Karma Yoga for Mitey Riders at YogaFlex, Sunday July 18 5:30–6:30
Join us at YogaFlex this Sunday, July 18 at 5:30 for Karma Yoga benefiting Mitey Riders at Misty Meadows Farm in Waxhaw.  The beautiful horses and 2-legged volunteers at Misty Meadows provide therapeutic riding for special needs children.  Sunday’s class will be a one hour mixed-level Power Yoga class, and the entrance fee is a donation of your choice.100% of money collected will go to the Mitey Riders.  Come flex, stretch and sweat with us for the Mitey Riders!

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Thank you YogaFlex for supporting our Mitey Riders!

ATTENTION — Please Change Your Email Address Books!
As we continue to stream-line our technology efforts for Mitey Riders, we are changing our email address as well! The main email address for the Mitey Rider program will now be — please send all emails to this address, and update your address book so you can receive information from us as well. The old email of miteyriders@carolina.rr.com will NO LONGER BE USED. Thank you!

Safety Training Dates
All volunteers (new, returning and parents) must choose one of the following sessions to attend before the start of classes:
– August 4 at 7pm
– August 7 at 10am
– August 18 at 7pm
– August 28 at 10am
– September 1 at 7pm
– September 25 at 1pm

All volunteers interested in a leader position or to work in the barn must attend an *additional* training session from the list below. Leaders must be at least 16 with horse experience, and barn workers must be at least 15. Please RSVP to one of the following sessions IN ADDITION TO one of the above All Volunteer Safety Training Sessions.
– August 7 at 11:30am — Leaders Only
– August 7 at 12 Noon — Barn Only
– August 18 at 8pm — Leaders Only
– August 28 at 11:30am — Leaders Only
– August 28 at 12 Noon — Barn Only

There will NOT be additional Safety Training Sessions held throughout the season. Please RSVP to one of these dates as soon as possible. Safety Training is required EVERY YEAR and for every individual (parent, volunteer and staff alike) in order for our program to maintain NARHA Premier Center status. Thank you for your cooperation. To RSVP, please contact Amanda at 704.841.0602 (farm office) or ridewithus@miteyriders.org.

Summer Projects
We have many summer projects going on around the farm — from refreshing the sensory trail to rebuilding a couple of our pasture barns, and giving the indoor arena a bit of a make-over. If you are interested in helping us with any of these summer projects, please email us at — thanks!

Harris Teeter VIC Cards — #5317
Just a friendly reminder to link your Harris Teeter VIC card to the Misty Meadows Mitey Riders, Inc. account — number 5317. When you link your card, and purchase Harris Teeter brand items, Mitey Riders received 2% back on every purchase! You can have up to 5 organizations/schools linked on your card, and anyone can do it! VIC cards must be re-linked EVERY August. Visit www.harristeeter.com to link your card online, or have a cashier do it for you in the store. We will also have a computer set up to link VIC cards for you at all Safety Training sessions.

Stay in touch via , Twitter and Facebook!

Click HERE for an At-A-Glance of the updated Rider Schedule!

ATTENTION RIDERS AND VOLUNTEERS — If you have any questions about your participation this day, please contact us by or phone — 704.841.0602.

Mitey Riders offers its sincerest gratitude to the PFO teens and advisors, who have not only changed the lives of our riders, but also the future of our organization. Look for our invited guests from PFO at our Spring Festival on May 1st and be sure to extend a hug, and hand-shake, and a Mitey big thank you!

Mitey Riders plans to use the money in support of a new therapy horse for the program, and new horse trailer — to help spread the word about Mitey Riders (and PFO!) and offer more opportunities for our riders.

For more about PFO, visit: www.playingforothers.org

Each teen in PFO is partnered with a buddy from our partner non-profit.  Through our fall retreat, teens receive professional training about the disability and how to interact with their buddy. They quickly learn that a child is just a child, difference and all. Following the retreat, teens meet their buddies and begin monthly buddy events.  Each buddy event is themed in the arts; music, storytelling, puppetry, photography and visual art.  Buddy events are designed for all teens and buddies to participate in together. Beyond the once a month planned buddy event exchange, teens and buddy families can opt to spend outside time together.  Past buddy pairs have gone pumpkin picking, saw a show together, went roller skating, had a picnic and played at the park.  These extra outings allow buddies to develop an even deeper relationship.

To read one Mitey Rider parent’s perspective on the PFO/MR Buddy relationship click HERE.

Because PFO reaches out to teens who love the arts, they wrap up the year with the opportunity to participate in one of three intensive arts experiences during: Theatre, Music or Visual Arts. Experiences are led by professionals in the field who offer an avenue for teens to give back to their community through the use of their artistic talents. As a culminating celebration, PFO hosts an annual Arts Festival Weekend. This year the event begins March 12th and runs through the 21st. All Arts Festival events are ticketed and open to the public.

Highlights include:
▪ Multiple performances of the musical, “There’s a Monster in my Closet” at the Actors Theatre of Charlotte — starting Friday, March 12th
▪ Red carpet event for our buddies, with limo rides, paparazzi & front row seats to the musical — Sunday, March 14th 3:00 pm
▪ Songwriting Competition finals & performance of the newest PFO theme song by the PFO teens at the McGlohan Theatre — Saturday, March 13th 8:00 pm
▪ Juried Art Show & the revealing of the collaborative sculpture by the PFO teens at Amelie’s French Bakery & Café — Saturday, March 20th 10:30 am
▪ Check presentation to Mitey Riders — Sunday, March 21st 3:00 pm

To purchase tickets, please click HERE.
To view complete a complete schedule for Arts Festival Weekend, please click HERE.

Remember, supporting Playing For Others supports Mitey Riders and other like-minded organizations in our community. Please join us and experience this amazing partnership first-hand! Look for more information and updates on the Arts Festival as we get closer to the date!

Our Mitey Riders benefit from:
• Over 250 volunteer hours each week
• Over 50 hours each week volunteered by students earning high school or scouting service hours
• Over 6,750 volunteer hours each season
• Over 2,100 hours volunteered by parents of our riders
• Over 100 hours volunteered by Church and School groups
• Over 1,200 hours volunteered by individuals and groups on projects and tasks outside of normal riding class hours each year

RIDERS & FAMILIES — Please take a moment to thank your wonderful volunteers this week, and every week moving forward. It is because of them that we can continue to offer high quality therapeutic riding to a large number of children and teens in our community.

VOLUNTEERS — Thank you for all that you do and all that are!

A big thank you to Heather Lopina and the Volunteer Appreciation Committee of the Mitey Rider Council.

ALSO AS A REMINDER! Mitey Riders is on February Break all next week. Regular classes will resume Wednesday, February 24th! Stay warm and safe!

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Tell your friends and family to follow us as well!