Minis and Friends is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that utilizes Equine Guided Interactions (EGI) by bringing a unique equine experience to people of all ages in particular children and youth with special needs or whom life's circumstances have created a special need.  The non-profit was founded in 2007 by a group of friends and horse lovers who wanted to share their love and spirit of miniature horses to those who need special, tender care. It was their love for miniature horses and the gift they knew the minis could offer was the foundation for starting a non-profit to address the special needs of individuals in our community through miniature horse assisted activities.  Three co-founders, Sally Iwanski (Austin), Candy Delleney (Georgetown) and Ellen Wetherington (Bellville) along with four miniature horses provided their mobile mini ambassadors to those they met and provided the community with a unique model – inviting others with miniature horses to join the non-profit, train with them and become part of a growing charity that does not charge a fee – visits are free to most facilities!

Almost every Saturday (the organization works on weekends as most work full-time jobs) the miniature horses load up into mini-vans, custom built mini-trailers and horse trailers to begin their charitable traveling to shelters for abused and neglected children and youth, residential treatment centers for children and youth with emotional and mental disorders, residential facilities for the mentally challenged, schools for the blind and deaf, neuro units, homeless shelters, children with cancer at Dell's Children Medical Center, juvenile diabetes and Down's Syndrome organizations, nursing homes and hospice, and anywhere the little horses and mini donkeys go to in bringing the indescribable smiles, hope and healing.  Favorite remembrances that can be told over and over again for new volunteers, curious readers and more are constantly happening every time we go into a facility of any kind have been put into Testimony.

From some of our testimonies:

Shelters for Abused and Neglected Children

You mentioned that the horses are animals of prey and therefore somewhat cautious of new situations. Well, there isn’t a lot of difference between them and the kids in that way. The children we see have also been prey. They’ve been abused, belittled, and perhaps worst of all, neglected in a way children should not be neglected. You and the volunteers with Minis and Friends showed the kids something very different, that is, that they deserve to be treated well and to receive pleasant surprises like your visit.  It was a valuable educational event and we hope to continue with Minis and Friends for years to come.

Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Alzheimer Units

Cashew visited a woman with Alzheimer in hospice in Georgetown. She was non-responsive with little or no eye contact. She did not stand on her own. As a young woman, this lady had ridden horses, so we thought that with a visit with Cash, she might respond. The senior was in her wheelchair when we got there and had her eyes closed with fisted hands. Cashew went up to her and the aid who helped her stand up said, 'She is standing on her own.' She opened her eyes and touched her hands to Cashew's forelock. She held on to it for several minutes. Her son would take her hands and touch them to Cashew's coat and hair. It was an awe-inspiring sight between horse and mother and son!

Persons with Disabilities

MasterCard led his handler down the road separating from the end of the parade. He went over to a senior man sitting in a wheelchair and promptly put his majestic head in the man’s lap.  The man was blind and disabled and startled at the touch of MasterCard suddenly a pressure in his lap.  The handler said “would you like to pet my horse?” and the old man said “a dog?” “no sir a horse, and he wants to be with you”… the old man nodded and the handler on receiving permission to help him, helped the blind man to put his gnarled hand on MasterCard’s mane and head.

Smiles lit up the gentle face with wonderment.

PROGRAMS:

Our programs range from one end of the scale to the other:

Minis Out, Moving On:

• Visiting Children and Youth in Shelters and Families Dealing with Homelessness
• Bringing Minis to Children, Youth and Young Adults in Transition

Minis Out, Project Blanket:

• Visiting Families with Children with Mental and Physical Disabilities
• Bringing Minis to Children Experiencing Difficulties and Emotional Distress

Minis Out, Silver Saints:

• Visiting Elders/Dependent Adults in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities
• Bringing Minis to Elders dealing with Dementia and Alzheimer’s

Minis Out, In the Community

• In support of other local non-profits in the work they do at events and walks
• Bringing miniature horses for presentations and educational activities

The Minis and Friends, Minis Out, Moving On program was created especially to give children the opportunity to touch, see, groom, and guide miniature horses.  Regardless of their physical, mental, or emotional capacities these children are given a unique opportunity to participate in equine guided interactions (EGI) that can provide them with hope, healing, and happiness, even if just for one moment.

For children and individuals with special needs, the ability to interact with a miniature horse has a very positive impact because it can enhance recovery following a serious illness, change behavior, create a sense of responsibility and even improve one’s ability to participate in therapeutic treatment leading to achievement in relation to identified goals and objectives. Children are often extremely trusting and easily achieve a high level of intimacy with our miniature horses. We very concisely structure our activities around physical and psychological benefits which have been proven in studies in animal assisted activities and animal assisted therapy.

For more information, visit our website: www.minisandfriends.org

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