Minis and Friends

Mighty Equines in Small Packages

Minis and Friends is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We are a group of caring people and horse lovers dedicated to sharing the love and spirit of miniature horses to those who need special, tender care. Our organization was specially created by a group of friends who want to share this exciting equine experience with you.

Minis and Friends is dedicated to bringing our mobile herd of trained miniature horses to visit and interact with people of all ages who may be suffering mentally, physically or emotionally. Our unique programs tailor activities for children with disabilities, at-risk youth, individuals in transition and elder adults to improve their motor skills, ability to connect, tactile response, use of senses and spirits through interaction with miniature horses.

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Headliner News

 

Minis and Friends has been blessed this year with the success of Amplify Austin and the numeous people who have reached out to us because they saw us on the web, Facebook and Twitter.

 

Wonderful happenings for us:

 

Texas Tower PR Student Team - completed their semeste and we were invited back to be a client in fall 2013! We filled out Tower Awards early in April for Outstanding Volunteer Work and then won Honorable Mention and received an award! Way to Go!

 

UT School of Journalism - Peter and Michael selected us for their documentary on Minis and Friends. Please visit their video - More Than Minis Horses - and watch these young men as they continue their journey!

 

Debbie of DazzleMedia found us on UT Civic Engagement and offered to build us a new website! We will be getting with her soon on our chosen template - stay tuned!

 

Mini Boot Camp for May is full - new trainees from California, Illinois and 2 cities in Texas will be joining us for this intensive 4 day workshop. We will have a Fall Mini Boot Camp in October 2013 - date coming soon.

 

Derby Day Fundraiser at the League in Lakeway- we had an amazing day at the League in Lakeway! We have partnered with them to bring minis to their Derby Day broadcast with a fundraiser for the next 10 years at least!

 

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A Year of Giving!

The 2013 Visit Schedule is well underway and are actively looking for volunteers who can meet our requirements of 2 visits per month.. Please click on this link and download an application if you would like to join us. A Volunteer Gathering training takes two hours of learning about the non-profit and hands-on work with the minis and donkeys who attend. If you are a teenager, you must be 14 and up with parent until 16, then you can come on your own. Otherwise, just download an application and email it back to Volunteer by clicking on the link in blue.

 

For visits with people of all ages that are disabled or our seniors with memory disorders - we require 2 mini-handlers per mini. You will learn to be a part of this 2 person team

 

For visits with all others we require (our Golden Rule since 2007!) 1 mini handle per mini. This is not only visits to our facilities but also HOME visits. You will learn all about working as a team with a child or youth.

 

For students -middle/HS/College - we require 1 visit per month at least to stay active

For all others - we require 2 visits per month to stay active

 

A visit is usually 90 minutes - so your volunteer time would be about 2.5 hours per visit. If it is an event - a shift may be 4 hours. We do give community service hours to students.

 

We want to thank our dedicated owners and volunteers for joining us on Saturdays and Sundays.

 

Visit Schedule :

5/4 Cottages at Chandler Creek (RR)

5/4 League in Lakeway - Derby Day fundraiser

5/5 Wonders & Worries Ice Cream Social (invited only)

5/16-5/19 Mini Boot Camp

5/25 Annual Military BBQ in Cedar Park

 

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Mini Boot Camp News:

 

The 2013 Mini Boot Camp May 16-19 is FULL. We have folks attending from 2 areas in Texas, California and Texas! We welcome you and are excited that you will be able to take back with you our theory of Equine Guided Interactions (EGI) to your home town!

 

We are also excited to share we will do a Minor Refresher in July (tentative date) with Kyle from Washington State and Brenda in Calgary. Come on down to Texas, ya'll!,

 

We will have an additional Boot Camp in Octoberl -- so email bootcamp@minisandfriends.org to get on the distribution list for the certification workshop on Equine Guided Interactions (EGI)

 

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Corporate Teambuilding /Community Service Teams

Bring your team to an ongoing team-building / community service with Minis and Friends. We have locations for small and larger groups (up to 50) in Austin, Dripping Springs and Wimberley!

 

Past teams have been ASI, AT&T Wireless, Dell Community One, Federal Express, Intel, Whole Foods and other companies that want to Give Back by helping Minis and Friends help the our team and facilities that protect the little horses from the environment and a place to call home while not working. United Way Days of Carings sent teams out quarterly - so check out United Way page. Activities might include painting, checking fences, moving round pens and washing/grooming/shedding and running the minis through the Agility Course at Kristull Ranch and other projects based on the company that joins us.. Thank YOU so much for coming out!

 

Corporate teambuilding / community service helps us to help boarding facilities who give us reduced boarding rates, a location to train volunteers and boot camp trainees and to just have Play Dates with all the little horses... the mini donkeys Lewis and Tiny Tim look wisely on :-)

 

  

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KEYE-TV (CBS 42) filmed a segment today (August 17) for their "We Are Austin" show.. The minis had a great day showing their gentle ways and visiting with the Austin Children's Shelter, a monthly visit partner!

 

 

 

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Keep Austin Green by Green Recyling for Minis and Friends This is a simple fundraiser that helps subsidize Minis and Friends budget. Our 501(c)3 non-profit organization utilizes the FundingFactory Recycling Program to recycle collected cartridges and cell phones. The program features FREE prepaid shipping labels, online accounting, and a business component that enables companies and individuals to collect cartridges and cell phones in support of our efforts. We need you or your company to collect used cell phones and empty printer cartridges within your company to benefit Minis and Friends. Click Here for More Information