Minis in the news!
Four-legged employees bring unique skills to work
From K-9s to goats to miniature horses, some furry friends have important day jobs
CHRONICLE, WCVB TV CHANNEL 5, BOSTON – Aired October 24, 2022, January 18, 2023
NEEDHAM, Mass. — You've heard of therapy dogs, but what about miniature therapy horses? Lifting Spirits Miniature Therapy Horses is a nonprofit that visits anyone and everyone of all ages, disabilities and needs.
Andover Rotary Citizens Who Care Award
Woman Fills Her House Up With Rescued Mini Horses
THE DODO – February 16, 2022
Woman fills her house up with rescued mini horses — watch them race around a track she makes them in the yard
when it snows! Click on links below to view video.
https://www.thedodo.com/videos/woman-fills-her-house-up-with-rescued-mini-horses
Malden High School students spent time with therapy miniature horses Wednesday.Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
A mane event: Miniature horses help soothe students at Malden High School
THE BOSTON GLOBE – October 6 2021
The sound of trotting hooves could be heard outside Malden High School on Wednesday as more than 50 students took part in a unique animal-assisted therapy session.
“It’s not every day that a horse walks into a school,” said Toni Hadad, founder and president of Lifting Spirits, an Andover-based nonprofit that supplied the horses. “There were a lot of smiles, a lot of kisses. . . . Everyone really enjoyed meeting them and learning about them.”
Miniature horses serving big purpose through
Andover non-profit
CBS NEWS BOSTON – July 27, 2022
ANDOVER – They're cute, with names that include Peaches, Mr. Buttons, and Stewie Vuitton.
They're mini, standing between two to three feet tall. And they're serving an important purpose.
"These are actually miniature horses that suffer from dwarfism that's why they're so tiny," said Toni Hadad, Founder and President of Lifting Spirits Miniature Therapy Horses.
The non-profit based out of Andover rescues the horses from all over the country.
James Rojas interviewing Idaho, Mr. Buttons and Winston
Lifting Spirits With Mini-Horses: How One Nonprofit Brings Joy And Advocacy
WBZ NEWS RADIO – February 23, 2022
Tiny Horses Bring Silver Lining to Cancer Patient
HOPE IN THE SADDLE – December 1, 2021
My world turned upside down after I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in July of 2021. My family has no history of cancer and if it wasn’t for an unrelated checkup, I never would have known there were tumors growing around my thyroid. Fortunately, I caught it early. The cancer hadn’t spread to my lymph nodes yet, but following my total thyroidectomy with an incredible team at Massachusetts General Hospital, one of my vocal cords was left paralyzed and I lost most of my voice. I went from a normal, healthy 26-year-old to someone reliant on medicine to live and a megaphone to be heard.
The COVID-19 pandemic and my vocal cord paralysis made my experience excruciatingly more difficult. Because of COVID-19 regulations, I wasn’t allowed to have my family or an emotional support animal in the hospital before my surgery. Because I had no voice, I couldn’t communicate normally with my friends and family after surgery. Cancer, and the subsequent removal of it, isolated me from everyone. Making matters worse, the shock of a cancer diagnosis traumatized me to the point of neuroticism—I began “seeing” cancer all over my body. The weeks following my thyroid removal were hellish, to say the least.
Andover Animal Hospital veterinarians, Dr. Mechela Carnevale, left, and Dr. Michaella Abugov, with Peaches, a mini therapy horse at the inaugural “Minis and Martinis”fundraiser.
Andover Rallies around Minis
ANDOVER TOWNSMAN – November 1, 2021
Lifting Spirits Miniature Horse Therapy raised $26,000 at its inaugural “Minis and Martinis” fundraiser.
“I’m thrilled with the turnout for our first annual Minis and Martinis fundraiser,” said Toni Hadad, founder of Lifting Spirits. “The outstanding list of sponsors and more than 120 guests have made it possible for us to increase our therapy visits by more than 30 for next season.”
Unbridled Affection
Featured in the Spring issue of The Andovers Magazine 2021!
https://theandoversmagazine-cnhi.newsmemory.com/
Featured in Seacoast Bark Magazine
October-November 2021 Issue
Founder and President, Toni Hadad, holding Idaho, their newest rescue.
Miniature Equines Making a Big Impact on Kids with Cancer
THE PLAID HORSE MAGAZINE – October 17, 2020
Team of mini rescue horses bring smiles to those in need
MSN – February 21, 2020
Zachary Stepper, 9, of Andover and Mr. Buttons the horse greet each other at the Lifting Spirits Miniature Therapy Horses facility in Andover. Carl Russo/photographer
Hope in the Saddle
Horse Hero of the Week: Peaches
https://hopeinthesaddle.com/stories-of-hope/reader-story-peaches
No horsing around – it's serious work
A group of adults and children volunteered at the Lifting Spirits Miniature Therapy Horses facility in Andover as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
ANDOVER TOWNSMAN – January 21, 2020
Just Say Whoa to Bullying in
Andover Schools
WBZ NEWS RADIO – Oct 15, 2019
We are so excited to be presenting in the Andover Elementary Schools this October. If you want us to come visit your school with this program please email us.
These tiny horses spark big smiles.
NUTRENA FEED IT FORWARD GRANT RECIPIENT
The tallest of Toni Hadad’s miniature horses may stand just 36 inches, but he – and the rest of her miniature herd – is all heart. Since Toni founded Lifting Spirts Miniature Therapy Horses, Tonka, Banshee and the rest of her mini gang have travelled all over New England, spreading joy, hope and love to children and adults of all ages and abilities.
Read more at Nutrena’s Feed it Forward program….
Sarah Duval, 11, of Andover, braids mini-horse Idaho’s mane.
Mini-horse house call cheers young cancer patient
ANDOVER TOWNSMAN – August 20, 2020
By Judy Wakefield
Who doesn't love a pair of mini-horses?
Sarah Duval certainly did when the 11-year-old received a surprise visit from Mr. Buttons and Idaho courtesy of Lifting Spirits Miniature Therapy Horses of Andover.
The organization recently brought the mini-horses to her Pasho Street home to bring her joy and, well, lift her spirits during the pandemic.
Photo credit: Shannon Micciche Rivera
Lifting Spirits Miniature Therapy Horses Visits Hudson 2 Year Old
NASHUA TELEGRAPH – August 8, 2020
Lifting Spirits Miniature Therapy Horses visited 2-year-old Gabby Distefano in Hudson last week. Dwarf mini-horse ‘Peaches’ dressed as a unicorn. Gabby has metochromatic leukodystrophy, a rare gentetic and incurable disease with an expected lifespan of only 5-10 years. Gabby’s family is trying to raise awareness of MLD and support for the MLD Foundation – https://www.gofundme.com/f/love-for-gabby-michael-and-nicole. Animal therapy is a critical component in providing emotional support for patients facing treatment. Lifting Spirits uses its dwarf and miniature horses to visit schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Lately, the organization has increased home visits to offer a safe option for animal-assisted therapy.
Mike Springer/Eagle Tribune staff photographer
Miniature horses help anti-bullying efforts at Andover schools
THE EAGLE-TRIBUNE
Click button below to read full article in the Eagle Tribune.
Mini horses help kids beat bullying
HORSE WELFARE NEWS
Whoa! Mini horse helps anti-bullying talks in Andover schools
ANDOVER TOWNSMAN
Police Officer Steven Gerrior typically starts off an anti-bullying program in local elementary schools
with lots of talk about being kind to others and being sure to accept people's differences.
Read the Andover Townsman’s article.
Say WHOA To Bullying' Brings Mini Horses To Elementary Schools
https://patch.com/massachusetts/andover/say-whoa-bullying-brings-mini-horses-elementary-schools
Peaches and Sgt. Steven Gerroir at High Plain Elementary School October 18th telling students to Just Say Whoa® to Bullying!
Standlee Article
Thank you Standlee for writing this blog about our nonprofit. Check out Standlee’s products and website
at https://standleeforage.com/