Miniature horses capture Shari Skidmore’s heart
Photo provided by Shari Skidmore
For some individuals, retirement means travel, rest and relaxation. For Canyon Lake resident Shari Skidmore, retirement does not include any form of rest and relaxation. Rather, it is a life filled with new experiences working with animals in a way that she never expected.
Shari and Kent Skidmore came to Canyon Lake in 2003 to tour Canyon Lake for the first time. Turns out it was Fiesta Day. Both Shari and Kent were impressed with the options of activities that were available to enjoy. They fell in love with the golf course and lake. They toured several homes that were for sale and as Shari says, “We bought a house on a fluke 30 days later.”
For more than 12 years they were “weekenders” and enjoyed waterskiing, wakeboarding and golf. However, when the Skidmores moved permanently to Canyon Lake they decided to become even more active in their new hometown.
Shari learned how to play pickleball and joined the Canyon Lake Fine Arts Guild where she currently serves on the board as secretary. Kent plays senior softball and joined the Canyon Lake Choraleers. But it wasn’t until the Fiesta Day parade of 2016 that Shari discovered her future new passion, miniature horses.
Photo provided by Shari Skidmore
The So Cal Mini Horse Sanctuary, a public 501(c) (3) nonprofit, was asked to appear in Canyon Lake’s Fiesta Day parade and, as an experienced horse rider, Shari was very curious about this parade entry. After the parade, the horses were located at the lodge so that anyone interested could pet the horses and inquire regarding this non-profit horse rescue sanctuary. Shari was told about the need for volunteers which sparked her interest. She took their card hoping that someday she could be a volunteer.
That day arrived in 2018 and on Sept. 18, Shari began her orientation at So Cal Mini Horse Sanctuary in Hemet. It was a day she will never forget.
It was also on that same day that the mare Kimmie gave birth to a colt, Maverick. Shari was able to hold the colt when he was less than an hour old. Shari remembers, “Tears streamed down my face. This was a miracle and a privilege. I never could have imagined that my first day as a volunteer could be as rewarding as this!”
Photo provided by Shari Skidmore
Shari did have previous horse experience, but with full-sized horses. She took English riding lessons for years when she lived in Rochester, New York, and continued when she moved to Southern California. She jumped and showed a few times and attended a horse camp in her teen years. Horses always had a special place in her heart.
However, the So Cal Mini Horse Sanctuary just isn’t your ordinary stable. It is filled with people who care about horses and have a common mission to make a difference for the many mini horses that are abused or neglected.
So Cal Mini Horse Sanctuary takes the hurt, sick, neglected and thrown away sweet souls and gives them a wonderful life. They gently give them the love and physical care that enables them to thrive after experiencing an abusive or neglectful situation.
Jeanne Oliver, founder and president of So Cal Mini Horse Sanctuary, works tirelessly to make sure that the minis in her care get everything they need for a safe and healthy life. The minis are rehabilitated to a healthy and happy life so that wonderful families can be found for them. Adoptive homes are scrutinized before an adoptable mini is placed in the home. Unadoptable minis safely remain in the sanctuary for the remainder of their lives.
Photo provided by Shari Skidmore
The minis that are placed in an adoptive home hold either the position of a service/therapy animal or family pet. The minis that are to be trained for service and/or therapy are trained by the new family owner.
Mini horses give special needs children and adults an opportunity to “come alive” when the animals are adopted for therapy. Often, the pets visit Alzheimer’s and retirement homes to bring the residents an opportunity to interact with them.
Mini horses are an excellent choice as a service animal. They can be the size of a large dog, such as a Great Dane, but have a longer life span as they on average can live between 25 and 35 years.
Miniature horses are said to have a calm demeanor and a great memory. Because of their strength, they can pull wheelchairs and assist those who can’t walk on their own support.
Minis can be trained to recognize signal lights, stop signs, curbs and how to avoid hazards in the environment. With their 350-degree range of vision, they are well-suited to be guide animals for the blind.
Shari Skidmore’s involvement with mini horses goes beyond the expected. She not only “mucks” the corrals with other volunteers, but also assists with their waters. She is deeply involved in their individual care, often assisting the farrier with the mini hoof trims or assisting the sanctuary’s founder with veterinarian checks.
Shari is dedicated to the minis and the individuals that they serve. She beams with pleasure as she states, “My greatest joy is being part of an organization that helps with the healing of each of these horses. The greatest reward for me is seeing these minis start to trust, learn to love and to know that they will be placed in their new ‘forever home’ in the future. Seeing these amazing creatures brings a smile to everyone who encounters them.”
For more information about the So Cal Mini Horse Sanctuary or how to volunteer, visit www.socalmini.org.