Monthly news & updates
April 2021
Session Updates
Spring Session begins on Monday! You guys have done a great job at filling the spots needed for our special clients to be able to ride! You are amazing!!!

Please click the link below to verify your class time.



There are a couple of classes that we need some extra help:

Thursday 10:45- 1 side walker needed

Thursday 4:30- 2 side walkers needed (very light physical support)

***PLEASE READ*** I know many of you have requested to be horse handlers. Because of the special clients we serve, we need more side walkers than we do horse handlers. We try our best to accommodate your wishes, but please understand we need more side walkers to successfully run our program. Not all side walking requires a lot of physical support, and we will provide extra training if you are able to fill a side walker role. Thank you for your support and understanding!
Welcome New Volunteers!
We had an impressive 12 people go through volunteer training in March! Please give a warm welcome to the following individuals!

Alison Packard
Cindy Lapidakis
Tammie Mueller
Tamara Hagen
Autumn Wolf
Olivia Pierce
Andrea Sather
Erin Mills
Dean Ridder
Danelle Bartz
Madysen Moxley
Jay Barone
Volunteer Update Forms
Please remember to fill out your Volunteer Update Form! Every active volunteer needs to have one filled out. Thank you!

Click the LINK BELOW to begin filling out your form!
Training & Education
Using a Shedding Blade!
In this month's training video, we are demonstrating how to help the horses shed their thick, winter coats! As you all know, grooming takes a little bit longer this time of year (and you all leave here with lots of horse hair stuck on your clothes!)

To properly use a shedding blade, you can either grasp one handle in each hand or fold the blade so it forms a loop (which is how we have all of our shedding blades set). Gently run it across the horse's coat so that it pulls out the loose hair.

Be careful not to run the metal blade across any bony parts on the horse, such as the head or legs!
Curry Combs also work well to get all that loose hair off of the horse! Follow up with firm circles with a curry comb. Watch in satisfaction as that hair falls to the ground!

Watch this video to see how to properly use a shedding blade!



SMILES' YouTube Channel

Make sure to review some of our previous training videos before the session begins!

April Volunteer Spotlight
March Spotlight is.....Cheryl Farnsworth!!

How did you become involved with SMILES, and how long have you been volunteering?

My mother read a story about a similar program, and shared it with me, knowing it would interest me. Knowing I needed to reacquaint with my passion, I researched and found SMILES. I began volunteering for SMILES in January of 2020.

Where did you grow up?

Janesville, WI
Who is your favorite horse at SMILES and why?

 I love all of them for different reasons.

If you were gifted a million dollars, what would you do with it?

It would give me great pleasure to financially support programs that increase the quality of people’s lives.
What is something you like to do in April?

Celebrate Easter with my family when it falls in the month of April. 
Enjoy being outdoors working on our farm.
Taking a tropical vacation with my husband and friends.

What do you enjoy about volunteering at SMILES?

Interacting with the horses and doing barn chores. Assisting our clients in reaching their goals. Being surrounded by quality instructors and volunteers. I learn something new every time I volunteer. It feels wonderful to volunteer for such an impressive and quality organization.

Is there anything else you'd like your fellow volunteers to know?

Dave & I are empty nesters with two cats, We have three adult children and four grandchildren. I work for SSMHealth and take great pride in our mission. For many years, my grandparents on my dad’s side of the family boarded Shetland ponies and the children that boarded them participated in Rock County’s 4-H Fair Pony Project. Annually, I participate in Dance Wisconsin’s Nutcracker in Madison. I also volunteer for No Limits Dance Program in Janesville.
Event Updates
Virtual Tack Sale
Our Virtual Tack Sale was a HUGE success!!! A Ginormous THANK YOU to all of the volunteers and committee members who put in many hours to clean, tag, log and photograph the 951 items. We had a record year for our Virtual Tack Sale, profiting over $10,000! THANK YOU!!
The "Wine Pull" and the "Gift Card Tree" are BACK!!
SMILES is accepting donations of bottles of wine valued at $20 or more
and gift cards valued at $25 or more.
(restaurants, local stores, AMAZON, iTunes, etc.)

Your contributions make the fundraiser successful!!


The "Mane" Event
Golf Outing

June 23, 2021


We look forward to seeing you at
The "Mane" Event
Wednesday, June 23rd
Hawk's View Golf Club
7377 Krueger Road, Lake Geneva

To volunteer to help at the event on 6/23 click here!
No golf experience necessary!!

April Birthdays at SMILES!
Happy Birthday!
Pat Plucinski, April 1
Sandy Dujardin, April 1
Sue Campbell, April 7
Cindy Lapidakis, April 8
Sharon Bates, April 16
Heidi Flowers, April 24
Lori Wiorek, April 29
Katy Kanelos, April 30
Find us online!
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.