Fall Session
September 26-November 26
Fall Session is right around the corner! It's time to start planning now! During this session we will be welcoming back the schools that we work with, as well as many new students and returning students! If you can help, please sign up using the link below.
If you have any friends who you can recruit as a volunteer, we would love to have them come for training in September! Please have your friends email volunteer@smilestherapeuticriding.org if they might be interested in volunteering!
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Welcome To The Team!
We have a few more volunteers we'd like to welcome to the team! Please give a big SMILES greeting to:
Sonja Bangert
Shara Storandt
Laura Sasse
Paula Smieszkal
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Recreational Rides- Volunteers Needed! |
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We have THREE recreational rides scheduled in August! Can you help?? For those of you who are new, a rec ride is a group of students who come in for a one-time experience, 90 minutes in length. The group rotates through three stations, typically 30 minutes of riding, 30 minutes of grooming, and 30 minutes of learning about horse nutrition. These are fun experiences with very excited students!
Here are the dates and times:
Wednesday, August 10, 10:00am-11:30am
Wednesday, August 17, 10:00am-11:30am
Wednesday, August 24, 10:30-12:00pm
If you are able to volunteer for any of these rec rides, please use the link below to sign up. I will confirm your attendance as we get closer!
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New Training Video!
Fly Spray- Apply it the right way!
Please watch this updated training video on how to apply fly spray. There is a right and a wrong way to do this, and we want to make sure all of our volunteers are educated about fly spray. We've got a few more months left dealing with these pesky critters, and need your help to keep our horses comfortable!
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To watch the past training video we've shared on fly spray/fly masks, click the button below. Much of the information is the same, except we included a fly mask tutorial in the previous video, so it is a little longer. |
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YouTube Channel!
Don't forget about the SMILES YouTube channel! We've made almost 30 training videos over the past few years, and we want this to continue to be a resource for our volunteers! Remember, every horse barn does things a little differently, so even if you have horse experience, these videos help to show you the "SMILES" way, and keep our horses and students feeling comfortable with the consistency we provide them.
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HEARTS Training Module
Did you take the HEARTS training module that we included in the July Newsletter? If not, click the button below to get started! This shows an Instructor working with one of our HEARTS clients so you can get an idea of how a HEARTS session should be conducted.
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Horse Show Thank You!
Thank you to the volunteers who helped at the SMILES Open Benefit Horse Show in July! We had two long days of horse showing, and volunteers really stepped up to help us! Please join us in thanking the following volunteers:
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Bonnie Hoover
Jim Hoover
Tolly Skilling
Monica Tomasello
Donna Thielen
Cindi Seichter
Kevin Gong
Rita Grespan
Lynn Peterson
Sharon Bates
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Tammie Mueller
Jessica Newlun
Molly Newlun
Pat Pahmeier
Liz Boss
Maddi Bamford
Jen Fiedler
Barb Bobbe
Karla Bockholt
Denise Milano
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County Fair Show
Friday, September 2, Walworth County Fairgrounds
We have one more horse show that we need volunteers for! This show happens during the Walworth County Fair. If you volunteer, you will receive a free one-day admission pass as entrance to the fair. We have several jobs available- the show begins at 8:30am! Click the link below to sign up!
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Save the Date!
Student Horse Show & Open House
Saturday, September 17, 9:00am
Who else is excited for our annual Superstar Student Horse Show and Open House?? The big day is Saturday, September 17! I will send a separate email with more details and a volunteer sign up, but mark your calendars now so you can join us for this fun day!
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We have scheduled several facility work days during the month of September to catch up on some much needed projects around the facility, and get the barn in tip-top shape before the Student Horse Show & Open House.
Wednesday, September 7 & 14, 8:30-1:00
Clearing brush from fence lines (lunch will be provided)
Thursday, September 15, 9:00-2:00
Facility/Barn Clean Up (lunch will be provided)
If you can help with any of these projects, please click the link below to sign up!
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Welcome, Emily!
SMILES has a new Marketing and Development Coordinator! We are so excited to welcome Emily to the SMILES family! She has a huge passion for what we do here and has had a dream to work at a therapeutic riding facility since she was young. Emily has been around horses for 13+ years and has been volunteering her time with residents that have dementia and Alzheimer’s. Stop in the office and say hi the next time you are at the barn!
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August Volunteer Spotlight |
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August Spotlight is on....Liz Boss!!
How did you become involved with SMILES, and how long have you been volunteering?
I became involved with SMILES through my beautiful daughter in law Katie Boss. It will be two years in October…and to think I used to be a bit afraid of horses!
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Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Delavan, Wisconsin.
Who is your favorite horse at SMILES and why?
I love all of the horses at SMILES but Rio is my favorite. He's such a kind and gentle horse and he's the horse that trained me.
If you were gifted a million dollars, what would you do with it?
If I was gifted a million dollars I would donate to my favorite charities. SMILES, The Time is Now To Help and Lakeland Animal Shelter. I would also take some amazing vacations!
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What is something you like to do in August?
August is a great time to paddle board, kayak, golf, and hike with my dogs. This year August brings a bachelorette party for my daughter, Molly.
What do you enjoy about volunteering at SMILES?
I love volunteering at SMILES! It feels like family there. The staff, the volunteers, the students and their families have a special connection. I love working with the horses and their quirky personalities too. I'm learning so much!
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August Birthdays at SMILES! |
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Happy Birthday!
Tiffany Howell, August 5
Kim Quick, August 6
Christa Kokott, August 16
Kathryn Harbison, August 6
Joan Dutton, August 7
Katie Boss, August 13
Greg Stevens, August 20
Sue Daniels, August 20
Glenn Boss, August 23
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SMILES transcends traditional therapeutic methods by offering individuals with special needs the joy of participating in an equine-assisted program which provides social, emotional, physical and personal rewards. |
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