2016 Miniature Horse WORLD Issues December 2016 Volume 32, Number 6 | Page 25

The

first “World of Miniature Horse Therapy Symposium”
was held July 22-24, 2016 at the Holiday Inn in Crystal

Lake IL. The weekend offered an opportunity for those seeking
educational information and hands-on training regarding AnimalAssisted Interactions/AAI’s (both animal-assisted activity/AAA and
animal-assisted therapy/AAT visits) with Miniature horses.
The symposium was hosted by Mane in Heaven, a 501c3 that
visits throughout the Chicagoland area. President and Founder
Jodie Diegel commented, “Why a Symposium? Animal-assisted
interactions are built upon a foundation of trust, confidence,
understanding, patience and competence. Our goal was to put
together a phenomenal weekend of education and training to mentor
and empower future teams regarding this foundation.”
Friday, kicked off the start of the symposium
with a Pet Partners Handler course. Mane
in Heaven Miniature therapy horses and
volunteers (all registered Pet Partner teams)

®

demonstrated key training and evaluation
behaviors at the hotel.
Saturday provided a day of phenomenal
education. The symposium keynote speaker
was Mary Margaret Callahan, the Senior

Mini Hay Pillow®
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National Director of Program Development for
Pet Partners. Additional presenters included
Robyn Hart, the Director of the Child Life
Program at Rush University Medical Center and Attorney Vince Incopero. The
afternoon session followed with a presentation by Jodie Diegel and a board
panel discussion by the Mane In Heaven Board of Directors. The day ended with
hands-on demonstrations where the attendees and the Mane In Heaven therapy
horses worked together with registered handlers in the hotel conference room!
Sunday, included more extensive
hands-on training at the farm. All
attendees were then invited for a
visit to the Shades of Blue Ranch, a
Miniature therapy horse breeding
farm in Hebron IL, which included
a driving demonstration.
Overall, the symposium was
a fantastic way to realize that
our goals and missions are all
similar…to bring joy, laughter, smiles, unconditional love and healing to others
through our Miniature therapy horses. We were able to learn from and provide
input to other like-minded future and present animal-assisted therapy teams who
are shaping the world of Miniature horse therapy.
Watch for information on another training seminar for your Miniature Therapy
Horse in March 2017! Hosted by www.maneinheaven.org.

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888-489-0022
D E C E M B E R 2016
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Miniature Horse World 23
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