Main Stay Therapeutic Farm

Kay sure knows how to make the best of a snowy day! ?? Due to the snow and poor weather conditions, all adaptive riding classes are CANCELED today (11/21). Stay safe everyone!

See Me, For Me: Meet Patty! Patty has been coming to Main Stay for six years, starting when she was a freshman at McHenry High School! She has graduated high school and continues her education with the Bridges program, which is a transitional program working towards independent living skills now that she is a young adult. Patty participates in our Equine and Animal Assisted Learning program, where she comes to work on goals. One of her goals this session is to work on using her softer/quieter “inside” voice. She wants people to know that she is funny and silly, and she is always ready to start up a dance party! Carla, Main Stay's Animal Assisted Learning Manager, has worked with Patty a lot over the years, and is so impressed that Patty is eternally positive and kind to everyone around her, animals and people alike! Learn more about Patty at:?mainstayfarm.org/Patty

Last week, Main Stay partnered with The Land Conservancy of McHenry County for a weeding workday as part of their Conservation @Work program! Our wonderful garden volunteers cleaned up the native flower beds in front of the building and learned how to help native species prepare for the winter. Did you know that pollinating insects will nest in the stems of plants? Thank you to our awesome team of garden volunteers and to the Land Conservancy for helping us maintain our native plants! We look forward to more partnership opportunities! ??

Meet Kay, one of our beloved adaptive riding horses who's been with us for 11 years! Her breed is a Norwegian Fjord, originating from the mountains of Norway. Fjords, as they are commonly known as, are an intelligent breed of horse that are both gentle, yet mighty! Their short, stocky build and calm demeanor makes them excellent adaptive riding horses, though they can excel in many other disciplines. Kay is brown dun in color, which means her body and mane are a light brown/cream color. However, there are five colors recognized by the breed standard. Dun-colored Fjords have primitive markings, including the dorsal stripe, which is a dark stripe running from the forelock to tail, and zebra-like striping on their legs and some on their withers. Their manes are very distinct with the black stripe down the middle and usually roached short to accentuate their curved, powerful necks. The Fjord is one of the world's oldest breeds, with their DNA dating back 4,000 years ago. They once served as Viking warhorses for their powerful movement and unflappable personalities, to later being used as valuable farm horses. In the early 1900's, an effort was made to restart the pure breeding of the Fjord with the stallion Njal, and today, all Fjord's can be traced back to him. Kay has a circle marking on her cheek, affectionately known as Njal Mark (as seen in the photo of Kay in her stall), tracing back to that stallion! Kay's unflappable attitude and surefootedness gives her riders great confidence in the saddle! ??

Did you know that annual dental work is essential for a horse’s health and well-being? Regular dental care is another important part in keeping our hard working equines comfortable and performing at their best! Even our miniature equine see Dr. Hunt and her awesome team from Midwest Veterinary Dental Services. This routine dental appointment helps to identify and fix issues before they become painful problems, ensuring our horses can eat and perform without discomfort. Horses are hypsodonts, meaning their teeth are continually erupting – about 1/8 of an inch a year! This type of teeth is common in mammals like horses and rabbits, who have a diet of coarse forages that wear down their enamel. Horses' upper portion of teeth are also wider than the bottom so this can often lead to uneven wear, which causes things like waves, sharp points and sharp edges called “hooks” to develop. Both reasons lend to why it is so important for equines to have proper and lifelong dentistry! An annual oral exam is most effective when done under the sedation of a licensed veterinarian. This is to ensure that all parts of the mouth can be inspected including the teeth, tongue, and muscles. Equine dentists will even manipulate the jaw to replicate chewing to ensure proper contact across all teeth. During the procedure – called a “float” – they will utilize both battery powered rasps and manual hand rasps, a dental speculum to comfortably open the mouth (as pictured with King & Fern) and liquid antiseptic is used to flush out any debris. More serious procedures such as a tooth removal are done in a clinic instead of at the farm, where they can conduct dental x-rays and provide a more sterile environment under anesthesia. Without proper dental care, a horse can suffer from malnutrition, chronic pain, impaction, colic, unwanted behaviors, and tooth loss in older horses. A well-maintained mouth leads to better focus and performance in the arena or on the trail with our clients. Good dental hygiene is also closely linked to proper digestion and nutrition in horses. A healthy mouth means we can continue keeping our incredible herd of equines looking and feeling good here at Main Stay! #didyouknow #horsehealth

We are so grateful for this partnership! ??

Good things happen when McHenry County non-profits come together! Main Stay will be participating in the Conservation@Work program through The Land Conservancy of McHenry County on Wednesday, October 23rd from 11am-1pm! If you’re interested in joining us to weed the native beds and learn more about native plants, please contact Mikki at [email protected] This program not only highlights our commitment to preserving native plants but also reflects our ongoing dedication to conservation. Since 2013, we’ve proudly safeguarded our land through a land easement with the Land Conservancy, as part of the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, ensuring its protection for generations to come. Interested in learning more about the Land Conservancy of McHenry County and their conservation programs? Check them out online at: conservemc.org

Students from McHenry High School harvest the first pumpkin of 2024 at the farm!

Registration for the annual McHenry County Santa Run is open! Join us on Sunday, December 1, 2024, at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake for a festive 5K and 1-mile walk/run! The 5K kicks off at 9 AM sharp. Register online at: https://lnkd.in/gcdsYr6Y Proceeds from this family-friendly event will benefit six local nonprofits, including Main Stay, who work with children in need across McHenry County. We are proud to be among these wonderful local organizations: Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County, CASA of McHenry County, Girls on the Run Northwest Illinois, Kids in Need of McHenry County, and Kiwanis Club of Crystal Lake.

On Saturday, September 14, we enjoyed a lovely picnic at the farm to celebrate and recognize our volunteers. The sunny day, delicious food and fun on the farm included visits to the Littles, games and new friendships. Thank you to our volunteers and their families who brought delicious food to share. We are so grateful for everything you do! We also want to thank staff family members for volunteering their time to help with the picnic!