick Firehouse, 163 Oldwick Road, Oldwick.

The speaker will be Olympic judge Marilyn Payne. Other attractions include a buffet, open bar, silent auction and dancing.

The cost is $65 per person in advance, $75 at the door. RSVP by Thursday to kseventingcrossthepond@yahoo.com or (201) 320-4428. Those who would like to make a tax-deductible donation but cannot attend do so through the American Horse Trials Foundation (ahtf.org).

Volunteers are needed April 21 and 22 to clean up flower beds and the cross-country course at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown in preparation for next month's Jersey Fresh event, which is also an Olympic selection trial. Receipts are available for community service hours worked. Contact Joan Harper of Friends of the Horse Park NJ at Epicsdream@aol.com to sign up.

Meanwhile, the Friends' Youth Council is organizing painting parties through next Sunday to re-do stalls before Jersey Fresh. Any youth groups can come, along with anyone who needs to do community service. Advance notice is needed to make sure adequate painting supplies are available. Youth groups must have adult supervision. For more information contact Kiersten Holswade @ 609-468-1416 or email to kholswade@gmail.com. A typical time frame will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Lunch will be provided by the park for those working a full six hours.
 

Barrel racing clinics are among the Horse Park's new offerings this year. They will be held on the first and third Tuesday evenings of every month. For more information, go to horseparkofnewjersey.com.

Donations of tack and horse-related equipment are being sought by Mane Stream for its sale April 21 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and April 22 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Items may be dropped off at Mane Stream, 83 Old Turnpike Road (Route 517) Oldwick, or Mane Stream will pick them up. Call (908) 439-9636, or e-mail jen@mainsteaminc.org.

Rutgers Equine Science Center is presenting a webinar at 7 p.m. Tuesday on re-feeding the starved horse. This is geared to anyone interested in rescuing horses, whether with a group or as an individual. The webinar may be accessed at http://tinyurl.com/6wrjqvl.

It is recommended to log on to the webinar 10-15 minutes before the start time in order to install the software and make sure the sound is working.  For complete information regarding the webinars, please go to the Equine Science Center website at esc.rutgers.edu.

ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE

Thursday: Four Seasons Show, Duncraven, 1300 Trenton Harbourton Road, Titusville (through next Sunday).
Saturday: Sussex County Benefit Show, Sussex County Fairgrounds, Plains Road, Augusta; Chapter One Farms Arena Driving Trials, Pedricktown-Woodstown Road, Pedricktown; Alexandria Equestrian Association Gymkhana, Alexandria Township Park, Route 519 and 631, Alexandria Township (10 a.m. start).
Next Sunday: Friends of Lord Stirling Stable Private Horse Hunter Pace, 256 S. Maple Ave., Basking Ridge (9 a.m.-1 p.m.); N.J. Quarter Horses Association All-Breed Charity Trail Ride, Laurita Winery, 31 Archertown Road, New Egypt (njqha.com); Delaware Valley Horsemen's Association Western and Draft Show, DVHA Showgrounds, Route 604, Sergeantsville; Silver Bit & Spur Farm Gymkhana, 631 Route 523, Whitehouse Station (10 a.m. start); Baymar Farms Show, 38 Harbor Road, Marlboro; High Point Equestrian Center Dressage Show, Combined Test and Horse Trials, 20 Birchtree Road, Montague; Cream Ridge Pony Club and Silver Dollar Stables Dressage Show and Combined Test, 80 Petty Road, Cranbury.
Nancy Jaffer may be reached at nancyjaffer@att.net.