Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding, Inc

12/26/2023

OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HAS MOVED! Not everyone has heard, but we’ve had to move to a new page and we’re hoping you will look for us there and follow for all future news, goofy comments, and updates! Our new address is https://www.facebook.com/Morningdovetherapeuticridingcenter.

We can also be found on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/morningdovetherapeuticriding/ Come check us out! And as always, we look forward to your visiting the farm!

257 Followers, 254 Following, 106 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from ()

12/25/2022

For our final Holly-day wish, we want help supporting our fantastic team of volunteers! As you can imagine, Morning Dove cannot run safely and effectively without our volunteer team. To keep our volunteers happy and thank them for their time serving with us, we want to stock our volunteer hangout room with beverages and yummy snacks. Check out our Amazon Wish List to see what kinds of snacks we still need for our volunteer team ---> https://a.co/2cKzJhe

12/25/2022

It's the night before Christmas and I'm out in the barn,
Blanketing our horses to keep them all warm.
They're eating their dinners, tucked cozy in stalls,
Not aware that it's Christmas, or any day special at all.

They dream of spring pastures from their pine-scented beds.
No visions of sugarplums dance in their heads.
But we people are thinking of merry parties and such,
Quickly doing our tasks so we don't miss too much.

This season is special, but the horses don't know.
They munch on their hay safe out of the snow
I finish my chores and head on inside
To get ready for dinner and my family's yuletide

It's nearly midnight, the carols are sung.
I remember a story told when I was young,
How at midnight on each Christmas Eve
The barnyard creatures can speak to us with ease.

I am called to the barn. I slosh through the snow.
I can't really explain; I know I must go.
I slide open the door, and stand there and smile
Then slowly walk down the dimly lit aisle.

A nicker from Danny, a soft snort from Banana,
Sweet, gentle Marty gives me a wink
Oliver rustles his bedding, Hazel comes into sight
Even Pete gives a greeting as I walk through the night.

I thought about parties bright lit and warm,
The ones we don't go to cause we have the barn,
And vacations and holidays that we usually don't get,
Cause we have the animals and chores to be met.

Walking all the way to the end of the aisle,
I stop to stroke Chief, and linger awhile
He snuffles my face, hot breath on my skin
And I look around at the others, my horses, my friends.

I could be at parties with laughter and mirth
But where I am right now is the best place on Earth.

From Our Barn to Yours
Merry Christmas

Christmas in the Barn ---- Author Unknown

12/24/2022

Did you know that we have a separate First Aid Kit just for our horses? Just like our riders, we like to be prepared for any kind of emergency, including horse emergencies! We must always keep our equine kit and medicine cabinet stocked. We always need more ointments, sprays, liniment, and shampoos to keep our horses safe and healthy. They always seem to find trouble when we least expect it! Please take a look at our Amazon Wish List to see what equine medical items we still need ---> https://a.co/2cKzJhe

12/23/2022

Have you heard about our Hay Bales and Pony Tales reading program? We need more stall guards to keep horses safely in their stalls while our students read to them. We also need new crossties to keep horses safely in the aisleway as they get tacked up. Check out our Amazon Wish List to see what kind of stall guards and cross ties we need ---> https://a.co/2cKzJhe
And be sure to reach out to [email protected] to learn more about our Reading Program!

12/22/2022

Our big ask today is for a couple of new wheelbarrows! We use these to clean our stalls every morning, and they get quite a bit of wear and tear. We would love some sturdy wheelbarrows that can withstand the heavy loads in the barn! Check out our Amazon Wish List to see which wheelbarrows we are still hoping for ---> https://a.co/2cKzJhe

12/21/2022

Did you know that Morning Dove has two barn cats? Sunny and Cal are sweet feline brothers that help keep our barn pest-free. They are also quite spoiled and love their treats and cat food! Please take a look at our Amazon Wish List to see what kind of food they still need ---> https://a.co/2cKzJhe

12/20/2022

Did you know we brush and pick our horses' hooves every day before lessons? Because of that, we are always going through brushes and hoof picks. And did you know that we wrap some of our horses’ legs during work? A couple of our horses have sensitive ligaments and tendons in their lower leg and knees, so wrapping their legs gives extra support to keep them comfortable. Please take a look at our Amazon Wish List to see what brushes, hoof picks, and leg wraps we still need--> https://a.co/2cKzJhe

12/19/2022

Our riders work hard in their weekly lessons, so our instructors strive to make fun and thought-provoking lesson plans to engage each rider while working on specific riding skills. Specific toys like puzzles, beanie babies, and bean bags help our riders practice their riding skills and life skills. Check out our Amazon Wish List to see what kinds of toys we still need for our riding lessons ---> https://a.co/2cKzJhe

12/18/2022

Our two special Quarter Horse geldings need some special equipment, and they have put this on their Christmas list. Pete, our longtime resident, could really benefit from some Equitape. We have started kinesiology taping his back and neck to keep him as comfortable as possible, and he would love more! Tex, our newer boy but still perfect boy, has limited vision and would benefit from a solar protection eye mask. Even when there are no flies outside, a fly mask is helpful to keep harmful UV rays out of his eye. This unique eye mask protects his eyes from sunlight year-round. If you’d like to take a look at these special pieces of equipment, take a look at our Amazon Wish List---> https://a.co/2cKzJhe

12/17/2022

To ensure each rider is working towards and completing their goals, Morning Dove equips each rider with the appropriate tack to be successful. One piece of tack that riders use each time they ride is reins. Most of our riders use rainbow reins, allowing them to recognize that they are holding them correctly. Other adaptive reins may include rope reins with raised balls to allow visually impaired riders to feel where their hands should go. We also use reins to enable riders who struggle with fine motor skills. These reins are more like loops that allow riders to put their fists through and still be able to steer and stop their horse. Check out our Amazon Wish List to see what type of reins we still need---> https://a.co/2cKzJhe

12/17/2022

12/17/2022

Join us for the second night of our Santa Drive Thru tonight from 6-8 pm!

12/16/2022

Did you know that most of our horses use special half pads under their saddle? These are specially fit to them and serve many purposes. Half pads help distribute weight across the horse’s back, help absorb shock during riding, help eliminate pressure points, and keep our horses extra comfy with riders on their back. These are very special pieces of equipment and we always appreciate a donation of half pads! Please check out our Amazon Wish List to see what half pads we still need for our special horses ---> https://a.co/2cKzJhe

12/15/2022

Did you know that many horses benefit from extra supplements in their grain? Similar to humans taking vitamins, horses can benefit from supplements. Along with preventative supplements, our horses also use Ulcerguard to help with stomach upset due to stress. We try very hard to keep their routine and nutrition consistent here at MD while maintaining low-stress levels, but we cannot always control weather changes! We like to have senior and probiotic supplements and emergency medication on hand for our special ponies. Check out our Amazon Wishlist for a list of supplements and medications ---> https://a.co/2cKzJhe

12/14/2022

Did you know that our Therapeutic Riding Programs take place five days a week? As you can imagine, our tack gets consistent use throughout the year, and regular wear and tear force us to throw away things like stirrup leathers and stirrups irons. Morning Dove uses very specific stirrups for safety reasons. These are called peacock stirrups and are essential for every rider. Our inventory of these items is getting low. We need your help in restocking these items so our riders can continue to be successful in their riding each week. Check out our Amazon Wish List to see what types of tack we still need at https://a.co/2cKzJhe

12/13/2022

Happy Holidays from Morning Dove! This year we are counting down the days to Christmas and celebrating the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, with our 12 Holly-Days of Wishes.
Morning Dove's first wish is for water! Did you know that horses prefer to drink warm water in the winter weather? Because of that, we have to heat our water troughs outside all winter. Water helps keep forage constantly moving through their digestive system and helps prevent other complications like colic. We need more water trough heaters, hoses, hose reels and extension cords to keep our horses warm and hydrated all day while they spend their time outside!
Check out our Amazon wishlist to help out ---> https://a.co/2cKzJhe

12/06/2022

The farm is starting to look magical, and the horses look forward to seeing all their friends. Mark your calendars to swing by for a free picture with Santa on December 16th and 17th from 6 to 8 pm!
https://morningdovetrc.org/santa-drive-thru/