An update to Magic the mini’s visit to Villa Marina by Paula Moore

(Pictures will follow - Villa Marina will be emailing us a bunch)

Here’s update on our big day yesterday - this is from a board update by Paula Moore, educational coordinator (Paula, I couldn’t find if you had posted this already but you did such a great job I figured I’d post it here and on the WindChill forum as well so I hope you don’t mind!):

Our visit to the Villa Marina Health and Rehabilitation in Superior with Magic 11/14/08

As Magic pulled up in a trailer, I heard the announcement , “The mini horse  has arrived. Please gather in the Activity  Room.” As Jeff entered with Magic, he had to pass through a line of about 10 people to get to the Activity Room. People could not believe what they saw. “I never thought I would see a horse in here.” “I don’t mind the poop but if it pees that is a big clean-up.”

The residents were so surprised. One said she had read the poster on the bulletin board but did not believe it. Another resident’s daughter, who said her mom is really with it, did not believe it when  her mom told her  a horse was coming. The residents were so happy and talkative. They asked good questions. Visitors asked who we were and I handed out brochures. They noticed my Legacy t-shirt. Some had followed WindChill’s story.

Magic was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good. She let everyone touch her. She put her head on some laps. She handled the wheel chairs, canes, smells, and the many camera flashes so well. A little child got to ride on her back.

Jeff was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good. He kept reassuring Magic with subtle touches and hugging and talking. The love between Magic and Jeff is so beautiful.   The last time I saw Magic was Wednesday when Carole and I gave her treats as we said good night). She was all muddy. Carole and I gave each other THE LOOK. What a mess. She looked like she rolled in the mud. TODAY I did not recognize her today. Her coat was so bright, I almost went out to get my Miste shades. Her coat was so soft.  Every inch of her was sparkling clean down to the little hair on her legs. Jeff sure has his brushing technique down. I think he must have stopped at a car wash or at least a salon to get Magic looking this good. What is his secret???????

We did not stay in the activity room. Magic was so good that they asked us to go down the hall to a birthday party. Magic, Jeff, and I CRASHED the birthday party. We were a BIG hit. Again we got to talk about Magic and the WindChill Legacy to the residents and visitors in there.

Of course they all wanted to give Magic treats, especially cake and ice cream, but Jeff explained how Magic was on a diet. They all could see that.  However I said that as a volunteer, with my trusty pal CAROLE BAKKE, that Misty gets her share of treats on Wednesdays. Our gig is up Carole!!!

Jeff maneuvered Magic so well . What a handler!!!! He got Magic up close and personal with every resident no matter  how disabled or  what got in the way, canes, wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, walkers, tubes, flashing cameras did not bother Magic. Every resident had their picture taken with Magic, even Jeff and I.

As we went into the hall and the birthday party, I carried the cleanup bucket just in case.  Magic thought it was her grain bucket. She kept nosing it so I had to hide it behind my back.

We did not leave after that either. We were stopped in the hallway by the nurses station as more residents came to see Magic. Brenda, the Activity Director, remarked, “ I think every resident has come  to see Magic today.”

Between visitors, nursing staff, residents we had 50+ people that saw Magic.

It was a wonderful experience to see how much interaction, pleasure, and the many different ways  in which the residents responded to Magic . The “ 45” minutes turned into 1 and ½  hours of pure and excitement by everyone.

Kathi and Jeff’s ideas to  have these visits to nursing homes as part of the Legacy truly is inspirational.

November 14, 2008: On the road again…

November 14th, 9:20am: This should be a fun day. Magic hits the road again where she’ll be visiting a senior citizens housing and rehab facility in Superior, WI. Paula Moore, our educational coordinator, developed an amazing survey for determining area facilities interest and needs in the programs The WindChill Legacy, Ltd. now offers - and the response has been overwhelming excitement. If she left a stone unturned in determining needs at a facility, I don’t know what it is at this point. And while doing that, she developed educational programs for the schools that are amazing - educational, interactive and riveting! At some point I think the programs themselves will be part of the new education section of the Legacy website we’ve been working on but we’ll do that after they’ve been tried and tested - we start the school programs hopefully in December. The fun part of that program will be the inclusion of the equestrian club Polly Niemi started at Superior Senior High School and which quickly filled with eager students wanting to participate. Several of those students now come out and work with Raindance horses and their excitement is fun to see. They’ll be a part of educating the younger generation in an experimental part of the process - students teaching students. Anyway, Paula and I will be taking mini Magic to Villa Marina Health & Rehab in Superior and we’ll let you know how it goes.

October 14, 2008: Another courageous soul steps up…

That’s right, joining our friend John is Ann LaBelle, who tells her story and about the mix of animals she and Jody raise now at their farm in the Twin Cities (MN) as well as how her path has led to community service, serving on the Mounted Patrol - her story is on the menu on the right of this page.

Will your story be next?…

Magic’s field trip report

Our first big field trip went VERY well. Magic loaded into the trailer just fine. I used the 2 horse trailer, though debated using the 4 horse because I think it’d be hilarious to pull up with that long trailer, open the back door amidst all this anticipation and out steps Magic, who stands a full almost 30 inches!

Regardless of trailer used, the day was a success. Magic rode and munched on hay in between appearances. Her first public appearance was at a senior citizen’s home in Duluth, MN. The residents of Spirit Valley got a big kick out of the little horse (not literally of course…) and soon word spread from the original two who had come to see her to many of the residents. Canes, walkers and wheelchairs - none of these things startled Magic, who was perfectly at home being surrounded by senior citizens, and in some cases, their grandchildren who were taller than the little ambassador. It warmed my heart to hear their laughter - among some of the quotes I wrote down: “I’ve never been near a horse before.” “I haven’t been near a horse since I was a little girl on my family’s farm.” “I haven’t touched a horse or big animal since my family had a cow farm, why I remember…” I heard lots of stories that began with “I remember…” That was our goal - to help our senior friends remember. Mission accomplished. It was a stop filled with smiles, laughter, petting and lots of discussion amongst the ladies that gathered that none of them seem to recall there being anything in their leases that barred them from having a horse. Magic offered to come back as often as they would like her to visit.

From there our adventure took us back across the bridge connecting Minnesota to Wisconsin where we headed for a youth center in Superior, WI - Teen Harbor. The surprise here was the crowd that she attracted - amongst teenage boys. Apparently teenage girls didn’t want to be seen hugging the little horse while the teenage boys were enamored with her. Kids from the neighborhood came running to see her asking all sorts of questions - “How much does she eat? How much does she weigh? Do people ride her? What do horses eat? Do they like McDonald’s? (probably a question related to her current weight, we explain that her hair makes her look ‘pooofy’ - as for Magic she’s not overly sensitive about it, explaining good things come in bigger small packages) I’d like to see more horses…” Magic enjoyed some apples, some green grass, lots of hugs and a brushing from several who had never touched a horse before. More smiles, more hugs, more questions - another successful mission by Magic the Mini. After a couple of hours it was time for Magic to board her motorcade and head for home.

All in all it was a beautiful day for traveling and we met a lot of new friends. Magic’s ‘live test’ at the senior’s home around all sorts of apparatus was very successful. At the youth center the neighbor fired up his riding lawn mower - something I’ve been working with Magic with at home and that apparently paid off - she batted not an eye at the mower and went right on munching. A passing ambulance - lights and sirens blaring - didn’t even warrant a glance from her as she spent her time collecting some hugs.

Magic the Mini Ambassador (as told to Jeff)
(Pictures will follow shortly)

Magic hits the road

In a little while our new equine education coordinator, Magic the Mini, will hit the road as I take her on our first outreach event. Magic will be going to meet new friends at a youth center in Superior, WI called Teen Harbor. If you’re bored and would like to come out, we’ll be arriving there around 4pm after a slight detour to visit some senior citizens along the way at Spirit Valley in Duluth, MN. We’ll let you know how it goes, so far she’s not nervous and has been practicing cute looks and her brief speech which consists of “nnnnaaaaayyyyyy…” This is an exciting day for The WindChill Legacy, Ltd. as this important component of our educational outreach goes ‘live and on the road!’

Jeff

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