Miniature Emotional Support Horses (M.E.S.H.) in Spout Spring
Dove Griffin has had an interest in horses since she was a small child. This is the story of her journey of owning miniature therapy horses (and more!).
Twenty four years ago, while living in Indiana as a young wife and mother, Dove stopped by a farm one day to buy fresh brown eggs. The farmer asked if she would like to see miniature horses. Indeed, her answer was an enthusiastic “yes!”
Dove fell in love with those horses. She gathered information about where she could purchase one from the same breeder that they had come from, and soon after, she acquired “Sunshine,” her first miniature horse!
“I wound up buying one, and then two, and then ten, and then twenty miniature horses” Dove explained. Dove’s farm name became Mini Camelot’s Miniature Horses.
Dove and her husband, Art, joined the miniature horse circuit, where they were involved in breeding and showing their horses. Their sons were raised showing horses too, and are well versed in all things “horsey” today.
One day, (still, while living in Indiana) Dove was asked by a member of the “Partners for Animal Welfare Society” (P.A.W.S.) if she would be interested in bringing her miniature horses to an assisted living facility, to serve as sensory and emotional therapy animals when they visit the residents living there.
Dove agreed, and brought four horses to the facility at Christmas-time. The horses trotted along while their humans went caroling, and they each brought smiles to those they met.
“That started the ball rolling,” Dove said, “and we went back any time we were asked.”
The partnership with P.A.W.S. began to grow, and Dove’s miniature horses also began visiting public schools where kids could learn all about the animals.
The miniature horses showed up at Kindergarten registration day and on the first day of school, which created both excitement and ease among the young students.
Miniature Emotional Support Horses
Fast forward several years. Dove and Art moved to Spout Spring, Virginia, and of course they brought their animals with them! Dove knew there was something special about Appomattox, and she wanted to start therapy visits once again to the local facilities like she had done in Indiana. That’s when she created M.E.S.H., which stands for Miniature Emotional Support Horses.
Dove refers to M.E.S.H. as her ministry. It started three years ago when a friend learned of Dove’s past experiences with bringing her horses to schools, churches, and facilities. Dove’s friend asked if she would consider bringing a horse to a local assisted living facility where her mother lived. Of course, Dove was elated to do so, and thus began the new chapter of bringing therapy horses to those could use a dose of joy!
Miniature horses make good therapy animals because of their calm laid back demeanor and pleasant temperament. Their small size (in comparison with a regular sized horse) makes it easy to maneuver the animals through building doors, around hospital beds, in between wheelchairs, and in other small spaces.
Today, Dove’s five therapy horses live on her farm among fourteen total miniature horses, several turkeys, chickens, two llamas, one “cute cow,” as Dove says, a dog, and one donkey named Jack!
The therapy horses go through extensive training before they are allowed to visit facilities as therapy animals. During the training, they are exposed to wheelchairs and medical equipment, so they can get used to seeing and smelling the medical items they might come across. They also listen to a CD which plays all sorts of sounds (such as applause and firecrackers) that they might come across once out and about, away from the quiet and peaceful Spout Spring farm where they live!
Each therapy horse is taught to wear and tolerate a miniature-horse sized diaper, which allows them to be inside buildings (without any messes!). And, they are given plenty of one on one training experiences with visitors at the farm, where they learn to interact with humans of all ages and abilities.
“You don’t train for a show at the show,” Dove said. “You train for it at home. It’s the same concept.” The training for emotional support horses generally begins when the horses are 1 to 2 years old and it starts with learning to walk with a halter and lead.
Would you like to pet a horse?
Dove offers several fun open-to-the-public events at the farm, which serve as fundraisers for the M.E.S.H. program. These fundraisers serve two purposes: To raise money for the insurances necessary for bringing the horses into public and private facilities, and, for equipment needed during the horse therapy outings such as horse-diapers, portable corrals, and special footwear for the horses (which allow them to safely go into buildings).
“I don’t ask for donations for anything other than the insurance and the special equipment. These are my horses. They have feed, and treats, and veterinary care. I don’t use M.E.S.H. money for things that I normally pay for,” Dove explained, assuring that fundraising donations are only used to the purpose of bringing the horses (and bringing joy) to the people at the facilities they visit.
FUNdraisers at the farm include Birthday Parties for horses. Birthday Parties for horses are fun because kids (ages 1 to 100) can attend and spend time celebrating and learning about the birthday horse. The party includes cupcakes and ice cream. Currently Phantom is having a party on July 22, 2023 from 2 -4 pm. Cost is $7 per person, and reservations are required.
M.E.S.H. offers other fundraisers such as “Sip and Paint”, “Dessert and Paint” (next one is July 15th), and their annual “Christmas at the Farm” event. Keep up with M.E.S.H. on Facebook (or the calendar at AppoHappo.com) for upcoming fundraiser event information!
New in 2023, is M.E.S.H.’s “Reading to a Horse” fundraiser, in which you can make an appointment for your child or children to read a book of their choice to a horse in the barn. Scheduled for July 28th and 29th, it provides a unique opportunity for your child to interact with the miniatures.
They can choose from a book on the bookshelf, or they can bring a book of their choice. For only $10 per 30-minute reading session, this is a great way to give your kids an opportunity to spend time with a miniature horse, practice their reading, and to create a life-long memory and long-lasting friendship with a miniature horse! Cameras are encouraged!
There are also always volunteer opportunities with M.E.S.H., including walking, grooming, or bathing a horse, cleaning a stall, cleaning the horse trailers, and/or making sure they are road-safe, hooking up and unhooking the trailers to the truck, checking equipment bags for travel, and volunteering at different facilities with Dove while showing the therapy horses. Volunteers must be middle school age or older. (Minors who volunteer must have a parent with them.) Get in touch through Facebook or email today to set up an hour or two to volunteer this week!
You can learn more about M.E.S.H. on their website, http://minicamelotsmesh.com or on their Facebook page. If you have questions about any of the fundraising events, or other inquiries, you can also email Dove at minicamelot@msn.com.
This article was written by Teresa Davis and is a paid advertisement. Some photos were provided by M.E.S.H. If you are interested in promoting your business, church, or charitable group on the Appomattox Happenings website, email, and social media, contact Teresa Davis through the contact form below or email appomattoxhappenings@gmail.com
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