We are currently hiring for three different positions:
- Marketing & Development Coordinator (full-time, exempt)
- Office Manager (part-time)
- PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) (part-time)
For more details, visit the
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Check Out Our Newest Therapy Horses! |
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Meet Doc!
This big teddy bear has been a pleasure to have on the team. Doc is one of our more uniquely bred horses, he is a Missouri Fox Trotter/Rocky Mountain Horse cross. He was donated to us by a family who used Doc primarily for trail riding around the country. Although a steady mount, Doc didn’t have a large enough stride to keep up with his trail mates. The family wanted to ensure that he would be cared for and would have a purpose, so they contacted SMILES. We are so grateful they chose us because he has been a wonderful addition to our team of four-legged therapists. For us, his stride is plenty large, as you will find him passing most of the other horses in his class. Although he has a tremendous working-walk, he is as steady as they come. Doc isn’t fazed by much and he truly enjoys his volunteer and rider time. We can’t wait to see what he looks like under all that fluff! He just might shed out to be one of the prettiest horses in barn! Glad to have you on the team, Doc!
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Introducing Ben!
If you’ve had the pleasure of meeting Ben, you already know there isn’t a sweeter horse in the barn! Ben is a 15-year-old Quarter Horse gelding that is currently being leased to SMILES by past volunteer, Jenny Marko. As life changed, Jenny did not have the time to dedicate to Ben and he was too special to just sit in a pasture. Knowing what it takes to be a therapy horse, Jenny reached out to SMILES allowing us to lease him for as long as we would like. Ben is as quiet as they come and is definitely more “whoa” than “go”! He has been compared often to Rodney, not just in his sweet personality, but also in his looks! He is very tall, but has a slow and smooth stride, with a nice little jog to match! Ben is in his first official session and the confidence and trust he has already instilled in his riders is heartwarming to see. Even the volunteer team is swooning over this handsome fella! To know him is to love him. Welcome to the team, Ben!
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A Pretty Penny!
Penny is one of our newest horses to start the trial process at SMILES, and she was ready for class within her first week here which is unheard of! Penny is being leased to SMILES by Diamond E Horse Company, where we have purchased several of our therapy horses including Freckles, Chili, Henry and more! Penny is one of Skeeter Ehrman’s (owner of Diamond E Horse Company) personal horses. Being born on his farm, Skeeter has owned Penny her whole life which is why he is choosing to only lease her SMILES, as she will forever have a home at Diamond E. Penny was born for great things, being trained as a finished reining horse, and campaigned on the Appaloosa circuit as a young mare. Having a life traveling to the shows, Penny grew accustomed to the bright lights of arenas and stadiums that were packed with crowds. New places and new faces is something Penny is used to, which is why she immediately settled into her new home here at SMILES. We are so grateful Skeeter believed in the SMILES program and wanted Penny to be a part of the magic. We look forward to Penny charming her way into her riders hearts this summer session! Honored to have you on the team, Penny!
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Welcome, Susie!
Our newest member of the therapy horse team comes to us from Impact Equine horse rescue in Michigan. Sound familiar? It is the same rescue we were lucky enough to get our beloved Buster from! However, that’s not the only thing Susie and Buster have in common. Susie is also a beautiful, strong Belgian mare that came from the same background as Buster, working in the fields as a plow horse for the Amish community. She was rescued in the Fall of 2021 by Impact Equine, where they quickly noticed her calm and sweet personality. The similarities between her and Buster were evident, and they immediately thought of SMILES as a potential new home for Susie. As soon as she was ready for adoption and the weather improved, SMILES made the trip to meet her! Susie was ready for an adventure and hopped right in the trailer. She calmly strolled into the SMILES barn as if she has been here for years. Be sure to checkback to see Susie’s progress as she “learns the ropes” of being a therapy horse. We are honored to have this gentle beauty, and we can’t wait for her to have students to call her very own!
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Happy Retirement, Dollar! |
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In 2017, SMILES was lucky enough to have Dollar join the team with his herd mate Sport. Dollar settled into his new role as a therapy horse right away and carried some of our most fragile riders over the years. Not only was he one of the more beautiful horses in the barn, he was also strong, steady, and reliable. Over his time here at SMILES, Dollar’s arthritis become a little more uncomfortable for him. As our client enrollment continues to grow, so does our horse’s workload. Staff and veterinary team decided Dollar deserved an easier “job”. This Spring, Dollar was able to retire to a wonderful family, just a country block away, where grandkids will groom and ride Dollar around his spacious 4-acre grass pasture. Dollar immediately bonded to his new herd mate, a seventeen-year-old Arabian mare, and is “livin’ the life”! We are so grateful for the time we had with Dollar, but we are even more grateful to know that he has the perfect retirement home. Thank you for your years of service, Dollar! |
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Good-bye, Liz!
After almost nine years with SMILES, our Business and Events Coordinator, Liz Baumann, is moving on to a new opportunity! We wish her luck on her new adventure away from SMILES.
Though she will be missed by many, we are excited to wish her well on her next chapter! Be sure to come say good-bye soon! Her last day will be May 13th.
Farewell, Good Luck and Best Wishes, Liz!
Thank you for your patience during this time of transition for SMILES!
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Volunteers Needed- Make a Difference Today! |
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SMILES is looking for volunteers to assist in our therapeutic riding classes this summer! Positions include Horse Leaders and Side Walkers (assisting clients with balance and class activities) and training is provided for both positions. No horse experience needed! *Volunteers must be at least 15 years old.
Our Summer Session is June 27- August 27, and we ask for a commitment of one hour per week for the entire session. Volunteer training will be held at the following times:
Saturday, June 18: 9am-12pm
Monday, June 20: 5pm-8pm
If interested in signing up for Volunteer Training, please fill out the form below, and the Volunteer Coordinator will reach out with more details.
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The Mane Event - Golfing for SMILES
Wednesday, June 22
Hawk's View Golf Club
SMILES Open Benefit Horse Show
Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17 Walworth County Fairgrounds
SMILES County Fair Horse Show
Friday, September 2
Walworth County Fairgrounds
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The Mane Event - Golfing for SMILES! |
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Summer is finally here! Join us out on the course and have a fun day of activities all while supporting SMILES!
See you on Wednesday, June 22 at Hawk's View Golf Club!
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Looking to Support the Event with a Product Donation?
We are collecting wine and gift cards for the Wine & Gift Card Tree. Each item must have a value of $25 or more. You can mail them or drop off at the SMILES office before June 10.
We are also in need of silent auction and raffle items!
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Register Now for the 2022 SMILES Open Benefit Horse Show! |
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SMILES Open Benefit Horse Show
Saturday, July 16 & Sunday, July 17
We look forward to seeing you at the Walworth County Fairgrounds!
To register for classes and to submit your Coggins click HERE!
Click the showbill below to
view the full version:
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Look Ahead at the 2022 SMILES County Fair Horse Show! |
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SMILES County Fair Horse Show
Friday, September 2
We are once again hosting the Friday Horse Show during the Walworth County Fair! Join us for all of the excitement and food!
Registration, camping and stalls opening soon! Stay tuned!
Click the showbill below to
view the full version:
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Join the Santa Cause Planning Committee |
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It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas...is it? Just think of it as Christmas in July! We are so excited to announce that our first year as a Santa Cause Charity of Christmas was a huge success! SMILES received almost $12,000 for our participation in the 2021 season.
SMILES will once again be participating in Santa Cause for 2022. “Santa Cause is a super charity, supporting existing charities in Walworth County referred to as: “The Charities of Christmas” & performs Random Acts of Kindness throughout our community." Santa Cause is the host of the William's Bay Farmer's Market, Freezing for a Reason and the Charities of Christmas Tree Festival. You can learn more about the Santa Cause organization through their website.
We need your help to make it a success! We are looking for a committee of individuals who would be interested in helping SMILES solidify our Tree Festival theme, booth and prizes. This is a very important part of the process and determines the amount of funding we will receive. If you're interested in participating in the committee, you can fill out the form here.
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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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