February 2021 Newsletter
Read on to find out what's happening at Rocking Horse Rehab!
Session Times Available!
At RHR we are proud to be offering in-person occupational, speech, occupational, physical, and mental health therapies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our heated indoor arena and on-site clinic allows us to offer services year round! At RHR we are following CDC guidelines to keep everyone as safe as possible.

Call us today to learn about open spring time slots: 
973-731-8588

Visit our website to learn more about what we do!
Horse of the Month: Star

Star is a pony owned by Essex Equestrian Center who kindly lends him to the RHR program from time to time. Star is an excellent substitute teacher; he is calm, patient, and kind. He has taught lessons for a long time and has cared for a lot of students. RHR staff and students love working with Star!
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Staff Member of the Month: Alex
Alexandra Genis is the newest member of our therapy team. She is a physical therapist who received her doctor of physical therapy degree from New York Institute of Technology. She currently works with the Parsippany/Troy school district providing therapy for school children in addition to her time at RHR.

Although she does not have a background in horses, she has taken some lessons and trail rides, and has she was quick to become comfortable with using a horse as a treatment strategy. We are looking forward to watching Alex grow as a therapist!
Volunteer of the Month:
Donna

Donna came to RHR after volunteering at another therapeutic center. Now that her own children are grown, she has been looking to reignite her passion of horses. She also volunteers helping rehabilitate retired Standardbred horses. Donna brings joyful energy, attention to detail, and tremendous support to our students. Pictured at top left is her riding her own horse Diamonds, at a show hosted here in 1975. On the bottom left is Donna with Star, an Essex Equestrian pony who sometimes helps our riders.
Italian Welfare League Grant
RHR is a recipient of a generous grant from the Italian Welfare League, an organization which assists children of Italian descent who have developmental disabilities, are ill, or have suffered an emotional trauma. Since 2001, the League has donated more than $1,850,000 to over 1,470 recipients for medical bills, special needs equipment, therapeutic services, transportation, and rehabilitation. Their grant helps us to provide services for children of Italian descent who otherwise would not be able to afford our services.

For more information on how to receive a grant for our services, please email us at: 

Voted NJ Favorite Kids' Docs 2020!
Congratulations to our RHR therapists who have been voted NJ's Favorite Kids' Docs 2020!

  • Sheri Marino, MA, CCC-SLP
  • Kathy Lutz, LCSW, CADC
  • Laura Dobias, OTR/L
  • Michele Mimikos, OTR/L
  • Susan Romano-Silva, OTR/L


Thank you to all of our clients who voted! Make sure to check out the magazine when it comes out in December!
Check Out Our Partner:
Autism Healthcare Collaborative
The Autism Healthcare Collaborative is a non-profit organization providing programs to medically complex and behavioral challenged individuals with autism. Call today to receive a free phone screening to determine which program would be most beneficial for your child. Grants are available for some services. 


University Partners:
Thank you to the following universities and colleges for providing us with wonderful student interns. We are honored to help influence their futures in the health professions as fieldwork educators.

  • Eastwick College
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University
  • Felician College
  • Kean University
  • Monmouth University
  • Montclair State University
  • New Jersey City University
  • New York University
  • Raritan Valley College
  • Philadelphia University
  • Queens College
  • Rutgers Univeristy
  • Salus University
  • Seton Hall University
  • St. Catherine's Univeristy
  • State College of Pennsylvania
  • Tauro College
  • University of Scranton
  • Villanova University
  • William Paterson University


To complete an internship at RHR, email: info@rockinghorserehab.com
About Our Founder
Sheri A. Marino, MA CCC-SLP
Sheri founded Rocking Horse Rehab in September 2001. She is a pediatric speech-language pathologist specializing in autism spectrum disorders. Sheri oversees program development and operations for RHR with the support of a dedicated, professional, management team.

Outside of RHR, Sheri serves as the Executive Director of the Autism Healthcare Collaborative, a non-profit organization providing programs for individuals with medically complex and behaviorally challenging autism. 
Our Mission Statement

Rocking Horse Rehab is a pediatric rehabilitation and family wellness center located within the Essex Equestrian Center in West Orange, NJ.

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of individuals with special needs and their families by offering innovative opportunities for clinical, educational and social development.

Our philosophy is to treat the "whole child" using equine assisted therapies with the expertise of our highly specialized staff.