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Dear MTR Family and Friends,
As winter settles over the farm, wrapping each field and fence in quiet stillness, my heart is filled with gratitude and peace. This season invites reflection on all that we have accomplished together and inspires us to dream about what lies ahead. There is something truly special about this time of year at MTR, when the magic of the holidays can be felt in every corner of the farm.
From holiday-themed rider sessions, to goats in festive coats and horses proudly wearing Santa hats, joy is everywhere. Laughter echoes throughout the farm, and love shows up in the most beautiful ways. Volunteers and families spoil our staff with homemade treats, while volunteers gather to share cookies, warm beverages, laughter and plenty of cheer. Participants express heartfelt gratitude to our providers and volunteers, and our staff comes together to celebrate another meaningful year of service, connection, and impact.
At MTR, love is not just a feeling. It is something we live every day. It is found in the steady presence of our horses, the generosity of our volunteers, the compassion of our staff and providers, and the belief of our supporters. Together, these pieces form a community grounded in care for one another and in the healing work that happens here each day.
While the work on the farm never truly pauses, each season brings its own special kind of joy, and winter invites us to slow down, reflect, and hold gratitude close. Thank you for being such an essential part of the MTR family. As we look ahead to a new year and an exciting next chapter, my heart is full of hope and anticipation for all that we will continue to accomplish—together.
With love and gratitude,
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Kelly Rodgers
Executive Director
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Finding Courage, Confidence, and Connection at MTR
When Jill first brought her daughters to MTR, she hoped to find a place where they felt safe, included, and understood. What she discovered was a community that changed the course of their lives.
For her older daughter, Allondra, MTR began as weekly riding lessons to support confidence and proprioceptive skills. Over the years, she blossomed from a hesitant young rider into a strong, independent leader in the arena—now volunteering, trying new challenges, and believing in herself in ways Jill once only hoped for.
“For my girls, MTR feels like home,” Jill shared. “The staff and volunteers meet them where they are, help them grow, and cheer them on.”
Her younger daughter, Kaylah, grew up watching lessons from a stroller until curiosity pulled her into the saddle. Born with a degenerative condition that has progressively taken her vision, many activities became difficult or unsafe—except at MTR. With care, creativity, and thoughtful adaptations, Kaylah found a place where she could keep being brave.
Today, even with very limited vision, Kaylah rides independently. In 2023, her courage was recognized nationally when she was named PATH Intl. Youth Equestrian of the Year.
“MTR accepts humans as they are, but also pushes them forward. Here, my girls find happiness, hope, and a sense of belonging.”
Stories like theirs are at the heart of MTR. This year alone, more than 700 participants experienced the healing power of horses through over 4,500 hours of equine-assisted services, supported by nearly 300 dedicated volunteers. For nearly three decades, MTR has been a place where children and adults discover strength, connection, and confidence—and where families feel seen, supported, and uplifted.
These moments of courage and transformation happen because of people like you.
As the year comes to a close, we invite you to help ensure that every family who needs MTR can continue to find healing and hope here. Your generosity bridges the gap between what participants pay and the true cost of providing these life-changing services.
Please consider making your year-end gift to MTR today. Together, we can continue nurturing bravery, belonging, and the transformative power of horses.
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MTR's Chrissy Named 2025 USEF Heart Horse Award Winner
We are thrilled to share that our own Chrissy has been named the winner of the 2025 USEF Heart Horse Award. Selected by the US Equestrian membership as well as open voting, Chrissy will be honored on the national stage at the USEF Pegasus Awards Dinner during the Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky on January 15, 2026.
This remarkable recognition reflects Chrissy's 17 years of service at MTR, where her intuition, versatility, and gentle spirit have supported hundreds of participants.
Chrissy’s impact is best expressed through the stories of those she has touched, stories that could easily fill a book. One of the most powerful is her bond with Tess, who participated in MTR’s Reinbow Ride program for individuals with terminal diagnoses. Riding Chrissy brought Tess strength and confidence during her battle with brain cancer, even allowing her to begin weekly lessons. After Tess entered hospice care, she painted a picture for Chrissy’s stall to stay connected. Since her passing, Tess' family continues to visit Chrissy each year in her memory.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the MTR community for helping secure this honor through your votes and your unwavering support. Chrissy’s national recognition celebrates not only one extraordinary horse, but the exemplary work of our herd and the deep, lasting connections made at MTR every day.
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Thank You for Equipping Our Herd, and Empowering Our Participants
This fall, our community came together in an incredible way to support one of MTR’s most essential needs: properly fitted, high-quality equipment for our participants and our horses. We are thrilled to share that, thanks to you, we reached a combined total of $19,423 through our Giving Tuesday and Fall FUNdraising efforts to purchase much-needed saddles for the benefit of our participants and horses.
These funds make a direct and lasting impact. At MTR, every moment of progress begins with safety, comfort, and connection.
This equipment is not optional.
It is the foundation that brings our mission to life.
Your generosity ensures we can replace and upgrade critical equipment as our programs grow, giving our participants and our herd the comfort and support they deserve for years to come.
Thank you for putting the right tools in the right hands, for protecting our incredible horses, and for strengthening the mission that brings healing and hope to so many.
We are deeply grateful for your support and your belief in MTR.
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Provider Spotlight: Minnie Davis, CTRI, ES,PT, DPT, HPCS
From her very first visit to the farm, Minnie Davis recognized MTR as a place committed to doing things the right way. She appreciated that MTR is “striving to uphold best practice for industry standards,” with well-cared-for horses, passionate volunteers, and programming where “safety is forefront.” That shared commitment is what first brought her to MTR and continues to guide her work today.
Minnie’s path to MTR is rooted in both personal experience and a lifelong passion for helping children. After attending physical therapy appointments with her sister, she saw “the difference it made” and knew she wanted to pursue pediatric physical therapy. Growing up horseback riding and volunteering at a therapeutic riding facility in college, she quickly saw the possibility of combining horses, kids, and physical therapy. That vision ultimately led her to MTR, where she found her first opportunity to use hippotherapy as a licensed physical therapist.
In addition to her work at MTR, Minnie is a clinical physical therapist at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital. She shares that this experience gives her “a strong understanding of anatomy and biomechanics,” allowing her to thoughtfully position participants on the horse and understand how the horse’s movement influences each individual. It also gives her confidence working with participants of all abilities and levels of medical complexity, ensuring safety while optimizing therapeutic benefit.
MTR has also shaped Minnie’s work beyond the barn. In completing Equine Specialist training through EAGALA and expanding her role in equine assisted psychotherapy sessions, she found that the training “bleeds over into all aspects of my life and work.” She shares that it has made her “a better person, and more sensitive to the emotional needs of my clients and how I can give them grace and empower them.”
Minnie is especially inspired by the therapeutic power of the farm environment and the horses themselves. She explains that the setting can feel more motivating, relaxed, and fun than a traditional clinic, while the horse’s movement delivers a unique, dynamic, rhythmical input that “we can’t replicate elsewhere.” Beyond the physical impact, she describes horses as “non-judgmental” partners who support connection and relationship building.
What stays with Minnie most are the moments of joy she witnesses for children and families. Seeing the pride and amazement as a child accomplishes something once unimaginable is what “fills my heart and makes me want to do this work.” When asked what makes MTR special, she points to the volunteers, the horses, and the participants themselves, and shares how grateful she is to be part of a community built on service, growth, and belonging.
MTR is so grateful to have Minnie as part of our team and for the many lives she has touched through her work at the farm. Her dedication, compassion, and commitment to growth reflect the very heart of MTR’s mission. We are proud to offer in-training programs and mentoring for individuals interested in pursuing their CTRI and ES certifications and engaging in the meaningful, life changing work that happens every day at MTR.
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Purchase Your 2026
MTR Wall Calendar Today!
Have the beauty of the MTR farm and herd to pass your days throughout the year. Perfect gift, and of course, one for yourself to enjoy!
Every purchase supports the programs and participants of MTR.
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Sprinkle a Little Magic on MTR — One Wishlist Gift at a Time!
As we look ahead to the cold winter months, we focus on the needs that we have as a farm. If you are shopping for the holidays on Amazon, please consider checking out the MTR Wishlist to help us fill the gaps and needs for the herd and the organization.
Thank you for your support!
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Mark your calendar to join us for
MTR’s Annual Meeting on
Wednesday, February 11th
via Zoom!
Celebrate key highlights and memorable moments from the past year, important insights for 2026, and the impact our programs and people have made on the community.
Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and engaged with MTR’s mission.
*Connection details will be sent closer to the event.
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Show your MTR pride with our new logo gear!
Whether you are gifting to a fellow horse lover or treating yourself, our merch is the perfect way to share the spirit of MTR.
Stock up on your favorites and sport the new look all year long!
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