By Judy Epperson and Susan Shampine
It was apparent the boy was upset when he got off the school bus at Mini-Blessings. He went straight to the corner of the arena to be alone. While his eyes filled with tears, the young mare Aurora came over to him, put her muzzle over his shoulder and stood nuzzling his neck, providing him with the non-judgmental affection he needed just then. Before long, he put his arms around her neck, buried his face in her fur and cried. After a couple of minutes he slowly stood and joined the group of other students working with their miniature horses at the other end of the arena. By the end of the ninety-minute session, he was running and jumping with Aurora; a smile on his face and ready to face the rest of the day.
This is the work of Mini-Blessings (MB), a non-profit organization co-founded by Crissey Smith and Susan Shampine. The 3.7 acre facility is located just outside Buena Vista and serves the residents of Chaffee County and Central Colorado. The primary goal of MB is to share the magic of miniature horses with special needs children, at risk youth, and just about anyone who can benefit from close contact with a kind-spirited, non-judgmental being.
The volunteers at MB work to develop a close relationship between the horse and the participant. From this relationship, magical things happen. Participants learn how to groom, halter, and lead the horses through an agility course in the outdoor arena. Depending on the skill level and goals of the participant, cart driving may also be included in the program. The overarching goal of all the programs at MB is for the participants to leave with a better understanding of themselves, having learned better strategies for working with others. This translates to a higher level of respect for others, the horses, and perhaps most importantly, themselves.
Over the past several years Mini-Blessings has developed strong relationships with the Buena Vista School District, Chaffee County Boys and Girls Club and Columbine Manor Care Center in Salida. This summer, MB is also teaming up with the Buena Vista Parks and Recreation Department to offer two driving courses, teaching cart driving to local teenagers.
This school year, MB is working with approximately twenty fifth graders and twelve fourth graders from Avery Parsons Elementary School, all having been identified as being at risk or having special needs. The students come once a week in groups of four to work with the horses. Along with one of the school staff members, volunteers work with the children to develop social skills, self-confidence and motor skills. “The miniature horses are particularly good instructors,” Susan explains, “because they provide immediate honest feedback to the students. For example, if a child is angry while trying to work with the horse, he or she quickly discovers the horse becomes very excited and difficult to work with.” Miniature horses are especially good with special needs children since they are smaller than, and not as intimidating as a full sized horse. This gives the child a chance to get used to the horse without having to deal with the “bigness” of standard horses. They also offer a higher level of safety because they are not as powerful.
In addition to working with special needs children and at risk youth, MB also provides a number of volunteer opportunities for the community. In cooperation with the Colorado Department of Human Services, MB has established a program to offer community service opportunities for people on food stamps. “The volunteers who have worked with us as part of their responsibility for receiving food stamps have been with us for several months and then have been successful in getting a job and leaving the program,” states Susan. The organization also provides opportunities for special needs adults who help with the care and exercising of the horses.
Currently, the facilities include cart paths, a sensory trail, an outdoor arena, and a picnic area. The sensory trail aids participants in developing the five senses. It is particularly beneficial in helping autistic children to interact with their environment and the horses, and ultimately with other people. With the future, comes the hope of expansion. The organization is currently applying for grants to construct an indoor arena to facilitate programming in the winter. Cold weather and low wind chill factors during the fall, winter and spring months limit the amount of time participants and MB volunteers can spend outside. On a number of occasions, the activities had to be moved into Crissey’s home. “You just don’t know what fun is until you have a group of children harnessing a horse in your living room and then driving it through the kitchen and dining room,” says Crissey.
The dream that became Mini-Blessings started with one small horse named Little Bits, a little black mare. When Crissey Smith’s husband was in the later stages of Parkinson’s disease, his doctor suggested to Crissey that she develop a hobby to give her a purpose beyond caring for her ailing husband. She decided to get a miniature horse, a small black mare named Little Bits. The mare was kept in Crissey’s backyard on Yale Avenue. Crissey soon became well known to her neighbors because of her daily routine of taking Little Bits, or “Bitsy” as she is often called, for walks through town. Before long, Crissey noticed that Bitsy needed a horse companion so she acquired Cody, a young gelding, from a rescue shelter.
Susan Shampine, the other co-founder, took a different path to MB. She had been in love with horses all her life; practically her first word was “horsey.” She bought her first horse while she was in college and after graduation owned and bred quarter horses. A move, due to work and a divorce, forced her to sell her horses. After retirement, and a move to Buena Vista, she quickly became interested in having another horse.
Susan and Crissey met at a 4th of July parade. Crissey had entered Little Bits in the parade and Susan was participating as an entry judge. A bond was later formed when the two women discovered a mutual love of horses and a desire to share the healing power of horses with special needs children. Crissey’s daughter, a special needs child, had blossomed while working with horses. Crissey’s understanding of the therapeutic effects horses can have on children with special challenges, and Susan’s love of horses made them a perfect fit. Mini-Blessings was formed.
Through their contacts with the Denver Humane Society/Delta Society, an organization that trains volunteers and their pets for visitations in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools and other facilities, Crissey and Susan were offered Corey, a cute little gelding that was living at a donkey rescue shelter. It quickly became apparent that the work they could do with the horses and special needs children was limited by the size of Crissey’s backyard. Crissey sold her home, Susan refinanced hers, they pooled their resources and purchased a lot just outside the Buena Vista town limits on CR 306 where they could expand their activities.
This past year, the six horses and about twenty volunteers of MB, shared the healing power of their horses with approximately 400 people in central Colorado. This included both onsite and offsite visits. According to Crissey, “We can load all four miniature horses into our van and travel just about anywhere. If you know of anyone who can benefit from the visit of a small horse, just give us call.”
As with all non-profit organizations, Mini-Blessings is always in need of volunteers and donations. Anyone wishing to volunteer with the organization, or to donate to their programs, can go to the website, www.mini-blessings.org for more information, or phone 719-395-5852.
Judy Epperson and Susan Shampine are cousins living in Buena Vista, Colorado. They took up writing so they wouldn’t have to scoop poop and fill hay bags anymore.
