Our girls are constantly in training and we try to think of novel experiences for them to have.  One new adventure recently was a visit to Big R in Homer Glen.  We called ahead and the manager and staff were gracious and assured us the girls were welcome as long as they are leashed.  Since we had been practicing with our shoes, we decided to pay them a visit.

Our visit was a lot of fun and the shoppers at Big R were curious and happy to see the girls.  As expected, the girls were well behaved and had a good experience.  We shopped for some soft brushes to use on our visits so that residents can brush the girls.

It is always a pleasant surprise how friendly and engaged complete strangers are when horses are in the mix.  One gentleman mentioned that he had dad a farm on 139th a long time ago and that his first job was cleaning the horses.  Another lady mentioned she gets her compost from JB’s Ranch.  All shoppers and employees were so excited to engage with the girls.

It was a very positive experience and once again we are so proud of Molly and Mercy and happy that our visit brought a smile to so many folks.

 

Saturday, October 22, 2016 was a momentous day for Merciful Minis. We made our first visit to The Pointe at Kirkpatrick. Months and months of work, so many wonderful people helping to make this dream a reality and then the very first time the girls visited a residence. We can’t thank all the people who made this a reality enough. From encouraging words, training help, living space and all the great ideas…THANK YOU.
I don’t think anyone can be totally prepared for the first visit. Yes…we trained and prepared and practiced. We cleaned the girls until they (literally) shined…and then cleaned ourselves 🙂 That part we were ready for…it was the smiles and the feelings of happiness from those we were visiting that can really make you feel so blessed to be part of this. And…not just the residents…the staff were excited, the families that were there were happy (adult children and grandchildren…dogs too), but also the neighborhood residents who greeted us in the parking lot. One gentleman talked of his horses in Montana. Another asked the activity director how she was going to top this (Merciful Minis)?
We are on our way to share the magic that horses (no matter what the size) bring!

We have worked so hard since January to learn how to be a team with Molly and Mercy and to get the skills needed to be successful pet partners.  On Saturday, October 8th Patty and Laura tested with each of the girls (Molly and Mercy) and are now certified pet partner teams.  The minis were great….the humans were nervous wrecks.  Thanks to our testers Denise  and Jenna for your patience and genuine desire to not only assure the girls were ready but that they wanted us all to be successful.  We are ready to go forth into the therapy world.  We couldn’t have done this without the help of so many especially our dear friend Martha (and her dog Trudy)who shows the girls patience and love every day.  It took a village to get this far.  So many more have made this possible and your assistance is appreciated.

After several months of training , Mercy and Molly are preparing to begin their careers as mini therapy horses. They are quick learners and have calm, easy going manners. They’ll be naturals at bringing joy to those they visit !

Here are pictures of the two babies playing together (to make you smile) and the two girls getting dressed up to visit.

 

It’s been several months since adding Molly and Mercy into our lives in Homer Glenn, IL. Carol Swinford, of Shades of Blue Ranch, and Jodie Diegel of Mane in Heaven have been our Guardian Angels eager at all times to help us with our many questions regarding the unique needs of the miniature horses.

So many people are eager to join our team as we prepare to visit those who could use a boost as they meet the challenges of illness and aging.

Molly and Mercy have been the core of our Dream Team. Our little Falabella mares are eager to learn and are very tolerant of so many distractions and noises during our workshops attended by volunteers acting as patients and residents of sites we plan to visit.

Laura Berry and Pat Ulbricht recently completed a Handlers Workshop in Elkhart, IN through the Pet Partners organization. This July, Molly and Mercy will be evaluated to determine their readiness to begin their therapy visitations.

There is so much excitement and anticipation as we will welcome this Fall two beautiful colts from Shades of Blue Ranch to our Merciful Minis team. “The Boys” are currently with their mothers frolicking in the pasture, running summersaults over anything in their path. A special Thank You to Beth Berenson for providing stalls, paddocks, feed and a beautiful pasture for the minis to enjoy when they’re not busy entertaining the patients and residents of area facilities. A special thanks also to Terry Nolan for building a lean to, providing shelter for the minis when they are not in their stalls and to Marty Shimkus for designing our Merciful Minis logo.

This has been an unbelievably wonderful beginning to an exciting new adventure. We thank all for your words of encouragement and willingness to support the Merciful Minis therapy horse program! Please join us at our next workshop and don’t forget to bring your hoola hoops, wheel chairs, canes, beach balls and walkers!

And So We Begin

March 10, 2016

Molly and Mercy have been home at JB’s Ranch for a few months now and getting to know the horses and people (dogs too) who call this home as well. Routines, which are so important, are being established albeit with some anticipated changes as the warm weather arrives. The most important for the first few weeks and months is building relationships with handlers so that there is genuine trust established. We will be asking these little girls to go into strange and complicated places (nursing homes with elevators, furniture, wheel chairs and lots of people to name a few). Without the trusting relationship with the handler, visits will not be successful.

Additionally, we are recruiting others interested in volunteering for these visits. It takes many hands for successful visits and to prepare for the visits. Sensitivity training with the equipment, strange activity and noise are part of this time as well. Soon we will practice specific skills that mini and human will need to pass our Pet Partner tests!

 

Heading Home-A New Adventure

January, 23, 2016

It is with happy hearts that we brought home Molly and Mercy (Star Baby) from Shades of Blue Ranch
 in Hebron, Illinois.  Our mission is to work with our little ladies and have therapy horses in the 
south suburbs of Chicago.

We were able to work with Carol (Shades of Blue Ranch) to select these 
girls to work with.

Back at their new home (JB's Ranch in Homer Glen, Illinois) the girls 
settle into their new routine.

We will be recording our story of becoming registered therapy teams and 
visiting nursing homes, veterans and other groups.